I RENTED A 2013 JEEP COMPASS FROM ENTERPRISE IN HOUSTON. WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE SHOE ON MY LEFT FOOT SNAGGED ON AN OBSTRUCTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FLOORBOARD. WHILE FREEING MY FOOT, I INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED THE HOOD. I FAILED TO NOTICE THE HOOD WAS UNLATCHED UNTIL I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND TRAVELING 70 MPH AND NOTICED THE HOOD WAS LOOSE. THE SAFETY LATCH KEEP THE HOOD CLOSED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND EXIT THE FREEWAY. MY INSPECTION OF THE HOOD LATCH RELEASE LEVER SHOWS THAT IT STANDS PROUD OF THE PLASTIC SIDE PANEL BY APPROXIMATELY 3/8". IT IS EASILY SNAGGED BY A SHOE WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE RELEASE OPERATES BY PULLING IT HORIZONTALLY TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND UNLESS YOU HEAR THE HOOD UNLATCH, THERE IS NO WARNING UNTIL YOU ARE DRIVING FAST ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE HOOD BOUNCING. A FAILURE OF THE SAFETY LATCH COULD RESULT IN THE HOOD FLYING OPEN AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A WRECK. *TR
2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM WOULD NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE LEVER WAS PUSHED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE KNOB HAD TO BE TURNED IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LEVER COULD BE PUSHED DOWN IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE WIPERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.
