NHTSA Complaint #10592099 — 2008 CHEVROLET HHR

THE LEFT REAR POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR IS INOPERATIVE. THE REAR DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED ( FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE) EITHER WITH POWER ASSIST OR MANUALLY PULLING THE LOCK PLUNGER. I HAVE TO USE PLIERS GRABBING THE DOOR LOCK PLUNGERS ( PULLING UPWARD) TO FORCE THE LOCK OPEN ALLOWING ME TO OPEN REAR DOOR (EXCESSIVE FORCE REQUIRED ALONG WITH SOMEONE PUSHING THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH SIMULTANEOUSLY). ONCE IN THE LOCKED CONDITION YOU CAN NOT OPERATE THE DOOR FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. REAR SEAT OCCUPANTS WOULD BE TRAPPED IN BACK SEAT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I CHECKED THE CHILD SAFETY SWITCH AND IT IS NOT ENGAGED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS REAR SEAT OCCUPANTS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE. THE RIGHT SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED SIMILARLY ( SAME CONDITION) ON THIS SAME VEHICLE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS REPLACED. NOW GM DEALER SAID IT WAS MY ISSUE AND GM WOULD NOT COVER REPLACEMENT OR COST TO INSTALL REPLACEMENT PART. I WANT THIS SAFTEY ISSUE DOCUMENTED IN AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY FILE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *JS