WE PURCHASED A NEW VECHICLE ON A FRIDAY. I WAS RETURNING FROM THE MALL AT NIGHT WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. WE WERE PASSING A TRACTER-TRAILER TRUCK ON I91 IN MASS. THE HOOD POPPED UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CRASHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND COMPLETLY OBSTRUCTING OUR VISION. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND NARROWLY AVOIDED A CATASTROPHIC COLLISION. MY DAUGHTER SPRAINED HER KNEE IN THE JARRING AND THE TRAUMA OF THE INSTANT. . .I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY STERNUM AND TO MUSCLES IN MY UPPER BACK. WE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY WITH THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND I ENDED UP IN A CLOSED SERVICE STATION PARKING LOT , IN A STRANGE CITY, WITH MY TWO CHILDREN FOR ALMOST THREE HOURS. WE WERE TREATED POORLLY AND EVEN THREATENED BY THE DEALERSHIP. WE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFIFULTY TRYING TO REPORT A CLAIM ABOUT OUR INJURIES, AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE THIS STANDS TODAY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HOOD RELEASE NOT SUSTAINING THE COMBINATION OF SPEED AS WELL AS THE RESISTANCE CAUSED BY PASSING A LARGE TRUCK. *AK