NHTSA Complaint #10232466 — 2003 HONDA CIVIC

I DRIVE A 2003 HONDA CIVIC EX. I GOT OFF WORK AT 5:30 P.M. AND GOT ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAD THE INCIDENT ABOUT 5:55. ON 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC, I WAS IN THE 3RD FROM THE RIGHT. THIS IS RUSH HOUR IN INDIANAPOLIS. NO WARNING AT ALL, THE HOOD ON MY HONDA FLEW UP AND SMASHED MY WINDSHIELD TO PIECES AND PUT A LARGE DENT IN THE TOP OF THE HONDA WHERE IT MEETS THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD STAYED UP, COMPLETELY TAKING AWAY ANY VISION IN FRONT. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS AND THANFULLY DIDN'T HIT ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS TAILGATING ME. I MANAGED NOT TO SWERVE THE CAR AND STAY IN MY LANE. I COULD SEE A VEHICLE ON EACH SIDE OF ME AS I SLAMED ON THE BRAKES. I THEN PROCEEDED TO STEER MY WAY TO THE LEFT, CROSSING 2 LANES AND THEN GETTING MY CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I USED MY SIDE MIRRORS FOR THIS. WHEN I GOT MY CAR OVER ON THE SHOULDER, MY HOOD CAME DOWN. INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO NOT HIT ANYONE AND NOT GET HIT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CALLED ME ON THE 25TH. THEIR CLAIMS ADJUSTER SAID THAT THE HOOD LATCH HAD A DECENT AMOUNT OF WIGGLE ROOM! THIS SHOULD NOT BE. THERE SHOULD BE NO WIGGLE ROOM ON A HOOD RELEASE. I JUST TURNED 100,000 MILES A WEEK EARLIER. MY HOOD HADN'T BEEN UP FOR MONTHS. MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS AROUND VALENTINES DAY. ONE OF THOSE FLUKE THINGS I HOPE. I WOULD HATE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. I AM SO LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE FORM ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAR SEEMED FINE MECHANICALLY. I GOT ON THE SHOULDER AND WAS PRETTY SHAKEN UP. BUT OKAY.