NHTSA Complaint #10735069 — 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THE INTERIOR LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. LAST YEAR I WENT SHOPPING, GOT BACK INTO MY CAR & STARTED IT, OR RATHER TRIED TO START IT, BUT IT SHUT DOWN QUITE QUICKLY. THINKING IT WAS A FLUKE, I TRIED TO START IT SEVERAL MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. NOT EVEN PUSHING ON THE GAS COULD KEEP IT GOING. AFTER TOWING THE CAR & HAVING IT SIT AROUND FOR A WHILE BEFORE SOMEONE COULD FINALLY FIND THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE, IT WAS 'REPAIRED'. THE ISSUE WAS THE WIRING FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE REPAIR COMPLETED WAS A CHEAPER ROUTE THAN REPLACING THE ACTUAL SWITCH. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL TOO LATE LAST YEAR WAS THE 'SERVICE W/WRENCH' AND 'THEFT SYSTEM' LIGHTS WERE THE WARNING THAT THE SWITCH WAS ABOUT TO GO OUT. THE INTERIOR LIGHT HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN & THE THEFT & SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN LAST WEDNESDAY, 7/15/15, AND NOW I KNOW I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SEITCH. LAST YEAR I CONTACTED GM BUT THEY ONLY WANTED TO MAKE A NOTE ABOUT IT. I'M SURE THAT AS TIME GOES ON OTHERS WILL HAVE ISSUES TOO. HOW CAN WIRES COME LOOSE OR BREAK BEHIND A STEERING WHEEL? PLUGS, HOSES & THINGS LIKE THAT I CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND, BUT NOT SOMETHING THAT IS HIDDEN & SUPPOSEDLY SAFE BEHIND A STEERING WHEEL