NHTSA Complaint #10318711 — 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS AND ON DEC. 25 WHEN I TURNED ON THE REAR DEFROST BUTTON SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. I COULD NOT GET THE REAR DEFROST TO TURN OFF SO I HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND REMOVE THE FUSE TO IT. SHORTLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING AND THE FUSE TO THEM IS STILL GOOD, I REPLACED IT JUST IN CASE BUT THE WINDOWS STILL DO NOT WORK. THE ODOMETER HAS ALSO STOPPED WORKING SO I HAVE HAD TO GUESS MY SPEED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE REAR DEFROST DOES NOT WORK I CANNOT SEE OUT THE REAR WINDOW ON COLD DAYS, I ALSO CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM DRIVING WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR IS DUE FOR INSPECTION NEXT MONTH AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS, THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND RELY ON IT TO GET TO AND FROM WORK EVERYDAY. I HAVE ALSO PLACED A COMPLAINT WITH GENERAL MOTORS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AS I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED ARE A RESULT OF POOR OR HURRIED WORKMANSHIP IN THAT AREA OF THE VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURE. *TR