Chrysler is recalling nearly 50,000 vehicles due to a seat belt defect that could increase the risk of injury during a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced.

The recall affects certain 2023–2025 Dodge Hornet and 2023–2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles. A total of 48,777 vehicles are covered by the recall, with the NHTSA estimating that approximately 1.6% of those vehicles have the defect.

Chrysler, a division of Stellantis, manufactures both the Dodge Hornet and the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which share a common platform as compact crossover SUVs. The Hornet, introduced for the 2023 model year, marked Dodge's entry into the competitive compact crossover segment, while the Tonale was launched around the same period as Alfa Romeo's first compact SUV offering. Because the two vehicles share underlying architecture and components, a single defect can propagate across both model lines, which is a recurring consideration in the auto industry's widespread use of shared platforms to reduce development costs.

The recall was prompted by a finding that the rear outboard seat belts in the affected vehicles may become twisted and fail to retract properly. According to the NHTSA, a seat belt that does not retract may fail to adequately restrain an occupant, increasing the likelihood of injury in the event of a crash.

Owners of affected vehicles are advised to take their cars to an authorized dealer, where the seat belt retractors will be replaced free of charge. The NHTSA stated that notification letters will be mailed to vehicle owners beginning on September 24. Owners can also verify whether their vehicle is included by entering its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Source: Fox Business