Complaint 2230252

Complaint Summary

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Owner Narrative

I was driving my 2015 Hyundai Sonata approximately 35 mph after leaving the Hyundai dealership following an engine replacement when the hood unexpectedly flew completely open without warning. The hood struck the windshield, completely obstructing my forward visibility and creating an extremely dangerous situation. I was able to safely pull over without causing a collision, but the vehicle sustained extensive damage and was declared a total loss by my insurance company. During the same service visit in which the engine was replaced, the dealership recommended replacing the hood latches, but I declined that repair. Hyundai later informed me that the hood latching system was functioning properly after the engine replacement and that the vehicle passed its post-repair inspection and road test. Approximately one mile after leaving the dealership following the engine replacement, the hood unexpectedly opened while I was driving. There were no hood-ajar warnings, warning lights, or other indications that the hood was not properly secured before the incident. The sudden loss of visibility created a serious risk of a crash that could have resulted in severe injury or death. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this incident represents a significant vehicle safety issue that should be investigated.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.