2024 Dodge Hornet Lemon Law Case Study: Cash and Keep Settlement in Texas
A New Dodge Hornet That Stalled on the Freeway and Spent Over 5 Months in the Shop
Our client purchased a new 2024 Dodge Hornet in Texas on October 31, 2023. Within months, the vehicle began experiencing serious engine and electrical problems that would leave it sitting at a dealership for over five months.
The Hornet's engine stalled while the owner was driving on the freeway, a dangerous and potentially life-threatening failure. Check engine lights came on, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. Despite three repair attempts over 164 cumulative days out of service, the dealer could not resolve the underlying engine and electrical defects.
What Went Wrong
- Engine stalling on the freeway: The vehicle lost power while driving at highway speed, a serious safety hazard that put our client and other drivers at risk
- Check engine lights: Check engine lights came on when the vehicle stopped on the freeway
- Electrical issues: At the first visit, the vehicle had electrical issues and would not turn on
- Braking vibration: The vehicle shook while braking at 40 to 60 MPH; the front brake pads and rotors were replaced due to wear
164 Days in the Shop Across Three Repair Visits
Visit 1: May 4, 2024 (1 day)
- The vehicle was at approximately 7,810 miles, well within the manufacturer's warranty period
- The vehicle was having electrical issues and would not turn on
Visit 2: November 21 – December 3, 2024 (13 days)
- Our client reported that the vehicle shook while braking at 40 to 60 MPH, mostly felt from the front
- The technician found the front brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced due to wear, and the front brake weights were out of balance
- A zip tie was also found hitting the right front tire, contributing to the vibration
Visit 3: Starting April 24, 2025 (150+ days)
- The vehicle loses power while driving, then turns on and off
- Engineers have not been able to identify the cause, and no parts have been ordered since the issue has not been identified
- Repairs are covered under the manufacturer's warranty
- The vehicle had accumulated 164 total days out of service, more than five months of the owner's time lost
Why This Case Required Lemon Law Representation
The 2024 Dodge Hornet is part of Stellantis's compact crossover lineup, and engine stalling at highway speeds represents one of the most dangerous defects a vehicle can have. When a dealer cannot resolve such failures after months of attempts, legal intervention becomes necessary.
This case presented several legal strengths:
- Texas lemon law eligibility: With 164 cumulative days out of service, more than five times the 30-day threshold under the Texas Lemon Law, this vehicle clearly qualified for relief under Chapter 2301 of the Texas Occupations Code
- Life-threatening defect: The engine stalling on a freeway constitutes a safety defect that could result in serious injury or death
- Multiple systems affected: Engine, electrical, and braking failures demonstrated a systemic reliability problem, not an isolated incident
- Low mileage, early failure: At just 7,810 miles, this brand-new vehicle was already at the dealer for an electrical failure that kept it from turning on
- Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: The repeated warranty repairs provided an additional federal path to recovery beyond Texas state lemon law protections
How Easy Lemon Fought for Our Client's Rights
Free Case Evaluation
We reviewed the full repair history across all three dealer visits, documenting the 164 cumulative days out of service and the dangerous engine stalling incident on the freeway.
Documentation & Case Building
Our team compiled all repair orders documenting the recurring engine, electrical, and braking failures. We documented the five-month repair period, the freeway stalling incident, and the dealer's inability to resolve the underlying defects.
Demand to Stellantis (FCA)
We filed a formal demand against Stellantis citing both the Texas Lemon Law and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, documenting the 3 failed repairs, 164 days out of service, the life-threatening freeway stalling incident, and the manufacturer's inability to resolve engine and electrical failures in a vehicle with under 23,000 miles.
$12,000 Cash and Keep Settlement
Easy Lemon successfully negotiated a $12,000 Cash and Keep settlement, compensating our client for the significant loss of use, diminished value, and safety concerns, while allowing them to keep their vehicle.
$12,000 Cash and Keep Settlement
Key Case Facts
- Vehicle: 2024 Dodge Hornet
- Purchased: October 31, 2023, Texas
- Status at purchase: Brand new
- Mileage at first repair: 7,810 miles
- Primary defects: Recurring engine stalling, electrical system failures, and vibration while braking
- Repair attempts: 3 visits, including one 5-month stay at the dealership
- Days out of service: 164 cumulative days
- Manufacturer: Stellantis (FCA US LLC)
- Settlement type: Cash and Keep, $12,000
What Our Clients Are Saying
Attorney on Record
Aaron Waldo, Esq.
Attorney, Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C.
Attorney at Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C., handling lemon law claims. Aaron has helped hundreds of consumers recover full buybacks and cash settlements against major vehicle manufacturers.
Experiencing Engine Problems With Your Dodge?
Recurring engine stalling, check engine lights, and electrical failures are serious defects covered under lemon law. Get a free case evaluation, it takes 30 seconds and costs nothing.
Qualify in 30 Seconds →2024 Dodge Hornet Lemon Law Questions in Texas
Your Dodge May Have a Lemon Law Claim Too
If your Dodge keeps going back to the shop for the same problem, you may qualify under your state's lemon law, the manufacturer pays our fees, not you. We handle Dodge cases like this one regularly.
See Our Dodge Lemon Law Page →Learn More
- Texas Lemon Law Attorneys
- All Settlements & Case Studies
- Lemon Law By Manufacturer
- Dodge Lemon Law
- Car Lemon Law Guide
- Free Case Evaluation
Related Case Results
- 2023 Dodge Challenger cash-and-keep settlement in Texas ($27,000)
- 2024 Dodge Charger buyback in Florida ($66,508)
- 2025 Dodge Durango cash-and-keep settlement in New York ($15,000)
