NHTSA Complaint #10169729 — 1996 DODGE RAM 1500

I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY, J. TURNER BUTLER BLVD. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK RELEASED AND CRASHED INTO MY WINDSHIELD BLINDING ME. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND PULL OFF THE ROADWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTERWARDS I DID RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND FOUND NHTSA 01V040000 FOR DODGE RAM 1500 PUS FOR YEARS 1994-1999 WHICH INDICATED CORROSION OF THE SPRING ON THE SECONDARY LATCH COULD CAUSE IT TO BIND IN THE RELEASE POSITION. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK. THE RECALL HOWEVER WAS ONLY FOR TRUCKS SOLD OR REGISTERED IN THE SALT BELT STATES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. I RESIDE IN A COASTAL AREA OF FLORIDA AND PURCHASED THIS TRUCK USED. IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA AND I AM A RESIDENT OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH, BUT IT WAS USED IN COASTAL FLORIDA SINCE IT WAS SOLD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT REPAIRED, AND I WILL BEAR THE COST SINCE I JUST CANCELLED MY COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE (THOUGHT IT WAS TOO COSTLY FOR A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK). I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY COASTAL REGIONS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF THAT NEEDED MORE RESEARCH? *NM