NHTSA Complaint #10137499 — 2001 DODGE RAM 1500

I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL ON THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE HOOD. I THEN TRIED TO LIFT THE HOOD AFTER IT WAS CLOSED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS WELL CLOSED. I COULD NOT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ON THE STREET AT 30-40 MILES PER HOUR AND 5 MINUTES AFTER CHECKING THE OIL, THE HOOD POPPED UP, BENT BACKWARDS, AND SMASHED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT IT OCCURRED AT 10:30 AM IN FRONT OF THE EAST GREENBUSH, NY WALMART, AND AN EAST GREENBUSH POLICE OFFICER DID STOP TO HELP ME REATTACH THE BENT HOOD AND SECURE IT SO I COULD DRIVE HOME TO ARRANGE REPAIRS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE HOOD POPPED UP. IT SHOULD HAVE STAYED CLOSED. I WONDER WHY EVEN THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED. THE FRONT HOOD HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, THE SAFETY LATCH, AND THE HOOD BRACKETS ($1800). I KEPT THE OLD PARTS AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED. I NOTICED THAT THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH HAD BEEN RECALLED ON THE DODGE RAM 1994-1999. THE 2001 DODGE RAM HAS THE SAME BODY. IS THE LATCH STILL DEFECTIVE? *NM