Used Dodge Hornet Buying Guide: GT vs R/T After the Cancellation

A used Dodge Hornet can be a quick, well-equipped small SUV for the money, but you are buying an orphan: Dodge ended production in January 2026 after only three model years, and every 2024-2025 car needs proof that the 24V752 brake pedal recall was done. Pick the 268-hp GT if you want simple and fast, or the R/T plug-in hybrid if you can charge at home and live with a tight back seat. Either way, budget for the fact that resale and parts depend on a model Dodge no longer builds.

I read Car and Driver's Hornet pages and its January 14, 2026 report on the car's end, USA Today's follow-up, and the NHTSA recalls API on Saturday, October 17, 2026. One recall from this summer still had no final fix, so the dates below matter.

What the Hornet is and why it stopped

The Hornet arrived for 2023, and C/D's review opens by calling it "a near-clone of the Alfa Romeo Tonale." The GT uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four with 268 hp, a nine-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. A GT Plus test car ran to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, only 0.2 seconds behind the plug-in. The lows are a tight rear seat, less cargo room than rivals and so-so fuel economy (the EPA says 21 mpg city and 29 highway).

The R/T plug-in hybrid joined for 2024. It pairs a turbocharged 1.3-liter four with electric motors for 288 hp combined, uses a six-speed automatic, and has a PowerShot feature that adds 30 hp for a short burst when you pull both paddles. C/D says its 12.0-kWh battery is rated for about 32 miles of electric driving, it managed 31 on C/D's highway loop, and a Level 2 charger refills it in roughly two and a half hours. C/D's complaint is that the hybrid brings "no extra speed" over the GT.

Then the politics hit. Every Hornet was built at Stellantis' plant in Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy. Dodge postponed the 2026 model in summer 2025 to assess U.S. tariff effects, and on January 14, 2026 Car and Driver reported that production had ended "due to shifts in the policy environment," with the 2025 model starting at $31,990 and imports facing a 25 percent duty. USA Today, in a January 15, 2026 story, put sales at 9,336 in 2023, 20,559 in 2024 and 9,365 in 2025. Dodge told both outlets it will keep up customer support, warranty coverage and "sustained parts supply." I believe they mean it, but a low-volume imported orphan can still mean longer waits for body parts after a crash, so ask a body shop before you buy one with a damage record.

Warranty you may still have

Dodge's statement in USA Today lists 3 years or 36,000 miles of basic coverage and 5 years or 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Plug-in hybrids also carry 8 years or 80,000 miles on hybrid components and 8 years or 100,000 miles on the battery. A 2023 GT bought now is close to the end of its basic coverage, so price it that way. On an R/T, the battery coverage is the part with real value.

Hornet recalls to confirm on the VIN

• 24V752, 2024-2025: the brake pedal may collapse and cause a loss of brake function. The NHTSA record lists 21,069 Hornets and Tonales; dealers reinforce the pedal arm. This is the one to see closed in writing.
• 23V623, plug-in hybrids (NHTSA lists 2023-2024): loose 12-volt or high-voltage cable connections can overheat and start a fire while parked or driving. The record told owners to park outside until the fix was done.
• 26V510, 2023-2025: rear outboard seat belts can twist and fail to retract. The record says interim letters went out September 17, 2026 and a second notice will follow once the final remedy exists. Expect this one to still be open.
• Smaller items: 25V246 (rearview camera image may not display, 2023-2025), 23V696 (missing pedestrian alert on plug-ins) and two tire-label campaigns, 24V175 and 24V209.

The API returned nothing for a 2026 Hornet, which fits a car that was never built for that year. If a listing says 2026, decode the VIN before anything else.

How it compares, and how to check one

Look, the Tonale twin is the obvious cross-shop, and our used Alfa Romeo Stelvio guide shows how Alfa's own recall handling has gone on a bigger Stellantis crossover. If you want a small, fun SUV without the orphan risk, read our used Mazda CX-30 buying guide. Inside Stellantis, the used Jeep Compass guide covers the more common compact.

For a specific car, run it through our Dodge VIN decoder walkthrough to confirm GT or R/T and the real model year, then use the Dodge recall check by VIN steps for open campaigns. NHTSA's vPIC decoder is free and will list the plant country. USA Today reported a $6,250 cash bonus on new Hornets in January 2026, so a nearly new one may have changed hands cheaply, and a full history report shows whether it was a fleet, rental or lease car. Never accept a report the seller texts you. Edited PDFs are easy to make, and we have caught them. CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Dodge. As of this week a report through us is roughly $5.50 as a guest or $4.50 as a member, with both brands for about $6.75, compared with about $39.99 to $44.99 from the brands. Confirm at checkout, since pricing can change.

Sources

• Car and Driver: Dodge Hornet and Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid
• Car and Driver: Hornet production ends (Jan. 14, 2026)
• USA Today: "Tariffs killed the Dodge Hornet" (Jan. 15, 2026; cited unlinked because the site blocks our link checker)
• NHTSA recall records 24V752, 23V623 and 26V510