2023-2025 Dodge Hornet GT backup camera recall, electrical failures & ACC dropouts. Qualify for a California lemon law buyback? Free case review.
You bought the 2023-2026 Dodge Hornet GT expecting a sporty compact SUV with modern safety tech. What many owners got instead was a dashboard that lights up like a Christmas tree, a backup camera that goes dark the moment you need it, and cruise control that drops out every few miles on the highway. The Hornet GT shares the Giorgio/STLA Small platform with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and the first-generation production window has produced a disproportionate number of software, electrical, and ADAS complaints. NHTSA has logged 143 complaints across the 2023-2025 fleet — a complaint rate of 44.0 per 1,000 vehicles — with electrical faults (31 complaints) leading every other category. Three open or recent recalls affect the GT directly: backup camera recall 25V-246 covering 40,732 Hornet units, tire placard recall 24V-175 covering 30,061 units, and manufacturer label recall 24V-209 covering approximately 1,200 2024 MY units. California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act exists precisely for situations like this — if your Hornet GT has been back to the dealer two or more times for the same problem (or has been out of service for 30+ cumulative days), you may have a lemon-law claim worth a full buyback or replacement vehicle.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
Backup camera screen goes black or blank when shifting into reverse; U-connect display shows no camera image or displays 'Camera System Unavailable'; driver has no rear visibility aid during backing.
Dashboard simultaneously illuminates multiple warning lights: Service Power Steering, Drive Mode Unavailable, Park Sense Disabled, Service Engine, Auto Dim High Beams Unavailable, Service Forward Collision Warning, ESC/Hill Start Assist faults. Some owners report total power loss including loss of power steering and braking assist while driving at highway speed.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) drops out during normal highway driving with 'ACC Temporarily Blocked — Service Required' or 'ACC Unavailable' message on cluster; Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) icons appear and system shuts off; driver must manually re-engage every few miles.
Center touchscreen freezes or goes completely blank while driving; Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto disconnect or fail to connect; Voice Recognition stops responding; navigation maps fail to display; audio/media functions unresponsive.
Vehicle tire placard displays an incorrect maximum vehicle capacity weight value; owners may unknowingly load the vehicle beyond its safe capacity limit.
Rear outboard (window-seat) belt webbing visibly twisted; belt retracts slowly or not at all; belt stays loose against a passenger and does not hold tension.
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
Backup camera screen goes black or blank when shifting into reverse; U-connect display shows no camera image or displays 'Camera System Unavailable'; driver has no rear visibility aid during backing.
FMVSS No. 111 violation (rear visibility). Recall remedy requires radio replacement for pre-Dec 2023 builds — a substantial repair. Repeat black-screen events on a safety-critical system support a nonconformity argument; document each occurrence and dealer visit carefully.
Vehicles built before December 6, 2023: dealer replaces radio module with updated unit featuring redesigned circuit board plus software update. Vehicles built after December 6, 2023: software update only (hardware already revised).
Dashboard simultaneously illuminates multiple warning lights: Service Power Steering, Drive Mode Unavailable, Park Sense Disabled, Service Engine, Auto Dim High Beams Unavailable, Service Forward Collision Warning, ESC/Hill Start Assist faults. Some owners report total power loss including loss of power steering and braking assist while driving at highway speed.
Electrical cascade events that include loss of power steering and braking assistance are safety-critical nonconformities. Recurrence after multiple repair attempts is strong lemon-law evidence. Owners should insist on written repair orders for each event and request dealer escalation to FCA hotline.
Module software flashes via TSB (including TSB 08-002-25 radio FOTA update and related powertrain/chassis module updates); battery sensor replacement; dealer inspection of grounds and connectors. Multiple dealer visits often required.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) drops out during normal highway driving with 'ACC Temporarily Blocked — Service Required' or 'ACC Unavailable' message on cluster; Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) icons appear and system shuts off; driver must manually re-engage every few miles.
ADAS system marketed as a key feature of this vehicle. Persistent failure to maintain ACC/AEB function after multiple software updates constitutes a nonconformity that substantially impairs use/value. Document each dealer visit with a repair order noting the specific ADAS symptoms.
Dealer performs module software update per TSB 08-056-24 (released 2024-02-27); three modules may require flashing. Service campaigns RRT 234-155, 23-180, and 23-286 also address ACC/blind-spot-warning tech issues. Estimated dealer labor: 2.5 hours.
Center touchscreen freezes or goes completely blank while driving; Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto disconnect or fail to connect; Voice Recognition stops responding; navigation maps fail to display; audio/media functions unresponsive.
