So having owned my 2014 monte carlo for two weeks I finally got around to opening the bonnet.

Opening the bonnet was no problem but when I came to close it my usual method of gently closing till the bonnet latches and then closing/locking it into place with a firm push resulted in the bonnet not locking.

Checked latch and lock mechanism, nothing loose or stuck, bonnet release lever had returned to its closed position, greased mechanism ant tried again. No luck.

Resorted to a more brutal method of dropping bonnet from about six inches, bonnet latched but not locked.

Dropped bonnet from about 18 inches with a bit of a slam and bonnet latched and locked.

Is it usual to have to close the bonnet with a slamming action and am I being too gentle with my bonnet closing technique?

I'd expect dropping the opened bonnet from 6 inches should result in the bonnet closing completely - that worked on wife's old 2003MY Polo SE, my old 2000 Passat, daughter's late 2009 Ibiza, wife's current 2016MY Polo SEL and my 2011 Audi S4.

 

So, has someone adjusted the rubber buffer heights or the bonnet alignment?

 

I'll admit to being too gentle with the Ibiza initially - ie letting it down slowly then pressing down on the bonnet, but that results in slight distortion on the bonnet panel, not advised! All my other VAG cars we have owned and I've listed had/have sound insulation so that "helps" the bonnet drop down hard from 6 inches!!

DO NOT PUSH THE BONNET SHUT!!!

This may result in caving in the crumple zone. The manufacturers guide book advises lowering the bonnet to around 10 cm or so and letting go. If that fails to close on both latches, try again slightly higher. 18 inches sounds a little high so perhaps start lower, raising it till you are happy it will close without over-dropping it but, I repeat, do not push it shut!

You may also have pulled the interior latch pop and not allowed it to return to its normal position, making the pop mech fail to engage!