NHTSA Complaint #10628997 — 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE

I PARALLEL PARKED MY CAR ON A HILLSIDE STREET WITH THE FRONT WHEELS ANGLED TO TOUCH THE CONCRETE CURB PER THE CITY'S HILLSIDE PARKING RULES. I REMOVED THE KEY AND LOCKED THE DOORS. WHEN I RETURNED TO DRIVE HOME AFTER THE CAR WAS SAFELY PARKED FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR ( TIME WAS ABOUT 6:30 PM--STILL DAYLIGHT) I COULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO UNLOCK THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK. NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES WORKED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I COULDN'T OPEN THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS, SO I WAS SWEATING WITH ALL THE WINDOWS CLOSED. I WAS ABLE TO CALL ONSTAR WITH MY CELL PHONE FOR HELP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT MY BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED AND THEY HAD ME TRY MY OTHER IGNITION KEY AND TO REPEATEDLY TURN/ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL FORCEFULLY TO UNLOCK IT WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. AFTER NOTHING WORKED, THE ONSTAR SERVICE PERSON SAID HE WOULD CALL A TOW TRUCK FOR SERVICE. AFTER WE HUNG UP, AND I WAS WAITING, I TRIED THE IGNITION KEY AGAIN, AND THE KEY TURNED AND UNLOCKED THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK. I COULD START THE CAR TO DRIVE AGAIN.I CALLED ONSTAR BACK TO CANCEL THE TOW SERVICE CALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY CHEVROLET DEALER 3 DAYS LATER FOR A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT I HAD MADE 3 WEEKS BEFORE. NOTHING THEY COULD DO, EXCEPT ADVISE ME NOT TO ANGLE THE FRONT WHEEL WHEN I PARKED & LOCKED THE CAR. THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A SAFE WAY TO DESIGN AN STEERING IGNITION LOCK. IT TOOK ME OVER 45 MINUTES TO FINALLY UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL & START THE CAR. *TR