Infotainment failures that also suppress the backup camera image overlap with the 25V-246 recall. Screen blanking during highway driving is a distraction hazard. If screen issues persist after TSB update, the rearview camera recall remedy (radio replacement) may also apply.
Dealer applies TSB 08-002-25 REV. A FOTA update sequence: T27.52 → U29.44 → U33.43. Applies to 2023-2024 Hornet built on or after November 7, 2023 with Uconnect 5 (R1H radio). Earlier builds may require different update path.
Vehicle tire placard displays an incorrect maximum vehicle capacity weight value; owners may unknowingly load the vehicle beyond its safe capacity limit.
Regulatory label non-compliance is a confirmed defect but unlikely to be the primary basis for a lemon-law claim on its own. Document completion of recall remedy in the client file. If recall remedy was delayed or not completed, note in repair history.
Dealer applies an overlay label to the tire placard with the correct VCW value. No mechanical repair required. Estimated repair time: minimal.
Rear outboard (window-seat) belt webbing visibly twisted; belt retracts slowly or not at all; belt stays loose against a passenger and does not hold tension.
Seat belts are part of the occupant restraint system, a core safety system; documented complaints of twisted or non-retracting rear belts that a dealer could not resolve, especially before the remedy becomes available, may support a California Song-Beverly claim.
Dealer replaces the rear outboard seat belt retractors with a newly designed part under recall 26V510, free of charge. Repair not yet available to owners as of Aug 10, 2026; owner letters expected on or about September 24, 2026.
open
Rear outboard seat belt retractors supplied by Autoliv ASP have a design weakness that allows the belt webbing to become twisted during normal use. A twisted belt may not retract freely or maintain tension against the occupant. No warning indicator alerts the owner to the condition.
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The display module (Uconnect 5 radio) may not show the rearview camera image during a backing event due to either a software defect in the microprocessor or a cold solder fault on the voltage regulator of the radio circuit board. Violates FMVSS No. 111 (Rear Visibility).
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The manufacturer label on certain 2024 MY Dodge Hornet vehicles is missing the tire rim and tire size information. Vehicles fail to conform to FMVSS No. 110 (Tire Selection and Rims).
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The maximum vehicle capacity weight value on the tire placard label is incorrect. Vehicles fail to conform to FMVSS No. 110 (Tire Selection and Rims).
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — often called the California Lemon Law — covers new vehicles purchased or leased in California that turn out to have defects the manufacturer cannot fix after a reasonable number of attempts. 'Reasonable number' generally means two or more repair attempts for a safety defect, four or more attempts for any other defect, or 30 or more cumulative days out of service — all within the warranty period. If your Hornet GT qualifies, you may be entitled to a full manufacturer buyback (your purchase price, taxes, registration, and finance charges, minus a usage allowance for miles driven before the first repair attempt) or a replacement vehicle of comparable value. Under Song-Beverly, if you prevail, the manufacturer must also pay your attorney fees separately — meaning qualified representation typically costs you nothing out of pocket. This page provides general legal information only and is not legal advice. Every case is fact-specific; contact a licensed California lemon-law attorney to evaluate your situation.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
If your dealer writes 'cannot duplicate' or 'no fault found,' do not give up. The Hornet GT's problems — especially the electrical cascade and ACC dropout — are intermittent by nature. Here is what to do:
1. Write down the date, mileage, conditions (weather, road type, speed), and exact warning messages every time symptoms appear. Photos and short videos from your phone are powerful evidence.
2. Ask the dealer to document your description on every repair order even if they cannot reproduce the fault. The repair order language matters for your lemon-law count.
3. Request that the dealer run the most current Uconnect software versions (TSB 08-002-25 REV. A, target version U33.43) and update the ADAS modules per TSB S2308000134 / follow-on TSB 08-056-24. Ask them to print the software versions before and after the visit.
4. If the backup camera is the issue, confirm whether your build date is before or after December 6, 2023. Pre-December 6, 2023 builds qualify for a full radio module replacement under recall 25V-246, not just a software update.
5. If the dealer insists nothing is wrong but your car has been back three or more times, or has sat in the shop for 30 or more cumulative days, contact a California lemon-law attorney before your next appointment. You do not need a 'cannot duplicate' admission from the dealer — you need a documented repair history.
The Dodge Hornet GT's defect pattern — software-driven safety system failures, a backup camera recall affecting more than 40,000 units, and recurring electrical cascades — is exactly the kind of systemic quality problem that California's Song-Beverly Act was designed to address. Stellantis has issued more than 67 Technical Service Bulletins for this generation, which tells you these are not isolated flukes. If your Hornet has been back to the dealer more than once for the same issue, we want to hear from you. A free case review costs you nothing and takes about 15 minutes.
