2024 Dodge Hornet

Brakes

Brake defects affecting safety may qualify for California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, which applies to defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The 2024 Dodge Hornet has generated 7 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “Driving on the highway at 75 mph, slowing down to 55mph exiting the highway by braking manually, gently. The car started juddering slightly, we assumed it was the road and carried on, then the car following us started to flash for us to stop, we did, got out and all 4 wheels / brakes were on fire, we put them out and carried on driving assuming the brakes would be ok, but we had not put any other kind of brake on except the brake pedal. Then this past weekend a mechanic was trying to move the car and moved it only 5 ft before the brakes all came on and jammed the car. I have no files to upload as the car is currently with a Dodge dealer and they are inspecting it.” (NHTSA Complaint #11701518)

Electrical System

Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2024 Dodge Hornet include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 5 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “While commuting to work, my vehicle’s dashboard illuminated with the indicators for both the engine and hybrid electric systems. Subsequently, the vehicle began to hydroplane across lanes into the median, rendering it impossible to regain control. prior to the incident, my electrical system on my dash been flickering and blacking out Random occasions for the past weeks” (NHTSA Complaint #11720974)

Engine

Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2024 Dodge Hornet have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 5 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “I went to have an oil change and was told I had a coolant leak. Took to dealership and they told me they don’t see an issue. Two days later the same problem persists. I go under the hood and the coolant container is empty. Coolant was added and there is still an issue. I bring it back for a second time and dealership can not find the problem but clearly there is a problem.” (NHTSA Complaint #11711834)

Backup Camera

The 2024 Dodge Hornet has generated 5 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2024 Dodge Hornet. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V246000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.” (NHTSA Complaint #11690638)

Forward Collision System

Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2024 Dodge Hornet has 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “Since delivery, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system intermittently fails without warning while in motion. The system frequently displays an “Unavailable” message, particularly during stop-and-go traffic at speeds around 20 mph. This sudden deactivation occurs with no prior audible or visual alert, leaving the driver with dangerously limited time to manually intervene and avoid potential rear-end collisions. Attempted Repairs: The vehicle has been to the dealership service department multiple times for this specific issue. While technicians acknowledge the system failure and have documented the error, they stated there is currently no functional repair or software fix available from the manufacturer. The safety risk remains unresolved.” (NHTSA Complaint #11719406)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2024 Dodge Hornet

The following 6 recalls have been issued for the 2024 Dodge Hornet by the NHTSA or Dodge. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.

California Lemon Law — Song-Beverly Act

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2024 Dodge Hornet:

• 4+ repair attempts for the same non-safety defect without resolution
• 2+ repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
• 30+ calendar days out of service for warranty repairs (cumulative, not consecutive)

Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Dodge to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Dodge must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.

What You Can Recover

If your 2024 Dodge Hornet qualifies as a lemon under California law, Dodge may be legally required to:

• Repurchase your vehicle — Full refund of your down payment, all monthly payments, registration fees, and incidental costs (towing, rentals), minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt
• Replace your vehicle — Provide a new, comparable vehicle at no cost to you
• Pay your attorney’s fees — Under § 1794(d), Dodge pays all legal fees if you prevail
• Civil penalty up to 2x damages — If Dodge willfully violated the Act, courts may award double the actual damages

Steps to Protect Your 2024 Dodge Hornet Claim

Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.

Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Dodge a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Dodge dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.

Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Dodge pays your fees if you win.

Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Dodge a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.

2024 Dodge Hornet Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2024 Dodge Hornet as a lemon?

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.

Does Dodge pay my attorney fees?

Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Dodge is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.

Can I file a lemon law claim without an active recall?

Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.

What is the time limit to file a lemon law claim for my 2024 Dodge Hornet?

California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.