NHTSA Complaint #10898058 — 2009 KIA SPORTAGE

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH ON A SUNNY, WINDY DAY THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED AGAINST THE FRONT OF THE CAR'S ROOF. THAT SHATTERED THE PLASTIC EYEGLASS HOLDER ON THE ROOF INTERIOR AND DENTED/MANGLED THE HOOD. THE HOOD LATCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FAILSAFE REDUNDANT MECHANISM THAT SHOULD NEVER, UNDER ANY CONDITION, ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SORENTO'S RELATED TO THE MALFUNCTION OF A DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH DESIGN DUE TO BINDING FROM CORROSION IN STATES THAT USE WINTER ROAD SALT SUCH AS PA. THIS IS A PA VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AND THE DRIVER MAINTAINED SUFFICIENT CONTROL TO SAFELY STOP.