NHTSA Complaint #10870312 — 2003 HONDA CR-V

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2003 HONDA CRV ON HIGHWAY 101 SOUTH NEAR EXIT 484A, IN ROHNERT PARK, CA JUST SOUTH OF THE TODD RD. OVERPASS/ON RAMP. IT WAS A WINDY DAY. THE HOOD OF THE CRV CAME UP AND HIT/BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. MY SON WAS ABLE TO LOOK SIDEWAYS TO GUIDE HIMSELF OFF THE FREEWAY. HE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE HIMSELF INTO A SAFETY ZONE NEXT TO THE FREEWAY, BUT COULDN'T GET OUT OF HIS CAR. HE REACHED AROUND FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL DOWN THE HOOD SOMEWHAT (HE'S 6'4"). HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE DOWN FARTHER TO A MORE SAFE AREA ON THE WILFRED AVENUE OFF/RAMP. HE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, AND FURTHER CLOSE THE HOOD. THE WINDSHIELD IS SHATTERED, AND THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE HOOD. THE FORCE CAUSED TWO AREAS OF THE HOOD TO BEND NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD WON'T OPEN NOW. IT IS IN A OPENED POSITION. THERE ARE SMALL DENTS IN THE HOOD FROM THE IMPACT. FROM THIS LOCATION, HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES HOME, USING BACK ROADS AND STICKING HIS HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW TO SEE WHERE HE WAS GOING. THIS HAPPENED ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN A RUSH TIME ON THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY, MY MIDDLE AGED SON WAS STRONG ENOUGH AND TALL ENOUGH TO CLOSE THE HOOD WHILE IN THE SAFETY LANE. I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO, DUE TO BEING ELDERLY. WE HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OF MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WITH THE HONDA CRV 2002-2006 HOOD OPENING UP AND HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED. THERE IS BELIEVED TO BE A DEFECT IN THE HOOD LATCH. WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER 2003 CRV, AND I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE THAT ONE TOO, KNOWING THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH THAT CRV TOO. MY SON CALLED OUR INSURANCE AND ARRANGED FOR THE WINDSHIELD REPAIR RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, WE HAVE REALIZED THERE IS MORE DAMAGE. WE WILL BE CALLING OUR INSURANCE AND LOCAL HONDA DEALER (MANLY HONDA OF SANTA ROSA) TO SEE HOW TO PROCEED FROM HERE.