Alexandre
Stellantisthe automotive group that owns brands such asAlfa Romeo and Dodge, has just announced a major recall involving more than 40,000 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles including over 20,000 in the USA, including the 2024 Dodge Hornet and 2024-2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale models. The reason? A risk of the brake pedal collapsing during useincreasing the risk of collision. This problem also affects other markets, bringing the overall total to around 44,000 vehicles concerned.
A design problem with the brake pedal
According to the report published by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)The brake pedal could collapse due to a structural weakness. Stellantis plans to solve this problem by reinforcing the pedal arms with a bolt and nut. No parts will be replaced. This recall affects :
- About 17,000 Dodge Hornet and 4,000 Alfa Romeo Tonale in the United States.
- 2,299 units in Canada, 145 in Mexicoand 20,987 on other international marketsmainly in Europe, including 2,758 in France and 962 in Spain
All the vehicles concerned were manufactured at the Stellantis plant in Pomigliano, Italy.
Recommendations for drivers
Stellantis ensures that vehicles remain equipped with additional safety systems. In the event of brake pedal failure, drivers can use the electronic parking brakeaccessible via a control located on the center console. This allows the vehicle to be slowed by holding the control in the activated position.
In emergency situations, the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) could also be activated to avoid a collision, provided it is not deactivated. However, this solution may be difficult to envisage for drivers in panic situations.
A problem already reported: 15 cases, one accident, but no injuries
Stellantis has confirmed that it has received 15 reports worldwide concerning this problem, including one case that led to an accident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The purpose of this recall is to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and to ensure driver safety.
If you have a Alfa Romeo Tonale or Dodge Hornet PHEV, contact your dealer as soon as possible to carry out the necessary repairs.