NHTSA Complaint #11150306 — 2006 CHEVROLET HHR

I HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE TIME WITH THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 CHEVY HHR. SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. THERE IS NO APPARENT CAUSE. THESE CHANGES FROM WORKING TO NOT WORKING AND BACK CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AT ANY SPEED. FORTUNATELY I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO WRESTLE WITH IT AND STEER IT MANUALLY SO FAR. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM ABOUT IT BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR IT. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND CHARGED ME OVER $300, BUT THAT DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD. ALSO TWICE A MESSAGE APPEARED ABOUT REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE ENGINE HAD ALMOST NO POWER TO GET UP HILLS. I WAS CREEPING ALONG AT ABOUT 10 MPH ON A SUPER HIGHWAY. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, TURNED IT ON AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND THE ENGINE HAD NORMAL POWER AGAIN. ALSO THE DOOR LOCK LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN I'M DRIVING. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE PROBLEMS CAN'T BE DIAGNOSED UNLESS THEY SEE IT ACTING UP. OF COURSE IT DOESN'T DO THESE THINGS WHEN IT IS IN THE SHOP. I AM REALLY DISGUSTED.