NHTSA Complaint #10395920 — 2006 CHEVROLET HHR

THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON THE 2006 CHEVROLET HHR FELL OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL JUST FOR THE CHEAP PLASTIC HANDLE FOR APPROXIMATELY $500.00. IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN, I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE BECAUSE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. OR IF THE CAR WERE ON FIRE, I SIMPLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ITEM AS THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY FACTOR. A BIGGER SAFETY FACTOR THAT THE LATCH ON THE POP UP MIDDLE CONSOLE ON THE CHEVY HHR THAT WAS RECALLED BACK IN 2008 (I THINK). THERE ARE BLOGS ALL OVER THE INTERNET OF PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM A SINGLE WORKING GIRL WHO SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD A $500 INTERIOR DOOR PANEL REPLACEMENT FOR A CHEAP PLASTIC HANDLE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT REASONABLE. I TRIED TO GET CHEVY TO REPLACE IT AND THEY SIMPLY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE ME A $40 DISCOUNT. THAT IS RIDICULOUS!!! I BOUGHT THE CAR BE CAUSE IT WAS ECONOMICAL AND NOT ONE THING ABOUT THIS REPLACEMENT SOUNDS ECONOMICAL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD LEAD TO A DEATH. *TR