Nearly 50,000 Chrysler vehicles recalled over seat belt safety defect

Published August 11, 2026 12:41am EDT NHTSA says rear outboard seat belts may become twisted and fail to retract, raising injury risk in a crash Chrysler is recalling nearly 50,000 vehicles over a seat belt defect that could increase the risk of injury in a crash, according to federal regulators. The recall affects certain 2023-2025 Dodge Hornet and 2023-2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).A total of 48,777 vehicles are covered by the recall, the NHTSA said in its announcement, noting that an estimated 1.6% have the defect. CHRYSLER RECALLS 1.27M RAM PICKUPS OVER POTENTIAL SEAT BELT SAFETY ISSUE The recall affects certain 2023-2025 Dodge Hornet and 2023-2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles. (Getty Images / Getty Images)The recall was issued because the rear outboard seat belts may become twisted and fail to retract properly.A seat belt that does not retract may fail to properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.SOME OLDER FORD VEHICLES POSE 'UNREASONABLE' SAFETY RISKS, REGULATORS WARN The recall was issued because the rear outboard seat belts may become twisted and fail to retract properly. (Getty Images / Getty Images)The NHTSA said that drivers can take their cars to a dealer, so the seat belt retractors can be replaced, free of charge. The NHTSA said that drivers can take their cars to a dealer, so the seat belt retractors can be replaced, free of charge. (Sergei Mikhailichenko/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GONotification letters will be sent to owners starting on September 24.