2023 DODGE HORNET tires

120STARTING AND OPERATING
Emergency Fuel Door Release

1. Access the rear quarter trim panel in the cargo area
on the right side of the vehicle.

Release Cap Location

2. Remove the release cap from the quarter trim panel.
3. After removing the release cap, pull it directly away from the quarter trim panel to release the fuel door.

Fuel Door Emergency Release

4. Reinstall the release cap into the quarter trim when completed.
VEHICLE LOADING
CERTIFICATION LABEL
As required by National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration regulations, your vehicle has a certification
label affixed to the driver's side door or pillar.
This label contains the month and year of manufacture,
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), front and rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), and Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN). A Month-Day-Hour (MDH) number is
included on this label and indicates the Month, Day and
Hour of manufacture. The bar code that appears on the
bottom of the label is your VIN.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The GVWR is the total permissible weight of your vehicle
including driver, passengers, vehicle, options and cargo.
The label also specifies maximum capacities of front and
rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Total load must be
limited so GVWR and front and rear GAWR are not
exceeded.
Payload
The payload of a vehicle is defined as the allowable load
weight a truck can carry, including the weight of the driver,
all passengers, options and cargo.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible load on the front
and rear axles. The load must be distributed in the cargo
area so that the GAWR of each axle is not exceeded.
Each axle GAWR is determined by the components in the
system with the lowest load carrying capacity (axle,
springs, tires or wheels). Heavier axles, or suspension
components sometimes specified by purchasers for
increased durability do not necessarily increase the
vehicle's GVWR.
Tire Size
The tire size on the Vehicle Certification Label represents
the actual tire size on your vehicle. Replacement tires
must be equal to the load capacity of this tire size.
Rim Size
This is the rim size that is appropriate for the tire size
listed.

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STARTING AND OPERATING123
(Continued)
TRAILER AND TONGUE WEIGHT
Never exceed the maximum tongue weight stamped on
your trailer hitch.

Weight Distribution

Consider the following items when computing the weight
on the front/rear axles of the vehicle:
The trailer tongue weight.
 The weight of any other type of cargo or equipment put
in or on your vehicle.
 The weight of the driver and all passengers.
NOTE:Remember that everything put into or on the trailer adds
to the load on your vehicle. Also, additional
factory-installed options, or authorized dealer-installed
options, must be considered as part of the total load on
your vehicle. Refer to the Tire And Loading Information
Placard located on the driver’s door pillar for the
maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo for
your vehicle.
TOWING REQUIREMENTS
To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drivetrain
components, the following guidelines are recommended.
Perform the maintenance listed in Scheduled Servicing
and the proper maintenance intervals
Úpage 223. When
towing a trailer, never exceed the GAWR or GCWR ratings.
CAUTION!
 Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(805 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine, axle
or other parts could be damaged.
 Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that a
trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)
and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps the
engine and other parts of the vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
WARNING!
Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer
and will not shift during travel. When trailering cargo
that is not fully secured, dynamic load shifts can
occur that may be difficult for the driver to control.
You could lose control of your vehicle and have a
collision.
When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not over -
load your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can cause a
loss of control, poor performance or damage to
brakes, axle, engine, transmission, steering, suspen -
sion, chassis structure or tires.
 Safety chains must always be used between your
vehicle and trailer. Always connect the chains to the
hook retainers of the vehicle hitch. Cross the chains
under the trailer tongue and allow enough slack for
turning corners.
 Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a
grade. When parking, apply the parking brake on the
tow vehicle. Put the tow vehicle transmission in
PARK. For four-wheel drive vehicles, make sure the
transfer case is not in NEUTRAL. Always, block or
"chock" the trailer wheels.
 GCWR must not be exceeded.
 Total weight must be distributed between the tow
vehicle and the trailer such that the following four
ratings are not exceeded :
 GVWR
 GTW
 GAWR
 Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch utilized
WARNING!
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124STARTING AND OPERATING
Towing Requirements — Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact
spare tire.
 Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h) when towing
while using a full size spare tire.
 Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to the safe
and satisfactory operation of your vehicle.
 Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation pressures
before trailer usage.
 Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire damage
before towing a trailer.
 Replacing tires with a higher load carrying capacity will
not increase the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR limits.
 For further information
Úpage 246.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake system or
vacuum system of your vehicle with that of the trailer.
This could cause inadequate braking and possible
personal injury.
 An electronically actuated trailer brake controller is
required when towing a trailer with electronically
actuated brakes. When towing a trailer equipped with
a hydraulic surge actuated brake system, an electronic
brake controller is not required. 
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers over
1,000 lb (453 kg) and required for trailers in excess of
1,543 lb (700 kg).
Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights And
Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,
stoplights and turn signals on the trailer are required for
motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- and seven-pin
wiring harness. Use a factory-approved trailer harness and
connector.
NOTE:Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s wiring
harness.
The electrical connections are all complete to the vehicle
but you must mate the harness to a trailer connector.
Refer to the following illustrations.
NOTE:
Disconnect the trailer wiring connector from the vehicle
(or any other device plugged into vehicle’s electrical
connectors) before launching a boat into water.
 Be sure to reconnect once clear from water area.
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your vehicle's
hydraulic brake lines. It can overload your brake
system and cause it to fail. You might not have
brakes when you need them and could have an
accident.
 Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing, you should allow for
additional space between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front of you. Failure to do so could result
in an accident.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lb (453 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they should
be of adequate capacity. Failure to do this could lead to
accelerated brake lining wear, higher brake pedal
effort, and longer stopping distances.

