VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Dodge Hornet2023–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Dodge Hornet Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 26 complaints
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 recalls · 21 complaints
Top issue: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
1 recall · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
Dodge Hornet — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 71 | 37 | 59 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 71 | 52 | 64 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 4 | 26 | — | — | 56 | 65 | 59 | Avoid |
| 2023 | 3 | 21 | — | — | 62 | 75 | 67 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Dodge Hornet Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Hornet compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Hornet to buy?+
See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Hornet model year.
Which Hornet years have the most problems?+
The 2024, 2023, 2025 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2024 Hornet leads with 4 recalls and 26 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Hornet problems?+
The most frequently reported Dodge Hornet issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.