I usually drop it from about 18 inches with no problem. I'd bring it to the dealer and they'll fix it for you, or you could try seeing yourself if the latching mechanism (or even the hood release lever in your car) is stuck in the open position and possibly lubricate it.

 

Not sure about your issue, but I found it strange that the Volt still uses a manual prop-up bar to keep the hood open. Took me a minute to figure out why the hood would not stay propped up by itself, then I noticed the bar. My GMC Terrain has an auto-prop bar, so I was surprised the Volt did not. Cost cutting measure? I can't imagine they saved that much money going with the manual bar.

edit: I guess they figured we won't need to pop open the hood much, so they went with a manual bar?

 

Not sure about your issue, but I found it strange that the Volt still uses a manual prop-up bar to keep the hood open.

Simple, inexpensive, light, reliable, will last the life of the car. Those that use front hood struts must have them replaced when they go bad. And when they go bad, you need a stick to hold them up! I'm happy the Volt comes with it's own stick

I open the hood once a week to wipe down the underside, the exposed caps, tubes, etc. when I wash the car. No big deal.

 

Nah, Its not a lube thing and its not an alignment issue. I pushed the latch mech ( the part that hooks the hood bar) all the way closed and there was no "click". It springs all the back to the open position.

Not to sure I want to drive to the dealer with just the hand latch holding the hood.

 

Check the retraction cable....if it is not returned...the hood won't latch...it is spring loaded and the mechanism may be binding.
1 person to pull the release and 1 person to view the locking assembly.

 

Its not the cable, done that already. Spent 1/2 hour with another person trying to get it locked, no go...

 

Ok, got it. I read this thread http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?9337-Hood-hard-to-close and decided to give this one last try.

I held the hood open like half way and let it go. Sure enough it closed.

 

Lube DID help my 2013. Same deal. Fresh from the sales floor, opened it to show it to some friends, couldn't get it to latch from any height. Had to lean on it with all my weight to get it to latch. Sprayed Triflow on the latch. That did the trick. Latches when dropped from 12" like it should.

 

My 2012 hood latch was so tight at first I not only had to drop the hood from a couple feet, I had to "follow through" with my hands just either side of top center as I "slammed" it to make it latch. (It's flexible, so you need to push on it directly above the latch post) That has since "worn in" and it's easy now.

 

It's not cheap. You just got a bad one. I have never heard of this issue before with anyone else. I am sure your dealer will be happy to adjust it or fix it free of charge.

 

I guess you missed my immediately previous post, Fulgerite. Some of them were adjusted on the tight side, including my 2012. It's not a big deal, but never heard of? Not so.

 

Well... Try doing a search on "hood latch"... You don't see many posts. Like I said... "I have not heard of it before." Just about every car made today has adjustments for hood alignment. The Volt is no different. The fact that a hood can be slightly out of adjustment does not mean that the mechanical design is flawed or the components are inferior.

Man says: "My seat belt does not fit." Answer: Then adjust it.

 

Tee Hee - that's what I was saying. Mine was adjusted on the tight side - no big deal - and this hood is a little "floppy" so if you have to force it shut, you push on the middle as it's going down. It's not a bad or cheap design, it's the same old design everything else uses and it works fine once it's adjusted or worn in right.