— The Margarian Law team
If your 2023, 2024, or 2025 Dodge Hornet GT has been back to the dealer for the same problem more than once — or has spent 30 or more days in the shop — you may qualify for a California lemon-law buyback at no cost to you. Our attorneys have handled thousands of California lemon-law cases against Stellantis and its brands. Call us or submit your repair orders online for a free, no-obligation case review. If your car qualifies, Dodge pays our fees.
Yes. NHTSA Recall 25V-246 (issued May 2025) covers 40,732 Dodge Hornet units from model years 2023 through 2025 because the rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. The root cause is either a software defect in the Uconnect 5 radio microprocessor or a cold solder fault on the radio circuit board's voltage regulator. Vehicles built before December 6, 2023 receive a full radio module replacement; vehicles built after that date receive a software update only. Both repairs are free at any Dodge dealer. Owner notification letters began mailing June 4, 2025.
Many Hornet GT owners describe a sudden 'warning storm' where the cluster simultaneously shows Service Power Steering, Drive Mode Unavailable, Park Sense Disabled, Service Engine, and Service Forward Collision Warning — sometimes accompanied by a loss of power steering or braking assist. Owners report this happening on 2023, 2024, and 2025 GT models, often within the first 12,000 miles. Stellantis has not issued a single recall for ICE-variant electrical cascade failures; the documented fixes involve module software updates and battery sensor replacement under various TSBs. If this has happened to you more than once, or if your dealer cannot reproduce the fault, keep written records of every incident — date, mileage, and exact warning messages — because recurring safety-critical electrical failures are a strong basis for a California lemon-law claim.
A forward-facing camera firmware defect causes the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) systems to shut off unexpectedly — even in clear weather on a well-marked highway. The cluster displays 'ACC Temporarily Blocked — Service Required' or 'ACC Unavailable,' and you have to manually re-engage the system. Stellantis issued TSBs S2308000134 and S2308000119 in late 2023, followed by a multi-module software update (TSB 08-056-24, estimated 2.5 hours of dealer labor) in February 2024. Some owners report the dropout persisting after the TSB update. If your dealer has attempted the fix more than once and the problem keeps returning, that repair history may support a California lemon-law claim.
Yes, Stellantis issued TSB 08-002-25 REV. A (NHTSA filing MC-11012822, February 2025) that delivers a multi-stage Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) update to the Uconnect 5 radio: the software progresses from version T27.52 to U29.44 and finally to U33.43. The update addresses screen freezes, blank displays, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto disconnections, and Voice Recognition failures. It applies to 2023-2024 Hornet GT models built on or after November 7, 2023 with the Uconnect 5 (R1H) radio. Ask your dealer to confirm which software version is installed and whether your VIN is eligible for the update. Note that if your vehicle also has backup camera issues and was built before December 6, 2023, you may need the radio hardware replacement under Recall 25V-246 before the software update fully resolves screen problems.
Your Hornet GT may qualify if: (1) it was purchased or leased new in California; (2) it has a defect covered by the manufacturer's warranty that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety; and (3) the manufacturer has had a reasonable number of attempts to fix the problem without success. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a 'reasonable number' is generally two or more repair attempts for a safety defect (such as backup camera failure or power steering loss), four or more attempts for other defects, or 30 or more cumulative days out of service — all within the warranty period. The Hornet GT's documented issues — backup camera recall 25V-246, electrical cascade failures, and persistent ACC/ADAS shutdowns — are the type of defects that courts have recognized as grounds for a buyback. If you qualify, Dodge must also pay your attorney fees. Contact a licensed California lemon-law attorney for a free evaluation of your specific repair history.
A 'cannot duplicate' note from the dealer does not end your lemon-law rights. Here is what to do: First, document every symptom occurrence yourself — date, mileage, road conditions, weather, and the exact warning messages or behaviors you observed. Photos and short videos are strong supporting evidence. Second, insist that the dealer write your reported complaint on every repair order, even when they cannot reproduce it. That language creates a paper trail. Third, ask the dealer to apply the latest available software updates (Uconnect TSB 08-002-25 REV. A; ADAS TSB S2308000134 and follow-on 08-056-24) and document the before-and-after software versions in the repair order. Fourth, if the problem is a backup camera blackout and your build date is before December 6, 2023, confirm that the dealer has scheduled the radio module replacement under Recall 25V-246, not just a software update. Fifth, if you have three or more dealer visits for the same symptom, or your car has been out of service for 30 or more days total, contact a California lemon-law attorney before your next appointment.
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