Edmunds Inside Line reports, "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into complaints from owners of 2000-'01 Dodge Ram pickups who say the hoods of their vehicles have opened unexpectedly while driving. The federal government says an estimated 697,480 Dodge Rams are involved in the investigation, which began in late July."
Consumer Affairs explains, "Consumers have reported to the Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) that the hood on their Dodge Ram opened while the truck was moving, blocking visibility, 'in some cases smashing into and damaging their windshield and roof.'"
In the investigation notice on its website, the NHTSA explains, "Many of the complaints specify that the secondary hood latch components were corroded. The corrosion appears to prevent the latch from operating properly. … In many cases, secondary hood latch malfunction would not be obvious to the driver."
The investigation has not triggered a recall, but we'll bring you updates as they come to us. In the meantime, if you own a 2000-'01 Ram, you might wish to have a trusted mechanic inspect the hood latch mechanism carefully.
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