NHTSA Complaint #11104231 — 2006 SATURN VUE

2006 SATURN VUE IGNITION SWITCH TURNS EXTREMELY HARD MOST OF THE RIME WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. I CAN ALSO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE REASON IT TURNS SO HARD IS BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY MECHANISM. I HAVE TO ROCK THE KEY BACK AND FORTH FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, SOMETIMES. OTHER TIMES, I ONLY HAVE TO ROCK IT ONCE OR TWICE. I CAN FEEL IT 'CATCHING' AND NOT WANTING TO MOVE PAST THE OFF POSITION. BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT IT BEING IN THE 'OFF' POSITION IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE KEY HAS ALWAYS TURNED HARD SINE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2009. IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER I AM PARKED ON A CITY STREET, OR ANY OTHER PLACE INCLUDING INCLINES AND DECLINES, MY DRIVEWAY, ETC. THE IGNITION IS IN THE OFF POSITION AND I AM TRYING TO START IT WHEN IT TURNS EXTREMELY HARD.