NHTSA Complaint #10366420 — 2006 CHEVROLET HHR

2006 CHEVROLET HHR INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILURES. IN MY INSTANCE THE PLASTIC HANDLE THAT IS USED TO OPEN THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE OFF. THIS IS A WIDELY COMPLAINED ABOUT ISSUE ON THE WEB. IF YOU GOOGLE "HHR DRIVERS SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKEN" YOU GET 1000'S OF PEOPLE DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS VERY HIGH AND PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING IT. CHEVY DOES NOT SELL JUST THE PLASTIC PART, THEY REQUIRE YOU TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY, THE COST RUNS NEARLY $600 WITH LABOR FOR A PLASTIC PART. THE ISSUE IS THAT DEALERSHIPS DO NOT STOCK THIS PART, THEY NEED TO ORDER IT AND IT TAKES TIME, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE CAR IS TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE, SO THAT REQUIRES ROLLING A WINDOW DOWN AND OPENING IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF YOU NEEDED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A HURRY, SUCH AS AFTER AN ACCIDENT, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO. THIS IS A GREAT CONCERN. BESIDES THE FACT THAT THIS IS BEING REPORTED AS A PROBLEM AND CHEVY IS NOT TRYING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, OR TO EVEN PROVIDE THE PART OUTSIDE OF PURCHASING THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. *TR