NHTSA Complaint #10190717 — 1996 DODGE RAM 1500

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 2/5/2007 THE HOOD ON THE 1996 DODGE RAM P/U FLEW OPEN, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. JUST MISSING A BUS, THEN COMING TO A STOP AFTER HITTING THE CURB. THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD, ALSO, FRONT END HIT THE CURB. DODGE REFUSED TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THE PRIMARY LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE, THEY ONLY HAD A RECALL FOR THE SECONDARY LATCH. IN THE RECALL IT STATED THAT THE HOOD COULD OPEN IF THE PRIMARY LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE. IF THE SECONDARY LATCH WAS NOT DEFECTIVE IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE HOOD FROM OPENING COMPLETELY. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTICE FOR ANY DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND/OR KILLED OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AFTER ENTERING I-95. DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR ALL HOOD LATCHES ON THESE VEHICLES, ONE WAS NO GOOD WITHOUT THE OTHER. AFTER TAKING MY TRUCK TO A DODGE DEALER THEY LEFT THE HOOD COMPLETELY UNLATCHED, AND DID NOT REPLACE THE BUNGY CORD I HAD PLACED TO PREVENT THE HOOD FROM OPENING. WHEN WILL DODGE BE FORCED TO REPAIR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. AFTER SOMEONE IS INJURED. DODGE WAS NEGLIGENT IN ALLOWING THESE LATCHES TO BE KEPT ON THESE VEHICLES. *AK