Is the Dodge Hornet more reliable than the Volvo XC40?

No. The XC40 has a slight edge in the reliability comparison and a good standing, while the Hornet's is mixed. The Hornet has a shorter record, a heavy recall load for its three model years, and electrical complaints that dealers often could not fix. The XC40 has serious problems too, so the gap is small.

Which has more recalls, the Hornet or the XC40?

The XC40 has slightly more in total, with 15 recalls across six model years. The Hornet has 13 across only three model years. That makes the Hornet's recall load heavier for its age. Owners also report waiting on back-ordered recall parts for brake and back over prevention repairs.

What goes wrong with the Dodge Hornet's electrical system?

Owners report door latches that will not open or latch, and batteries that drain when the car is not driven daily. Some cars lost all power with no restart. After a jump start, the center screen can stay dark, and adaptive cruise can shut off with service-required messages. Some owners say dealers could not find a fix.

Is the Volvo XC40 safe from sudden power loss?

Not entirely. Owners describe the XC40 shutting off at stop lights, exit ramps, and parking lot exits, then refusing to restart. Several had repeated no-starts and multiple tows. Power train reports describe shuddering, then a total loss of power, including after software updates. One power train report is crash-linked.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Hornet vs Volvo XC40: Reliability Compared

Dodge Hornet

Mixed

More Reliable

Volvo XC40

Good

Reliability favors the Volvo XC40 by a slight margin over the Dodge Hornet. The Hornet packs 13 recalls into three model years, and owners describe door latch failures and drained batteries. The XC40's worst reports involve sudden power loss and unwanted automatic braking.

How Do the Dodge Hornet and Volvo XC40 Generations Compare?

Every used Hornet belongs to a single first generation, sold in the US for 2023 to 2025, with a minor refresh that arrived for 2025. That short run gives little basis for judging how the design ages. On the Volvo side, the first-generation XC40 ran in the US from 2018 to 2024, with a facelift for 2023. A second generation, sold as the EX40, appears in the data for 2024 only. Most used XC40 shoppers will be looking at first-generation cars, either before the facelift or from 2023 on. The 2023 year is among the XC40's weakest, so the facelift year deserves a closer inspection.

Verdict

The Volvo XC40 is more reliable than the Dodge Hornet, scoring 61/100 vs 59/100.

Slightly ahead on reliability is the XC40, which holds a good standing while the Hornet's is mixed. The Hornet packs 13 recalls into just three model years, and its owners describe electrical faults that dealers could not fix and recall parts that were back-ordered. The XC40 has serious problems of its own, including sudden power loss, so the gap is small. Neither car is a clean pick.

Key Differences

1Dodge Hornet has 213311.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Volvo XC40 scores 2 points higher in reliability
3Dodge Hornet has 2 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

2Dodge Hornet

—

1Volvo XC40

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Dodge Hornet vs Volvo XC40: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Hornet vs Volvo XC40 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Dodge Hornet	Volvo XC40
Reliability Score	59/100	61/100
Years Tracked	3	6
Total Recalls	13	15
Complaints per 10k Sold	21.7	213333.3
Year Wins	1	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Hornet and Volvo XC40?

Electrical trouble tops both lists, but it looks different. Hornet owners report door latches that fail, batteries that drain when the car is not driven daily, and a dark center screen after a jump start. XC40 owners report full shutdowns while moving, followed by no restart. Crash-linked reports separate them further. Only the XC40 has crash-linked brake reports, where automatic braking fired with nothing ahead, and a crash-linked power train report. Only the Hornet has a crash-linked forward collision report, where lane assist steered the car off the road.

Dodge Hornet vs Volvo XC40 common problem areas comparison
Component	Dodge Hornet	Volvo XC40
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	6.8Average	40000High
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.8Low	28333.3High
BACK OVER PREVENTION	2Low	23333.3High
SERVICE BRAKES	2.5Low	21666.7High
POWER TRAIN	0.5Very Low	13333.3High
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	8333.3High
STRUCTURE	0.5Very Low	6666.7High
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	6666.7High
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	6666.7High
AIR BAGS	—None	6666.7High
STEERING	1.8Low	3333.3High
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	1.5Low	3333.3High
ENGINE	1.3Low	3333.3High
SEAT BELTS	—None	3333.3High

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Dodge Hornet vs Volvo XC40 Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Hornet vs Volvo XC40 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Dodge Hornet	Volvo XC40	Edge
2024	54/1007R / 60C	64/1003R / 14C	Volvo XC40
2023	59/1004R / 25C	48/1004R / 35C	Dodge Hornet

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Dodge Hornet scored 59/100 and the 2024 Volvo XC40 scored 64/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Hornet vs the Volvo XC40?

Pick the XC40 if you want the better overall standing and a wider choice of model years. Target 2020, which ranks among its strongest years, and avoid 2021 and 2023, its weakest. The 2026 year looks good, but it is the newest and has had the least time to collect complaints, so do not read it as proven. Check that the rearview camera works and ask about any past shutdowns or no-start tows. Pick the Hornet only if you want a newer car and can accept open recall work. Every Hornet is 2023 to 2025, and 2024 is listed among the weakest years. Before you buy, check the VIN on the federal recall site, since one owner was told a repair was done while the site still showed it open. Ask whether the back-ordered parts were installed. Test the door latches, the camera, and the driver-assist features.

Dodge Hornet vs Volvo XC40: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Hornet more reliable than the Volvo XC40?: No. The XC40 has a slight edge in the reliability comparison and a good standing, while the Hornet's is mixed. The Hornet has a shorter record, a heavy recall load for its three model years, and electrical complaints that dealers often could not fix. The XC40 has serious problems too, so the gap is small.
Which has more recalls, the Hornet or the XC40?: The XC40 has slightly more in total, with 15 recalls across six model years. The Hornet has 13 across only three model years. That makes the Hornet's recall load heavier for its age. Owners also report waiting on back-ordered recall parts for brake and back over prevention repairs.
What goes wrong with the Dodge Hornet's electrical system?: Owners report door latches that will not open or latch, and batteries that drain when the car is not driven daily. Some cars lost all power with no restart. After a jump start, the center screen can stay dark, and adaptive cruise can shut off with service-required messages. Some owners say dealers could not find a fix.
Is the Volvo XC40 safe from sudden power loss?: Not entirely. Owners describe the XC40 shutting off at stop lights, exit ramps, and parking lot exits, then refusing to restart. Several had repeated no-starts and multiple tows. Power train reports describe shuddering, then a total loss of power, including after software updates. One power train report is crash-linked.
Which Volvo XC40 years should I avoid?: Avoid 2021 and 2023, the XC40's weakest years in the data. The 2020 year is among its strongest. The 2026 year also ranks well, but it is the newest and has had the least time to collect complaints, so treat it cautiously. Check the rearview camera and any shutdown history on whichever car you consider.

More Dodge Hornet comparisons

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More Volvo XC40 comparisons

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How we score the Dodge Hornet and Volvo XC40

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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