NHTSA Complaint #10502252 — 2006 BUICK LACROSSE

I WENT TO THE PARKING GARAGE AFTER WORK, AND HAD DIFFICULT GETTING INTO MY VEHICLE. THE REMOTE DID NOT WORK. WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE LOCK, IT WOULD TURN BUT NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I FINALLY GOT INTO MY CAR. I PICKED MY SISTER UP AND WENT TO THE RESTAURANT. I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I TRIED THE REMOTE, THE INSIDE RELEASE AND PULLING ON THE LOCK. I FINALLY GOT IT TO RELEASE. THEN I HAD PROBLEMS CLOSING THE DOOR. WE GOT IT SHUT BUT WHEN WE CAME BACK FROM THE RESTAURANT IT WAS OPEN. I DROPPED MY SISTER OFF AND DROVE THE MILE HOME, THE DOOR AGAIN WOULD NOT OPEN NOR WOULD THE PASSENGER DOOR OPEN. I AM CLAUSTROPHOBIC AND BECAME VERY UPSET. I WENT BACK TO MY SISTER'S AND GOT THE DOOR OPEN . WE LEFT IT AJAR, AND WHEN I GOT HOME IT STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 15 MINUTES, I FINALLY GOT IT TO RELEASE. THEN NEXT DAY WHEN MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR OVER TO THE DEALERS, HE COULD NOT GET THE DOOR TO OPEN. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE PASSENGER DOOR OPEN AND CLIMBED OUT THAT WAY. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE ELECTRONICS MALFUNCTIONING, BUT NOT THE MANUAL SYSTEM. I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I JUST GOT OFF THE CHAT LINE WITH GENERAL MOTORS AND RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION OR RESOLUTION. IT WAS $300 TO HAVE THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACED/REPAIRED. I STILL HAVE NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE MANUAL SYSTEM DID NOT WORK.. *TR