NHTSA Complaint #11568097 — 2023 INFINITI QX50

The contact owns a 2023 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated while driving 28-29 MPH at nighttime, she noticed an animal in the roadway and decelerated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was approximately 2 ft. away from the animal, the vehicle made a loud sound, and the hood popped up and partially covered the windshield. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that she sat on a pillow in the front driver's seat, and she was able to drive to her residence at low speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer the following morning. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was designed with the Pop-Up Engine Hood For Pedestrian Protection feature, in which the pedestrian safety sensor in the bumper, signaled the hood to pop up while the vehicle was near the animal on the road. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle operated as designed and charged a repair fee for the hood pistons replacement. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent a field technician, who diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the vehicle operated as designed. However, the contact stated that based on the Owner's Manual, the feature was designed to pop up the hood in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian. The contact stated that the vehicle had not collided with the animal. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,200.