23_GG_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 124

STARTING AND OPERATING127
RECREATIONAL TOWING
Recreational towing (with all four wheels on the ground, or
using a towing dolly) is NOT ALLOWED. This vehicle may be
towed on flatbed or vehicle trailer provided all four wheels
are OFF the ground.
DRIVING TIPS
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
Information in this section will aid in safe controlled
launches in adverse conditions.
Acceleration
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slippery
surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull erratically to
the right or left. This phenomenon occurs when there is a
difference in the surface traction under the front (driving)
wheels.
Traction
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is hydroplaning and may cause partial or
complete loss of vehicle control and stopping ability. To
reduce this possibility, the following precautions should be
observed:
Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are
slushy.
 Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.
 Replace the tires when tread wear indicators first
become visible.
 Keep tires properly inflated.
 Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.
CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle with ANY of its wheels on the ground
can cause severe transmission and/or power transfer
unit damage. Damage from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the front
wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle and
possibly have a collision. Accelerate slowly and carefully
whenever there is likely to be poor traction (ice, snow,
wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).
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MULTIMEDIA151
CON TR O LS O N CEN TR AL TUN NEL
A rotary control is present on the central tunnel to the right
side of the gear shifter and has different functionality
depending on the kind of pressing and/or rotating.

Rotary Control Central Tunnel

Short Press
This will activate or deactivate the Mute function for
playback of audio tracks, radio stations, App streaming
and incoming calls.
Long Press
This will turn on or off the Uconnect system.
Rotate
This will increase or decrease the volume.
MY CAR
My Car is an application that provides indicators that will
help you gain familiarity with the capabilities of your
vehicle in real time.
To access My Car options, select “My Car” on the
touchscreen within the Vehicle tab.
My Car includes:
 Overview
 Drive Mode Explorer
Press the desired My Car item on the touchscreen to view
the content related to it.
The following describes each feature and its operation:
Overview
The main features of this page are showing when your
vehicle is due for service and the status of your tires.

My Car Overview

Drive Mode Explorer
This page will show content related to the additional drive
mode features. Selectable options on the bottom of the
touchscreen are “Auto” and “Sport”. The following is some
of the information that will be displayed on the
touchscreen:
 Engine Torque
 Gas Pedal
 Shifting
 Steering
 AWD

My Car Drive Mode Explorer

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154
(Continued)
SAFETY
SAFETY FEATURES
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
The ABS provides increased vehicle stability and brake
performance under most braking conditions. The system
automatically prevents wheel lock and enhances vehicle
control during braking.
The ABS performs a self-check cycle to ensure that the
ABS is working properly each time the vehicle is started
and driven. During this self-check, you may hear a slight
clicking sound as well as some related motor noises.
The ABS is activated during braking when the system
detects one or more wheels are beginning to lock. Road
conditions such as ice, snow, gravel, bumps, railroad
tracks, loose debris, or panic stops may increase the
likelihood of ABS activation(s).
You also may experience the following normal
characteristics when the ABS activates:
ABS motor noise or clicking sounds (you may continue
to hear for a short time after the stop)
 Brake pedal pulsations
 A slight drop of the brake pedal at the end of the stop The ABS is designed to function with the Original
Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tires. Modification may
result in degraded ABS performance.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Warning
Light
The yellow ABS Warning Light will turn on when the ignition
is placed in the ON/RUN mode and may stay on for as long
as four seconds.
If the ABS Warning Light remains on or comes on while
driving, it indicates that the anti-lock portion of the brake
system is not functioning and that service is required.
However, the conventional brake system will continue to
operate normally if the ABS Warning Light is on.
If the ABS Warning Light is on, the brake system should be
serviced as soon as possible to restore the benefits of
Anti-Lock Brakes. If the ABS Warning Light does not come
on when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN mode, have
the light repaired as soon as possible.
WARNING!

The ABS contains sophisticated electronic equip -
ment that may be susceptible to interference caused
by improperly installed or high output radio transmit -
ting equipment. This interference can cause possible
loss of anti-lock braking capability. Installation of
such equipment should be performed by qualified
professionals.
 Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will diminish their
effectiveness and may lead to a collision. Pumping
makes the stopping distance longer. Just press firmly
on your brake pedal when you need to slow down or
stop.
 The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics
from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking or steering efficiency beyond that afforded
by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the
traction afforded.
The ABS cannot prevent collisions, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, following
another vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
 The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner that could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
WARNING!

