1996 Dodge RAM 1500

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the hood flew open and struck the windshield. The contact immediately veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that the hood was bent, and the windshield was cracked due to the failure. The contact was able to drive to the residence at a slow speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V040000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The dealer informed the contact that he would be charged a repair fee for the replacement of the hood, the grill, the windshield, and components; however, the parts were not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 152,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE HOOD SUDDENLY FLEW UP, BUCKLED AND FRACTURED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V040000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH). THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE SENT FROM THE MANUFACTURERS OFFICE HOWEVER, THE REPRESENTATIVE DECLINED RECALL REPAIRS AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE, STATING THAT THERE WERE TWO PRIOR RECALL NOTICES SENT TO OWNERS OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES TO PREVENT A FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NEVER TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS WHEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,064 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,267.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 2/5/2007 THE HOOD ON THE 1996 DODGE RAM P/U FLEW OPEN, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. JUST MISSING A BUS, THEN COMING TO A STOP AFTER HITTING THE CURB. THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD, ALSO, FRONT END HIT THE CURB. DODGE REFUSED TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THE PRIMARY LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE, THEY ONLY HAD A RECALL FOR THE SECONDARY LATCH. IN THE RECALL IT STATED THAT THE HOOD COULD OPEN IF THE PRIMARY LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE. IF THE SECONDARY LATCH WAS NOT DEFECTIVE IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE HOOD FROM OPENING COMPLETELY. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTICE FOR ANY DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND/OR KILLED OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AFTER ENTERING I-95. DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR ALL HOOD LATCHES ON THESE VEHICLES, ONE WAS NO GOOD WITHOUT THE OTHER. AFTER TAKING MY TRUCK TO A DODGE DEALER THEY LEFT THE HOOD COMPLETELY UNLATCHED, AND DID NOT REPLACE THE BUNGY CORD I HAD PLACED TO PREVENT THE HOOD FROM OPENING. WHEN WILL DODGE BE FORCED TO REPAIR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. AFTER SOMEONE IS INJURED. DODGE WAS NEGLIGENT IN ALLOWING THESE LATCHES TO BE KEPT ON THESE VEHICLES. *AK

THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING HOME, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND HITTING THE CURB TO STOP THE TRUCK. DODGE REUSED TO REPAIR DAMAGE OR SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW LATCH, THEY STATED THE PRIMARY LATCH GAVE WAY, CAUSING THE HOOD TO OPEN. DODGE DEALER STATED THE MAIN LATCH WAS BAD, IF THE SECONDARY LATCH WAS OPERATING AS IT WAS MEANT TO THE HOOD COUND NOT HAVE OPENED, DODGE WAS AT FAULT. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK, BUT IT WAS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION.*AK

I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY, J. TURNER BUTLER BLVD. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK RELEASED AND CRASHED INTO MY WINDSHIELD BLINDING ME. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND PULL OFF THE ROADWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTERWARDS I DID RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND FOUND NHTSA 01V040000 FOR DODGE RAM 1500 PUS FOR YEARS 1994-1999 WHICH INDICATED CORROSION OF THE SPRING ON THE SECONDARY LATCH COULD CAUSE IT TO BIND IN THE RELEASE POSITION. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK. THE RECALL HOWEVER WAS ONLY FOR TRUCKS SOLD OR REGISTERED IN THE SALT BELT STATES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. I RESIDE IN A COASTAL AREA OF FLORIDA AND PURCHASED THIS TRUCK USED. IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA AND I AM A RESIDENT OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH, BUT IT WAS USED IN COASTAL FLORIDA SINCE IT WAS SOLD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT REPAIRED, AND I WILL BEAR THE COST SINCE I JUST CANCELLED MY COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE (THOUGHT IT WAS TOO COSTLY FOR A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK). I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY COASTAL REGIONS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF THAT NEEDED MORE RESEARCH? *NM

ON 3/9/06 MY HOOD ON MY 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 BLEW OPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND THE HOOD HIDGES. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOOD LATCH #01V04000. I CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THIS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE LATCH BUT NOT THE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. THEY SHOULD REPAIR THE DAMAGE ALSO, SINCE I DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM