Nissan recalls over 300,000 SUVs over hoods that may open unexpectedly. What to know

The hoods may fly open on certain Nissan SUVs, prompting a recall of more than 300,000 vehicles, federal safety officials say.

The automaker is recalling some 2013-2016 Pathfinders over a malfunctioning hood latch that could cause it to open while driving, blocking the driver’s view and increasing the risk of a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed,” officials wrote in a recall notice.

The 322,671 affected vehicles were made between June 20, 2012, and July 27, 2016, at a plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, according to documents posted on June 13. Nissan cited a buildup of dust and dirt contamination in the latch joint that may cause the metal to corrode — and the hood to open “without warning.”

The automaker did not say if any injuries or crashes related to the issue have been reported.

What’s next?

Nissan said it’s still working on a remedy for the malfunctioning hoods. Letters alerting owners to the issue are expected to be mailed July 18, according to officials.

Owners can also contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 regarding recalls R22A2 and R22A3, or visit www.nhtsa.gov/recalls for more information.