Complaint 543225

Complaint Summary

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Owner Narrative

THE WINDOW DEFROST BLOWER MOTOR FAILS TO WORK AFTER STARTING THE CAR. ALSO THE REAR WINDOW ELECTRIC DEFROST FAILS. THIS COULD LEAD TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY DURING WINTER OR RAIN CONDITIONS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD FOGS OR ICES UP. THERE IS AN APPARENT SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THIS. AFTER ENGAGING THE STARTER, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO RETURN TO THE PROPER POSITION FOR THE ABOVE ACCESSORIES TO WORK. THE DRIVER MUST JIGGLE THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH BACKWARDS TO ALMOST THE OFF POSITION TO RESTORE POWER TO THE BLOWER MOTOR AND REAR DEFROST. SOMETIMES, WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE DEFROST BLOWER MOTOR STOPS WHEN HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IN ADDITION TO THIS, MY WIFE ONCE SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AFTER TRYING TO START THE CAR. AFTER READING ABOUT THE NHTSA RECALL OF CHEV. CAVALIERS FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES (CAMPAIGN ID #04V036000), I WONDERED IF THIS IS A RELATED SAFETY PROBLEM.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.