Despite its impressive power and performance, the Dodge Charger Daytona has faced some challenges since its release. From not being able to do burnouts to receiving criticism for its road manners, the Daytona has had a mixed reception among car enthusiasts. Additionally, its sales numbers have been less than stellar, further adding to its issues.
Now, a new issue has emerged for owners and service centers to be aware of. It seems that the electric muscle car’s hood latch is sensitive to being slammed shut. Dodge technician Jordan Rose recently had to address the same issue with two Chargers that were brought in, both having a broken hood latch.
The latch mechanism is designed to open the hood when a button is pressed from inside the car. However, slamming the hood closed can potentially bend a metal component inside the latch, causing the hood to no longer open with the button. Fortunately, there is a manual release cable as a backup to open the hood in such a scenario.
To prevent this issue, Dodge has provided an official procedure in the workshop manual for closing the hood correctly without causing any damage. Owners are advised to gently lower the hood until it rests on the latch mechanism. Then, with two hands on the center of the hood above the latch, one should press down firmly until the hood latches. The instructions specifically caution against dropping or forcefully closing the hood as it can lead to damage.
While it may seem surprising that such detailed instructions are necessary in 2025, it is essential for Dodge Charger Daytona owners to follow these guidelines to avoid potential damage to the hood latch. Fortunately, replacing the hood latch is a relatively simple task that can be done by a skilled home mechanic in a couple of hours.