Latches/locks/linkage Related Problems of the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero

Hood Latch problem

Defective design/location of hood latch mechanism caused total failure of hood latch and release of hood (raising hood into the air and tearing it off the hinges) during a low speed front end impact into a standard interstate highway metal guard rail. The design of the "nose" trim of the car is such that when the "nose" trim is pressed down and back by a low speed direct impact into a standard highway guard rail, the plastic "nose" trim pushes the hood latch release lever down and back, which in turn releases the hood--instead of securing it. The low speed impact, which damaged only one headlight assembly and did not even break the grill, released the hood, sending it aloft, blinding the driver's line of sight, and resulting in the wind tearing off the hood and unleashing it as a potential missile on the highway. Proper design (of the trim in relation to the latch) should force the hood to lock down during an impact, instead of releasing it. Improper design of the hood hinges also probably contributed to the hood tearing away instead of being retained/trapped during the accident. I must emphasize that the vehicle was not structurally damaged, the bumper was not damaged, the grill was not damaged--but the nose trim still was able to release the hood latch with minimal force required.