NHTSA Complaint #11718264 — 2020 INFINITI QX60

I am submitting this formal safety defect complaint regarding a serious and life-threatening incident involving my 2020 Infiniti QX60. While traveling at approximately 60 miles per hour on a public highway, the vehicle’s hood suddenly and violently flew fully open without warning. This resulted in an immediate and complete loss of forward visibility while the vehicle was in motion.The hood had been properly closed prior to driving, and there were no warning indicators, unusual noises, or prior issues suggesting a problem with the latch mechanism. This event appeared to involve a total failure of both the primary hood latch and the secondary safety latch system, which are specifically designed to prevent this type of occurrence. The incident created an extremely dangerous situation with a high risk of a catastrophic collision, serious injury, or death to myself and other motorists. I was fortunate to maintain control of the vehicle and safely slow down without a crash. This was a near-miss catastrophic event caused by a critical safety system failure. A hood opening at highway speed creates total loss of visibility and represents a severe hazard to roadway safety. The vehicle is currently being preserved without repair so that the failure can be properly evaluated. I am reporting this incident so it can be investigated for potential design, manufacturing, or mechanical defects that could affect other drivers. Sincerely, Robert Ponger