NHTSA Complaint #10371030 — 2006 CHEVROLET HHR

I OWN A 2006 CHEVY HHR LT. THANKSGIVING DAY I WENT TO MOVE MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER DOOR CAME OFF IN MY HAND. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I EVEN WALKED UP TO ANOTHER HHR I SAW ON A PARKING LOT AND IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY SAFELY CONCERN IS THAT I CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR WITHOUT ROLLING DOWN MY WINDOW AND REACHING OUTSIDE THE CAR TO THE EXTERIOR HANDLE. IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAD A ELECTRICAL FAILURE I COULD NOT EXIT THE CAR BECAUSE I COULD NOT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW. EVERYTHING I HAVE FOUND IN MY RESEARCH IS THAT CHEVROLET IS NOT RECGONIZING THIS AS A REAL PROBLEM AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN/READ THEY HAVE BEEN UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHEN IT OCCURS OR HELP THE VEHICLE OWNERS IN ANY WAY. I HAVE CHECKED ON THE REPAIR AND FOUND THAT THE DOOR HANDLE ITSELF CAN NOT BE REPLACED THAT YOU HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE DOOR PANEL FOR OVER $400 AND THAT IS JUST THE PART, NO LABOR. HOW CAN THIS BE A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND CHEVROLET NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT? THE INABILITY TO EXIT MY VEHICLE IN THE AFTERMATH OF AN ACCIDENT GREATLY CONCERNS ME AND SHOULD CONCERN CHEVROLET ESPECIALLY WITH THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ONLINE OF THIS ISSUE OCCURRING. *TR