Well, since my dealer is stalling me I went ahead and reported this issue to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). I did this under the premis that when that pin falls out, the shifter can be moved without pressing the release button on the shift handle whether or not the car is running. I think this could be construed as a safety defect. I also included that when the the shifter defect happens the key gets stuck and you can not turn the the ignition switch to the off position which could deplete the battery within an hour.

Hows that for being a real b!tch? Haha!

I soppose I would have to except thier decision whether or not it is indeed a safty issue.

Also, to further push my position on this issue, I started the process in reporting my dealer to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for failure to address a safety issue for no cost. HA! I'll hold that card for my exit pissyness.

 

Good for you! You know, every once in a while, its important for someone to put their foot down and not just give in to the dealer's and GM's excuses. At least somebody is letting them know they can't just ignore the problems they created. Kudos

 

You might try looking at your auto insurance policy. I just noticed yesterday that my Nationwide policy covers lock out and lost/broken RKE . Maybe you could stretch? And I did report my dealer to the BBB and got a check for $770 before the BBB answered me! That was a sales issue, but....

 

Just had "key stuck" problem fixed for third time on the '06. On our third shifter. Of course it's out of warranty each time.

 

This happened to our 07 in the first year we had it. Dealer took care of it no problem.

 

well before i pay $160 for a crappy GM part im gona figure out a way to keep the lil plastic rod under the key cylinder depressed so my key doesnt get stuck. i just got this problem this week and have the plastic case off the column so i can press the white rod and release the key.....now to tape it down or somthing....

 

My dealer fix my 06 with this problem for me paying 1/2 of the labor and no parts just a couple of months ago. I hope your helps you out. My warranty was out as well.

 

I can see the safety issue being that the engine can't be shut down if a runaway issue ala Toyota should happen. Just mentioning the Toyota problem sets off alarms at NHTSA. Don't the doors stay locked too if the hatch is locked?

 

The first time I brought my vehicle to the dealer, the parts manager said he'd only had one frequent problem with the HHR. That problem was that he had to replace a lot of automatic transmission shifters. He congratulated me for buying a manual, saying I was immune. Of course, he'd only had a few of the sunroof replacements. While 95% of HHRs (in my year of 2007) came with automatic transmission, a lot fewer (46% in 2007) had a sunroof. I suspect that eventually all automatic shifters and sunroofs in each car will fail in the manner described in the TSBs.

 

I would not recommend that. It does not sound like a good idea to always have that switch in the depressed position. Your car will think that it is in park while you are driving.

Every time that I want to take the key out of the ignition, I have to push the button in my steering column. No big deal, I have had this issue for well over a year.

I was going to tear it all apart and fix it myself, but I actually like it better the way that it is now. Now I do not have to push the brake to shift from park and I never have to push the button on the shifter to shift gears. Kind of feels like a manual/automatic type shifter now.