NHTSA Complaint #10360578 — 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT

2006 PONTIAC TORRENT, 33,350 MILES. HEAT STOPPED WORKING. TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN AIR BLEND DOOR. PART COST AROUND $65. COST TO REPAIR, APPROXIMATELY $1000.00. MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED TO REPAIR THIS "CHEAP PART". THE MAJORITY OF THE COST IS LABOR. COULD NOT SEE OUT OF MY WINDOWS THIS MORNING BECAUSE THE DEFROST IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. GM SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PART. IN DOING RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GENERAL MOTORS. THE DEALER WILL NOT REDUCE THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BECAUSE OF THE LABOR INVOLVED. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. PEOPLE NEED HEAT IN THEIR CAR AND THEY ALSO NEED A PROPER DEFROST SYSTEM. MANY PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED CAN NOT AFFORD A $1000. REPAIR BILL ON A "CHEAP PART" WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT BREAK AGAIN. *TR