NHTSA Complaint #10616909 — 2004 PONTIAC VIBE

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE CRUMBLED INTO PIECES. SHORTLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE AND RECENTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK DOOR HANDLE CRUMBLED. LAST WEEK, AS I WAS GETTING OUT TO OPEN OUR PROPERTY GATE, THE DOOR SWUNG SHUT TRAPPING MY DOGS INSIDE OF THE CAR. (I LOCK ALL DOOR UPON ENTERING THE CAR.) I HAD NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR. FORTUNATELY MOTOR WAS RUNNING OR DEATH WOULD HAVE OCCURRED (TEXAS HEAT) BY THE TIME WE DISCOVERED A WAY TO BREAK INTO THE CAR USING AN ALLEN WRENCH AND A PAIR OF VISE GRIPS. IF I HAD NOT BEEN HOME AND THIS WAS A CHILD INSTEAD OF A PET A LAW SUIT COULD BE FILED. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A FACTORY DEFECT. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL I HAVE SEEN THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.I HAVE ONE DOOR HANDLE LEFT AND AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE OR PARK THE CAR WITHOUT A WINDOW OPEN, INVITING THEFT AND VANDALISM. I CANNOT AFFORD $1100,00 OR ASSUME THIS IS IN ANY WAY THE FAULT OF THE CONSUMER. PLEASE HELP. *JS