2003 Saturn Ion Body & Structure Problems

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH THE HOOD'S LATCH ARM BROKE OFF CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE METAL AROUND THE ARM APPEARS TO HAVE RUSTED ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE FAILURE.

MY HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED MY WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE PART OF THE HOOD THAT GOES INTO THE LATCH BROKE OFF THE HOOD. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY HOOD FLYING OPEN WHILE DRIVING, AND FILING A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE MY CAR WAS DETERMINED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. I HAVE SUFFERED EMOTIONAL DISTRESS DUE TO THE TRAUMA OF MY HOOD SUDDENLY FLYING OPEN AND SMASHING MY WINDSHIELD. WHEN MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP I WAS INCHES AWAY FROM A TELEPHONE AND WAS BARELY MISSED BY A SEMI-TRUCK THAT WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME DUE TO HAVING TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES BECAUSE THE HOOD WAS ON MY WINDSHIELD. I AM ALSO SUFFERING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT BECAUSE I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS CAR, THE INSURANCE HAS TOTALED MY CAR, AND I HAVE NO MEANS TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THE CAR IS IN REASONABLE CONDITION WITH NO RUST EXCEPT AT THAT PART OF THE HOOD.

THE HOOD CATCH DETACHED FROM THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THE HOOD SLAMMED BACK INTO THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING THE GLASS. THE HOOD WAS RUSTY AROUND THE MOUNTING POINTS OF THE CATCH AND THE CATCH BROKE FREE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CATCH REMAINED IN THE HOOD LATCH. I DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ACCIDENT OR INJURY.

ENGINE CRADLE LEFT FRONT RUSTING AND HOLES NOW NOT PASSING VERMONT STATE INSPECTION AND I HAVE HAD AND LIVED IN THE SALT BELT FOR 11 YEARS. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL SECONDARY TO SAFETY ISSUES???

IN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE HOOD BLEW OPEN AND SMASHED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND WE WERE LUCKY TO SAFELY SLOW DOWN, CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC BY LOOKING OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW AS OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS NO VISIBILITY.. JUST THE HOOD. IN INSPECTION WE NOTICED THAT THE LATCH WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED AND DETATCHED FROM THE TOP PLATE LEAVING NO HOOD SECURITY. THE TOP LATCH IS STILL LOCKED IN PLACE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL INCIDENT BUT GOD WAS DEFINITELY BY OUR SIDE! *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BOULEVARD, I WAS DOING 40 MPH THERE WAS A POLICE CAR IN FRONT AND THERE WAS MAYBE ABOUT 2 CAR LENGTH DISTANCE FROM HIM. THE LIGHT HIT YELLOW AND I SAW HIM BRAKE SO I STARTED BRAKING AS WELL BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED INCREASING, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOP. MY CAR SLAMMED INTO THE POLICE CAR WITHIN SECONDS. MY CAR WAS DESTROYED. MY HOOD WAS BENT IN HALF, MY FRONT BUMPER SCRATCHED & PEELED. THE BUMPER STOOD ON THE CAR ONLY BECAUSE I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE AND THE CAR WENT IN AN ANGLE WHERE IT WENT UNDER THE COPS CAR. BOTH MY SIDE FENDERS CRACKED AND MY FRONT LIGHT WAS DESTROYED. THE WHOLE CAR FRAME IS DESTROYED AND I WAS HELD AT FAULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. MY INSURANCE WENT UP, I DIDN'T GET NO MONEY TO HELP FIX MY CAR NOR CHECK THE PROBLEM. IF THERE IS WAY I CAN GET ANY TYPE OF HELP I WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE IT. 5 MONTHS LATER THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING MY VEHICLE IT WAS PARKED. IT WAS JUST ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I LEFT IT PARKED FOR A WEEK AND WHEN I TURNED IT ON IT WAS FINE. IM SCARED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, PLEASE HELP ME OUT. *TR

THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER AND THE HOOD OPENED. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK OPENED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. *TC *JB