Selling a wrecked or broken Dodge Hornet

So if yours is crashed, flooded or stuck with a recall nobody fixed, you're selling a short-run import. We buy whole non-running and junk cars. You can sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

Two Hornets under one badge

Wikipedia lists two versions, and they share little under the hood.

• GT: a 2.0-liter Hurricane4 turbo four with a 9-speed automatic.
• R/T: a 1.3-liter turbo four plus electric motors, a 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery and more than 30 miles of electric range. It uses a 6-speed automatic.

EPA's data lists them as the Hornet AWD and the Hornet PHEV AWD, both small SUVs. The Hornet was built at Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy, on the same platform as the Tonale. Wikipedia calls it Dodge's first all-new model in over a decade, after the Journey ended.

That split matters when you read the recalls. Three of them name only the plug-in hybrid.

What owners reported, and the recalls that match

There is one generation, so this section goes by problem instead.

Electrical: the most-named part

Electrical complaints lead on every model year: 9 on the 2023, 22 on the 2024 and 1 on the 2025. The recall to know is 23V623000 on 2023-2024 plug-in hybrids. A high-voltage connector cable or the 12-volt positive cable could be loose. NHTSA's advice is to park the Hornet outside, away from any structure, until a dealer makes it safe. The campaign covered 4,129 vehicles across both brands.

Four complaints report a fire, all on the 2024.

Brakes: two pedal recalls

All 14 complaints filed under "service brakes" are on the 2024. Two recalls describe a brake pedal that may collapse and cause a loss of braking:

• 24V752000, 2024-2025 Hornets and Tonales, 21,069 vehicles. Dealers reinforce the pedal arm.
• 25V846000, 2024 plug-in hybrids, 5,974 vehicles. Same fix. Owner letters went out January 13, 2026.

Cameras, alerts and belts

Forward collision avoidance has 8 complaints and back-over prevention has 7. Two recalls touch that area. 25V246000 (48,527 vehicles, 2023-2025) covers a display that may not show the rearview camera image. 23V696000 (4,661 vehicles, 2023-2024 plug-in hybrids) covers a pedestrian alert siren that may be missing or unplugged.

The newest campaign, 26V510000, was reported August 6, 2026. Rear outboard seat belts may twist and fail to retract on 2023-2025 Hornets and 2023-2026 Tonales; dealers replace the retractors. It counts 48,777 vehicles.

Two more, 24V175000 and 24V209000, fix wrong or missing tire labels.

Complaints and recalls by year

Every Hornet figure here is an owner complaint on NHTSA's books as of October 10, 2026. A car that's only been out briefly hasn't built many up, and that largely explains why the 2025 has only 2. Recall counts are campaigns that list that year; every campaign's vehicle count includes the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

Repair it or sell it?

Run the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup first. Each of these remedies is listed as free at a dealer, so an open recall is not a reason to sell by itself. See open recall if you'd rather not wait for one.

The harder cases:

• Crash damage. On a car this new, the insurer decides whether it's a total. Wrecked or totaled and keep the check, sell unrepaired cover both paths.
• Plug-in system trouble on an R/T. See hybrid battery failed.
• Warning lights and dead modules. Electrical problems explains how to weigh them.
• Still paying it off? Read still owe on the loan before you sell.

Selling your Hornet whole

1. Note the version. GT or R/T, the VIN and the mileage.
2. List open recalls. Especially 23V623000 on a plug-in.
3. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
4. Describe the spot: garage, lot or curb, and whether the wheels turn. If the battery-cable recall is open, keep it outside, away from buildings, until pickup.
5. Leave it complete. Keep the wheels, battery and charging cable with the car, and mention anything missing.
6. Bring the title and both keys when the truck arrives. If a lender holds the title, tell us up front. For plates, see after you sell.