NHTSA Complaint #10308230 — 2005 SUZUKI RENO

I HAD A SUZUKI RENO FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME AND A FEW WEEKS LATER FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CONDITIONS HAD TO BE JUST RIGHT FOR IT TO HAPPEN. I AM REFERRING TO THE HOOD BECOMING UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 70MPH WITH HARD WIND GUSTS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WOULD SLIGHTLY TWIST AND THEN THE HOOD WOULD AUTOMATICALLY RELEASE AND CATCH ON THE SECONDARY LATCH. IF THE SECONDARY LATCH WAS TO SLIP BEFORE STOPPING THE CAR THEN THE HOOD WOULD SLAM INTO THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS CAR POSED A THREAT TO MY LIFE AND TO THEIRS IF THEY WERE WITH ME. I ATTEMPTED TO GET SUZUKI TO TRY TO FIX IT BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I FELT THAT THIS CAR WAS A DEATH TRAP AND REFUSED TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE SO I VOLUNTARILY GAVE IT UP AS A REPO SINCE THE DEALER I HAD PURCHASED IT FROM WOULD NOT DO A "BUY-BACK". NOW, BECAUSE OF THIS CAR, MY CREDIT IS RUINED AND I STILL OWE OVER $6500 FOR WHAT THE BANK LOST AT AUCTION. IF TOYOTA IS BEING SLAMMED FOR THEIR PROBLEMS THEN SUZUKI SHOULD TOO. I ALSO HAD A MASTER MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE STATED THAT THE LATCH WAS PROPERLY ADJUSTED BUT THE QUALITY AND STRENGTH OF THE METALS USED IN THE BODY WERE INSUFFICIENT (FLIMSY). *TR