Stellantis has determined that a safety defect could affect certain 2024 Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. The automaker has confirmed that the brake pedal arm in these vehicles may collapse, leading to a sudden and dangerous loss of braking ability.
If you own or lease one of these vehicles, here is everything you need to know about the defect, the remedy, and your potential rights under the Lemon Law.
The Problem: Brake Pedal Collapse
According to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the specific defect involves the brake pedal assembly. In affected vehicles, the pedal arm is susceptible to collapsing under the pressure of braking. If the pedal collapses, the driver may lose the ability to activate the service brakes. As stated in the safety report, “The inability to activate the service brakes while driving can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning.”
This recall (NHTSA Campaign Number 25V-846) is an expansion of a previous recall (24V-752) issued in October 2024. Despite earlier efforts, Stellantis Europe Control Tower received new field complaints in late 2025 regarding collapsed pedals in both North America and Europe, prompting this new, expanded campaign.
Accident Reports and Investigation
- October & November 2025: Field complaints were received regarding pedals collapsing during normal driving.
- November 24, 2025: Stellantis identified one warranty claim and one customer assistance record related to the issue.
- Safety Risk: As of late November 2025, the automaker is aware of one accident related to this defect. Fortunately, zero injuries have been reported so far.
What to Do If Your Brakes Fail
Stellantis has provided specific emergency instructions for drivers who experience a brake pedal collapse while driving. If your pedal hits the floor or snaps and you cannot stop the car:
- Use the Electronic Park Brake: Located on the center console, this switch can be pulled up and held while driving. This will override the failure and slow the vehicle to a controlled stop.
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): If your AEB system is active (not manually deactivated), it is designed to intervene automatically if it detects an imminent collision, even if the brake pedal is broken.
Recall Details and Remedy
Owners of affected vehicles should contact their dealerships immediately.
- NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V-846
- FCA US Recall Number: D0C
- Notification Date: Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by January 13, 2026.
- The Fix: Dealers will reinforce the brake pedal arm to prevent collapse.
Can I File a Lemon Law Claim?
The Lemon Law is designed to protect consumers who have purchased defective vehicles. If your car has a substantial safety defect that the manufacturer has failed to fix within a reasonable number of attempts or a reasonable amount of time, you could be eligible for:
- A vehicle repurchase (buyback).
- A replacement vehicle.
- Cash compensation.
- Payment of your attorney’s fees.
Do not wait until an accident happens. If you are unsafe in your vehicle, contact us today for a free consultation regarding your rights.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is taking steps to address an issue affecting the rear view cameras in over a million of its vehicles. On October 23, 2023, the FCA Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (TSRC) organization was alerted to a potential problem where rear view cameras were not displaying images in certain Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram models. This issue potentially violates the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for rear visibility.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issues safety standards that require automobile manufacturers to recall vehicles that have safety-related defects. An important first step to identifying a problem is to keep a database of complaints received from owners. Similar complaints from a number of owners about the same product are usually a good indication that a problem could exist. The NHTSA will review the complaints and, in most cases, open an investigation. If the investigation leads to a recall, the NHTSA will monitor the effectiveness and management of the recall, including the filing of recall notices, communicating with owners regarding the recalls, and tracking the completion rate of each recall.