armaker Stellantis announced on Wednesday a global recall of 54,000 hybrid crossover SUVs due to a defect that could cause the brake pedal to disengage during use. The recall affects 2024-2025 model-year Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid SUVs and 2024 model-year Dodge Hornet plug-in hybrid SUVs, which share the same platform.
The recall was detailed in a filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a separate statement from Stellantis. A total of 21,069 vehicles in the United States, approximately 2,280 in Canada, 134 in Mexico, and around 30,517 units outside North America are affected, the company said.
Stellantis identified a potential issue where the brake pedal assemblies in certain vehicles could disengage unexpectedly while being applied. The automaker has reported 15 cases globally of the brake pedal assemblies collapsing during normal driving, including one incident that led to a crash, though no injuries have been reported.
Dealers are expected to fix the issue by reinforcing the brake pedals with a bolt and nut. In addition, Stellantis advised that owners of affected vehicles can use the electronic parking brake as a backup in case of brake failure. The company also noted that the automatic emergency braking system would activate if a potential collision is detected, provided it has not been deactivated by the driver.
