NHTSA Complaint #11254138 — 2018 HONDA CR-V

SAFETY LATCH OF THE HOOD FAILED AND THE HOOD CAME UP WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED WHILE ACCELERATING AND REACHING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THANKS TO LOW SPEED AND NO TRAFFIC I COULD MANAGE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FATAL CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE GONE TO REVISION IN THE DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA, THEY ARGUED THE VEHICLE PASSED THE MECHANICAL TEST AND THEY REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE UNSAFE, POOR DESIGN OF THE LATCHING SYSTEM. IT WORTH TO MENTION THAT: 1- THIS VEHICLE HAS THE HOOD RELEASE INSIDE, ACCESSIBLE FOR EXAMPLE TO KIDS, BUT THERE IS NO WARNING INDICATOR AT ALL WHEN THE SAFETY LATCH IS ACTIVATED, OR THE HOOD IS NOT FULLY CLOSED. 2- THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE DASHBOARD LIGHT WARNINGS SIMILAR TO THE ALERT FOR LATERAL DOORS OR REAR DOOR AJAR, EVEN THOUGH THE LATTER CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS DANGEROUS THAN A HOOD OPENING INCIDENT. 3- THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH CLEARLY FUNCTIONS PROPERLY WHEN LIFTED UP UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE CAR STOPPED. HOWEVER, THE SAFETY LATCH FAILS DUE TO CONTINUOUS CHANGES IN THE DIRECTION AND MAGNITUDE OF THE RESULTANT FORCES DUE TO VIBRATIONS, WIND LOAD, ETC. THIS LATCH CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A 'SAFETY' DEVICE, IF IT DOESN'T NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY UNDER ALL REASONABLE CONDITIONS. 4- THIS 2018 YEAR VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY THE CURRENT OWNER, AND ALL MAINTENANCE CARE IS UPDATED AND ALWAYS COMPLETED BY OFFICIAL (I.E. LICENSED) HONDA SERVICE CENTERS.