23_GG_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 154

156SAFETY
(Continued)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ESC enhances directional control and stability of the
vehicle under various driving conditions. ESC corrects for
oversteering or understeering of the vehicle by applying
the brake of the appropriate wheel(s) to counteract these
conditions. Engine power may also be reduced to help the
vehicle maintain the desired path.
Oversteer — when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
 Understeer — when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the vehicle
path intended by the driver and compares it to the actual
path of the vehicle. When the actual path does not match
the intended path, ESC applies the brake of the
appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting the oversteer
or understeer condition. The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light located in
the instrument cluster will start to flash as soon as the ESC
system becomes active. The ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light also flashes when the TCS is active. If the
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light begins to flash
during acceleration, ease up on the accelerator and apply
as little throttle as possible. Be sure to adapt your speed
and driving to the prevailing road conditions.
ESC Operating Modes
Depending upon model and mode of operation, the
ESC system may have multiple operating modes.
ESC On
This is the normal operating mode for the ESC. Whenever
the vehicle is started, the ESC system will be in this mode.
This mode should be used for most driving conditions.
Alternate ESC modes should only be used for specific
reasons as noted in the following paragraphs.
WARNING!

Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road conditions
and driving conditions, influence the chance that wheel
lift or rollover may occur. ERM cannot prevent all wheel
lift or rollovers, especially those that involve leaving the
roadway or striking objects or other vehicles. The
capabilities of an ERM-equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner which could
jeopardize the user's safety or the safety of others.

WARNING!

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot prevent the
natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle,
nor can it increase the traction afforded by prevailing
road conditions. ESC cannot prevent accidents,
including those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or hydro -
planing. ESC also cannot prevent accidents resulting
from loss of vehicle control due to inappropriate
driver input for the conditions. Only a safe, attentive,
and skillful driver can prevent accidents. The capabil -
ities of an ESC equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
 Vehicle modifications, or failure to properly maintain
your vehicle, may change the handling characteris -
tics of your vehicle, and may negatively affect the
performance of the ESC system. Changes to the
steering system, suspension, braking system, tire
type and size or wheel size may adversely affect ESC
performance. Improperly inflated and unevenly worn
tires may also degrade ESC performance. Any vehicle
modification or poor vehicle maintenance that
reduces the effectiveness of the ESC system can
increase the risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death.
WARNING!

23_GG_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 156

SAFETY157
Full Off
To enter the “Full Off” mode, push the Sport Mode button
and then hold the ESC OFF button for two seconds while
the vehicle is stopped with the engine running. After two
seconds, a chime will sound, the ESC OFF Indicator Light
will illuminate, and the “ESC OFF” message will display in
the instrument cluster. To turn ESC on again, momentarily
push the ESC OFF button.ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
in the instrument cluster will come on when the
ignition is placed in the ON mode. It should go
out with the engine running. If the ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light comes on
continuously with the engine running, a malfunction has
been detected in the ESC system. If this light remains on
after several ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been
driven several miles (km) at speeds greater than 30 mph
(48 km/h), see an authorized dealer as soon as possible
to have the problem diagnosed and corrected.
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light starts to
flash as soon as the tires lose traction and the ESC system
becomes active. The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light also flashes when Traction Control System (TCS) is
active. If the ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
begins to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as possible. Be sure
to adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.
The ESC OFF Indicator Light indicates the
customer has elected to have the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) in a reduced mode.
NOTE:
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light and the
ESC OFF Indicator Light come on momentarily each
time the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN position.
 Each time the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN posi -
tion, the ESC system will be on even if it was turned off
previously.
 The ESC system will make buzzing or clicking sounds
when it is active. This is normal; the sounds will stop
when ESC becomes inactive following the maneuver
that caused the ESC activation.
Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) —
If Equipped
The ESS activates the hazard lights at a faster than normal
speed when heavy brake pressure is applied. ESS will only
activate when the speed is above 31 mph (50 km/h). The
ESS operates independently of other lamps, and will turn
on and off automatically. This indicates to others that the
vehicle is stopping quickly.
NOTE:
A warning light will illuminate within the instrument
cluster to inform the driver that the ESS feature has
been activated.
 When towing a trailer, ESS will also activate the rear
indicator lights of the trailer.
WARNING!
In the ESC “Full Off” mode, the engine torque reduc -
tion and stability features are disabled. Therefore,
enhanced vehicle stability offered by the ESC system
is unavailable. In an emergency evasive maneuver,
the ESC system will not engage to assist in main -
taining stability. ESC “Full Off” mode is intended for
off-highway or off-road use only.
 With the ESC switched off, the enhanced vehicle
stability offered by ESC is unavailable. In an
emergency evasive maneuver, the ESC system
will not engage to assist in maintaining stability.
ESC “Full Off” mode is only intended for off-highway
or off-road use.
 The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions. ESC cannot prevent all
accidents, including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or
hydroplaning. ESC also cannot prevent collisions.
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