Chrysler recall affects 48,777 Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles
Chrysler is recalling 48,777 vehicles after federal regulators found a defect that can cause rear outboard seat belts to twist and fail to retract properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The recall covers certain 2023–2025 Dodge Hornet models and 2023–2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale models, and affects an estimated 1.6% of the vehicles in the population subject to the recall.
What the defect is and the safety risk
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rear outboard seat belt retractors on the affected vehicles may become twisted and fail to retract. A seat belt that does not retract correctly can prevent the restraint system from fitting an occupant snugly and functioning as designed in a collision, which may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy and timeline
- Chrysler (Stellantis) will replace the defective seat-belt retractors free of charge at authorized dealers.
- Dealers will perform the repair at no cost to vehicle owners.
- Notification letters to owners are scheduled to begin on September 24 (as stated in the regulator announcement).
What owners should do now
- Check whether your vehicle is part of the recall by using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- If your vehicle is affected, schedule a service appointment with an authorized dealer to have the rear outboard seat-belt retractors replaced.
- Until the repair is completed, ensure seat belts are properly routed and worn according to the owner’s manual; if you note a belt that won’t retract or is noticeably twisted, avoid seating a child there and contact your dealer for guidance.
Industry and consumer impact
Although this recall covers a relatively small number of vehicles compared with some high-profile mass recalls, seat-belt issues are taken especially seriously because they relate directly to occupant safety. For Stellantis (Chrysler’s parent company), the recall represents another customer-service and logistics task — coordinating dealer repairs, parts availability and owner notifications. For consumers, timely repairs minimize safety risk and potential impacts on resale value.
Recalls like this also spotlight the role of the NHTSA in identifying and addressing safety defects and the importance of owners checking recall status for their vehicles periodically.
Sources
- NHTSA recalls portal: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Stellantis customer & recall information: https://www.stellantis.com/en/recalls
- Reporting on the recall and regulatory notice (example coverage): Fox Business: https://www.foxbusiness.com/
Note: Vehicle owners should rely on the official NHTSA recall lookup and their vehicle manufacturer’s recall notices for the most current, VIN-specific information and repair scheduling.
