NHTSA Complaint #10282980 — 2000 BUICK REGAL

2000 BUICK REGAL W/AUTOMATIC...AFTER ABOUT 3 YRS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM "KEY CAPTURE"...PARK, TURN OFF IGNITION AND SOMETIMES CANNOT REMOVE KEY AND CANNOT MOVE WHEEL TO LOCATE ANTI-THEFT STEERING WHEEL LOCK DETENT...REPEATED RESTART / MOVING OF AUTO / IGNITION OFF ...FINALLY RELEASES KEY !!...LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER CAUSES STEERING WHEEL LOCK !!!...IF BATTERY IS DISCHARGED, ATTEMPT AT START CAUSES KEY TO BE "CAPTURED,"...CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT "BOOST."...THE LATTER INDICATES ESSENTIALLY FAULTY DESIGN...APPARENTLY NOBODY CHECKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH DEAD BATTERY, LOSS OF AUTO ELECTRICAL POWER, OR LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AT STEERING WHEEL ANTI-THEFT LOCKING SYSTEM..."THEFT SETUP"...CAN SET DOOR LOCKS AND EXIT VEHICLE, BUT "CAPTURED KEY" CAN BE USED TO START ENGINE AND VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN AWAY !!!..APPARENTLY THIS IS NO LONGER A SIMPLE MECHANICAL DETENT, BUT A SOLENOID SYSTEM...SO-CALLED "FAIL SAFE" IS IN "WRONG DIRECTION" !!!...OUGHT TO FAIL INTO NON-LOCKING...THIS SYSTEM IS IRRITATING AT MINIMUM, BUT CAN EASILY BE A TERRIBLE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION...DEALER MAINTAINED "NEVER HEARD OF PROBLEM."..PAST JUNE ARRIVED IN FARGO, ND FOR OVERNIGHT...TOOK DOZEN RESTARTS / MOVES / STOPS BEFORE KEY "RELEASED" !!!...LOCAL DEALER FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM...CONNECTOR CORROSION AT SHIFT CONSOLE...UNITIZED ASSEMBLY, ENTIRE CONSOLE SUB-ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT AT $780 !!!...TECH "LOADED" CONNECTOR WITH SILICONE "IGNITION GREASE" TO FORESTALL RECURRENCE...DON'T KNOW EXTENT (YEARS AND VEHICLES) GM IS USING THIS SYSTEM...(ASIDE OPINION)...DEALER DENIAL OF PROBLEM AND NO ISSUANCE OF DEFECT WARNING OPENS UP A POTENTIALLY HELLISH LEGAL LIABILITY CAMPAIGN... *TR