NHTSA Complaint #723041 — 1988 CHEVROLET BERETTA

ON THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2000, I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA REGARDING A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR 1988 CHEVROLETS BERETTAS. I TRIED TO TALK TO GMC AND THE CHEVROLET DEALER NEAR MY HOUSE ABOUT FIXING THE LATCH ON THE CAR, IT WAS BENT. I HAD NO LUCK AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT ONE OF THE ONES THAT WERE RECALLED. I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR INTO A SHOP THAT SATURDAY TO TRY TO GET THE LATCH FIXED. I HAD TO WORK THE NEXT DAY AND SINCE THE HOOD WOULDN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY, I STRAPPED IT DOWN. THE LATCH AND THE STRAP DIDN'T HOLD AND THE HOOD FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD, BREAKING IT AND BENT THE HOOD IN THE MIDDLE. I WAS DRIVING SLOW AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY PASSENGERS AND I WERE LUCKY. I KNOW MY CAR IS AN OLDER MODEL AND OLD CARS NEED REPAIRS BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS BROKE ON THE CAR WHEN IT LEFT THE PLANT. NOW I HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK AND STILL HAVE TO GET A NEW HOOD AND A NEW WINDSHIELD. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. THANKS.*AK