NHTSA Complaint #754390 — 1989 GEO METRO

ON OCTOBER 8, 2001, THE HOOD OF OUR 1989 GEO METRO FLEW UP AND CRACKED OUR WINDSHIELD, DESTROYED THE HOOD AND OBSCURED OUR VISION. AFTER TALKING WITH ANOTHER GEO OWNER WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON GEO METROS FOR A HOOD LATCH DEFECT. WHEN LOOKING AT OUR HOOD IT WAS EVIDENT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED HAS THE SPOT WELDS DID NOT HOLD. I CONTACTED THIS SITE FIRST AND IT APPEARS THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN CALLING THE DEALER TO PROCEED I WAS TOLD MY CAR DID NOT COME UP FOR A RECALL IN THE SYSTEM. I THEN CONTACTED GM TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE SAFETY OF MY CAR. WE HAVE RELACED THE HOOD WITH A USED HOOD WHICH I AM SURE COULD POSSIBLY CONTAIN THE SAME DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER ON THE NHTSA SITE DID NOT MATCH THE GM CAMPAIGN AND FURTHER THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS SO OLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH. I AM IN THE MEANTIME DRIVING WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE A DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE CAR. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM GM UNLESS I CALL THEM FOR STATUS AND WHEN I DO THEY HAVE NOTHING NEW TO TELL ME. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD AT MY OWN COST AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF MY CURRENT HOOD IS ALSO DEFECTIVE. I DO NOT SEE ANY BOLTS IN THE LATCH WHICH IS THE REMEDY FOR THE DEFECT. *AK