Stellantis has announced a recall of the plug-in hybrid 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale and Dodge Hornet due to a defect in the brake pedal assembly. According to documents submitted to the U.S. regulator NHTSA, some vehicles may have received a pedal mechanism that, in certain instances, can fracture when pressed, leaving the service brakes inoperable — a troubling prospect, given it involves the primary braking system.

The issue affects vehicles built at the Giambattista Vico plant in Italy between February 10, 2023, and February 14, 2024. The inquiry was prompted by field reports in the fall of 2025, and Stellantis also reported one crash with no injuries.

The remedy is disarmingly straightforward: dealers will reinforce the pedal lever by installing a bolt and nut. Alfa Romeo and Dodge retailers in the United States are slated to be notified on December 16, 2025, with owner letters to follow no later than January 13, 2026. In total, up to 5,974 vehicles fall under this recall — a small hardware fix for a significant safety concern.