Recently had my car in for a warranty fix. The engine hood shock struts failed to keep the hood up. This is a 23k mile car built on 3/23/2021 and put in service on 9/4/2021.
I know stuff breaks buy these parts are not that old for a manufacturer part to fail.

They were replaced under Basic warranty and all ok.

If interested charge was $264.82 two OEM struts + $68.44 labor for $333.26. Outside of warranty a DIY for sure.

Any body out there have the hood struts fail on a relatively new car which hasn't had the hood open that many times since built?

Thanks

 

That’s too early and luckily not a known problem.

 

In a recent CCN video, he mentioned that hood shock struts are known to weaken over time. Even with a low-mileage car, this could be due to frequent opening and closing, a defective part, or simply time.
But I agree with @ESh , that's too early.

@2:24

 

Dang my 1999 Avalon still had the original hood struts when I sold it last year. I miss that car.

 

Your right. Recently installed a heat protection wrap for mine. It will extend the life caused by engine heat. Go to Amizon and search for engine hose protection for 1" hose.Cut 2 pieces about 13.5" and wrap around cylinder.Will try and post a picture.

 

I always thought if something was under warranty, there shouldn't be a charge at all. I have done warranty work on other cars and there are $0 charge. I think that is way too soon for the front hood struts. I have an older car with that issue and there is a metal bar that holds it up when needed, which is very rare. I once had my back trunk ones break and replaced it. Wasn't too much money and now I am careful not to over use the hood and pop it open alot, which i think is more stressful than doing it by hand at the back.

 

Even if the hood is lifted to check things every month at 12 per year it should last more than it did for me. ☹
Granted I am the 2nd owner since Aug 2024 and I do not know what the previous owner did, but car had 21,700 mi since Sept 2021 in service so I assume the hood wasn't up up that much. I wouldn't mind a steel hood support just in case.

 

Thanks I will look into that.

Thanks all for the comments

 

The struts are likely made by a third party and you got a bad one. One likely failed first, putting strain to the point of failure on the good one.

 

My 2002 ES300 has the OEM & works fine.

 

Do you know if the car was in an accident before you owned it? Maybe a body shop might have replaced the hood shocks with low-quality aftermarket parts. Or perhaps it’s just a defective genuine one. Nevertheless, I would equally expect them to last well beyond 5-8 years with multiple open/closing monthly.

 

Carfax showed no accidents but not all are reported by repair shops or DIYers so not picked up by CarFax. Looking at car there is no indication of an accident that would require these shocks to be replaced all looks original and in great shape. I asked the Dealership Shop manager about these shocks and why they failed he said manufacture defect and they were OEM or they would not have replaced them under the basic warranty, maybe they were made better years ago?

 

My 2019 is starting to show slight signs of of wear. Need to give it a little lift for it to go all the way up. 2nd owner and pretty sure these are the original struts

 

If a little lift is all that is needed that's is the same starting sign mine had then it eventually would not stay up . When recently replaced when the hood is lifted about 1/4 the way up it automatically goes up all the way by itself.

If original shocks your 2019 is getting better than me with the hood shocks.

 

Wow, I replaced two German branded struts (Stabilus) on my Porsche and they were less that $20 each from FCP Euro.

Took me less than ten minutes to install them.

$333.26 is kind of ruining my image of Japanese is cheaper to maintain than German.