Component

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

1,654 NHTSA complaints about latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch issues across 46 makes and 329 models.

The latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,654 filings from 46 manufacturers and 329 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 81 crashes, 9 fires, 82 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TOYOTA CAMRY with 96 filings, followed by NISSAN ALTIMA and DODGE RAM. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

1,654
Complaints
329
Models Affected
81
Crashes
9
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 TOYOTA CAMRY 96
2 NISSAN ALTIMA 88
3 DODGE RAM 84
4 DODGE RAM 1500 67
5 FORD EXPLORER 59
6 GEO METRO 50
7 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 43
8 FORD MUSTANG 41
9 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 32
10 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 28
11 JEEP WRANGLER 28
12 HONDA CIVIC 23
13 JEEP CHEROKEE 22
14 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 22
15 DODGE CARAVAN 22
16 SUBARU LEGACY 20
17 FORD TAURUS 18
18 NISSAN PATHFINDER 16
19 DODGE RAM 2500 16
20 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 15
21 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 15
22 HONDA CR-V 14
23 CHRYSLER CONCORDE 14
24 CHEVROLET CORSICA 14
25 MERCURY COUGAR 13
26 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 12
27 FORD RANGER 12
28 SUBARU OUTBACK 11
29 KIA SEDONA 11
30 CHEVROLET BLAZER 11

Recent Complaints

2013 TOYOTA TACOMA

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while closing the hood, the hood prop rod unexpectedly fell behind the latch, ceasing to securely latch the hood. While driving at 80 MPH

2017 SUBARU OUTBACK

The contact's sister owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the hood unlatched, flew open, and struck the windshield, causing the windshield to shatter. The drive

2016 FORD EDGE Crash

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH in the rain, the brake pedal was applied however, there was a delay in responding, and crashed into a Subaru Forester

2018 NISSAN ROGUE SPORT

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact stated that while her brother was driving 55 MPH on the Interstate, the hood flew open, struck and shattered the front windshield. There was no

2017 DODGE JOURNEY

The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal scraping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to pull

2024 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving on the highway, the hood unexpectedly opened. The instrument cluster was blank, and while it was raining, water entered the ve

2026 TESLA MODEL Y

What happened:While driving at 20 mph on [XXX] Sunny without any prior “Hood Ajar” warning, the hood suddenly popped open and smashed the windshield. The vehicle became undrivable. Safety riskï

2026 TESLA MODEL Y

The car gives a false alert that the front frunk is open. Drivers seat slides back and car slows to 15 mph.

2017 HYUNDAI TUCSON

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hood independently unlatched, raised up, and shattered the front windshield. No warning light

2023 TESLA MODEL 3 Crash

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the front trunk opened inadvertently, blocking the visibility of the roadway. The con

2016 HONDA PILOT

The contact’s daughter owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hood was vibrating excessively. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that the

2018 FORD EXPLORER

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact s

2021 TESLA MODEL 3

The frunk keeps opening while driving or parked without me pressing the control to open the frunk

2019 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY

The hood will not open due to a faulty cable. Land Rover issued a TSB - LTB01208NAS4 for years 2017-2018. I have a 2019 with the same issue. Dealer refused to perform the TSB, despite me having the

2020 TESLA MODEL 3

I am writing to report a repeated and potentially dangerous defect in my 2020 Tesla Model 3. On four separate occasions, the front trunk (frunk) latch has opened on its own, without any input from me.

2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK

Hood latch failed causing hood to fly open, smashing and breaking my windshield.

2022 FORD EXPLORER

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the hood suddenly opened and struck the windshield, causing the windshield to crack. The contact stated that the mo

2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER

The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the hood latch was stuck closed and failed to open. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NH

2018 TESLA MODEL X

While driving on the freeway at 60 mph, the car's hood suddenly opened and struck the windshield, obstructing the driver's view completely. The car had just left a Tesla service center a few minutes e

2024 TESLA MODEL Y

Vehicle hood latch censor . Around feb 25 2025 my car was parked in parking lot when i shift to d it showes hood latch need service i towed the car to service center . They replaced the censor by say

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch issues?
The NHTSA has received 1,654 complaints about latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch problems across 329 vehicle models from 46 manufacturers.
How dangerous are latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch defects?
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH issues have been linked to 81 crashes, 9 fires, 82 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch issues is the TOYOTA CAMRY with 96 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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