NHTSA Complaint #10454883 — 2009 CHEVROLET HHR

AFTER PARKING IN THE DRIVE WAY AROUND 11:30 PM THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I TRIED TO USE THE RELEASE PLUNGER BUT ENDED UP REMOVING THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN COVER AND FORCING IT OVER THE KEY. THEN I PULLED THE WIRE HARNESS OFF WHICH SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR BY PUTTING THE WIRE BACK ON AND TWISTING THE KEY. THE DEALER SAID THE KEY WAS BENT AND CHARGED ME $400 TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. THEY OBVIOUSLY USED PLIERS TO REMOVE THE KEY. WHILE IN THEIR WAITING ROOM I READ AN ARTICLE IN A MARCH ISSUE OF MOTOR MAGAZINE THAT SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL CARS INCLUDING HHR'S AND THEY ARE NOT SURE WHY. I FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON RECALL AND NOT BE CHARGED TO US. THE KEYS MAY BE TOO SOFT OR IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR