NHTSA Complaint #10638679 — 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

AFTER STOPPING AT A GAS STATION, GOT IN MY CAR AND AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED THE DOORS BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE. NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. NO SOUND OTHER THAN A WHIRRING UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. IT WAS GETTING VERY HOT IN THE CAR SO I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR, AND COULD NOT. I TRIED THE MANUAL "OPEN" BUTTON MANY TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT WORK. OF COURSE, THE WINDOWS ARE ELECTRIC SO THEY WOULD NOT GO DOWN (THERE IS NO LEVER TO ROLL THEM DOWN). AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, IT GOT SO HOT IN THE CAR I TELEPHONED 911. AS THE OFFICER DROVE UP, ONE OF THE TIMES I TRIED TO TURN OVER THE IGNITION PRODUCED A VERY SHORT SUCCESS IN TURNING ON THE ELECTRIC JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR THE RADIO TO COME ON AND THE DOORS TO UNLOCK. WE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT EXPECT IT IS RELATED TO AN ELECTRICAL PART(S). I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH CHEVROLET FOR ALMOST AN HOUR NOW. "[XXX]" STILL HAS ME ON HOLD (OVER 20 MINUTES NOW) FOR A SUPERVISOR (WHICH I REQUESTED - TWICE) BECAUSE HE INFORMED ME THEY KNOW OF NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY WHEN THE ELECTRIC IS INVOLVED. IN FACT, HE SAID THEIR "SENIOR" REPAIRMAN SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD A THING LIKE THAT HAPPENING TO ANYONE BEFORE. "[XXX]" KEPT TELLING ME TO ASK THE DEALERSHIP OR THE NAPA SERVICE CENTER WHERE MY CAR IS NOW OF A WAY TO ESCAPE THE CAR. I KEPT TELLING HIM I HAD ALREADY TALKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEIR REPAIRMAN TOLD ME IT COULD HAPPEN THE WAY IT DID TO ME, IT IS DANGEROUS, AND HE KNEW OF NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH IT BEING ALREADY LOCKED WHEN THE ELECTRIC NO LONGER WORKS. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY, IF IT IS THE ELECTRIC, THE CAR DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. I WANT CHEVROLET TO MAKE SURE THERE IS AN ESCAPE OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR