NHTSA Complaint #10469616 — 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX HAD FOUR PROBLEMS THAT WERE FIXED BY REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR: * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I COULD NOT TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION UNTIL I JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH (OUT OF FRUSTRATION). * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE ON A HOT DAY. TURNING ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING A FEW TIMES FINALLY ENGAGED POWER STEERING ASSIST. * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE TURNING CORNERS AND REQUIRED ASSISTANCE FROM THE PASSENGER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. * SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING AND ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. STEERING COLUMN WAS SMOKING, SHAKING SIDE TO SIDE AND UP AND DOWN, AND FELT LIKE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WAS FALLING APART UNDER MY HANDS. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THREE TIMES THE ESCONDIDO DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE THERE WERE NO FAILURE CODES. I THOUGHT IT WAS WRONG THAT I ALMOST DIED AND THERE IS NO ERROR CODE FOR THAT, BUT REALIZED I WAS TALKING TO A WALL. MY PROBLEMS CONTINUED AND I WENT TO THE POWAY DEALER WHO SAID THE OVERHEATED STEERING MOTOR WAS FORCING THE ENGINE INTO PROTECTIVE MODE. THEY ASKED ME TO LEAVE MY CAR AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR ON GM WARRANTY. NONE OF THE DESCRIBED INCIDENTS HAVE RECURRED SINCE REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR. MY PROBLEMS SEEM SIMILAR TO THOSE STATED IN THESE COMPLAINT ODI NUMBERS: 10168607, 10181373, 10195505, 10207818, 10210502, 10245868, 10248789, 10250004, 10321311, 10364217, 10383115, 10383313, 10410417, 10419886, 10440553. THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEMS. I COULD HAVE DIED SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE IN OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD WITH ME. I BOUGHT THIS CAR B/C MY DAD WAS A LIFELONG CHEVY FAN. THIS IS NOT MY FATHER'S CHEVY. *TR