FocusCanada Forums

Ok, so a guy at work was happily driving into work last Thursday, coming from Ontario into Quebec at around 5.30am.

He looks ahead as he can see brake lights, and decides to slow down from 110-115, and change lanes. As he is doing so, halfway across lanes....at about 90KPH he thinks...BAM! hood flies up and he is almost blind in front!

Manages to get off the road without killing anybody, and gets out to take a look.

Finds out that the latch mechanism has completely broken apart, letting not only the main hook but also the secondary safety hook fall completely away!

He had to have the car towed to Ford, who told him that they ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, and will repair it once the parts are in. They did a temporary fix for Friday.

So, if they are aware, how many people need to die before they do a recall? I mean, isn't this life threatening? God forbid that he lost control, spinning out or hitting something, or, worse, a car with children! This is absolutely sickening.

Anyway, here are pics of the NEW lock assy.






The old type is plastic on both 'sides', which cannot take the strain of motion/vibration/use etc. The replacement is metal on both sides (front is metal lower down, rear is metal all way to top). and consequently, the spring and pins holding everything in place fell out, causing both catches to fail.

So, just a warning. If you have one of these models, or come to that, any model in that year or other years, check the catch assembly. If it looks bad, get it back to Ford for replacement if under warranty. If out of warranty...maybe replace, or use hood pins.

Scorp.

Geez... this is probably a body shop repair item too, damnit. My car's hatch is being repainted the next couple of days due to the keyhole rubber surround wearing the paint, so it could have also been added to the list of repairs!

Thanks for the heads up! I believe I have the same latch...

"He" should be carefule next time

NikiterZTS,Mar 31 2008, 08:27 PM Wrote:"He" should be carefule next time
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Huh? what?

Oh I see, you think 'he' was me, right? No, I wish I owned a 2005! Mine's a 2000 Silver Wagon, not a Black ZX4 ST!

If that's not what you meant, then please elaborate. Also, I don't see how him being careful could have avoided this. It's a manufacturing issue.

And thats why i have hood pins

I'm not worried about that happening, I replaced my hood latch with the european key one a few years ago.

Also this is not that uncommon thing to happen with a ford product, remember when this was a common occurance with the mercury Topaz and Ford Tempo, and 80's model Escort / Tracer & Lynx?

Frost__2001,Apr 1 2008, 10:32 AM Wrote:I'm not worried about that happening, I replaced my hood latch with the european key one a few years ago.

Also this is not that uncommon thing to happen with a ford product, remember when this was a common occurance with the mercury Topaz and Ford Tempo, and 80's model Escort / Tracer & Lynx?
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I wasn't aware of those Frost, though it does not surprise me in the least. It just amazes me that they can allow something so potentially fatal to go on.

My '07 ZX5 has the metal backed/front hood latch. Guess they realized this awhile ago (bought my 07 in Sept06).

Jim