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Winnipeg woman fed up with car that's been recalled 15 times

Winnipeg woman fed up with car that's been recalled 15 times

A Winnipeg woman says her car has been recalled 15 times in the 4½ years she's owned it, and now she's calling on her dealership and the vehicle's manufacturer to replace it with something that's safe.

Danielle Champagne says in addition to the 15 recalls, she's also had to deal with 15 warranty issues for her 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, which she had agreed to finance for $34,000 when she purchased it.

Issues that have sent the car to the shop dozens of times include a malfunctioning air conditioning system, oil spills, problems with the windows and radio, and a coolant-related recall.

The breaking point for Champagne came this past weekend, when the vehicle almost failed on her again.

"The four warning lights came on. My RPM gauge, my temperature gauge, and my speedometer, all the needles went down to zero," she told CBC News late Tuesday.

"I can feel in my steering wheel column that I didn't have control of the car anymore."

Champagne said she steered the car over to a nearby parking lot and shut it off, hoping it would start again. It didn't.

The Cruze is back in the shop now. Champagne said her warranty has covered most of the costs to date, but she's worried about what will happen when it expires in January.

'It's totally unsafe'

Champagne, a young mother who had purchased the Cruze thinking it was a safe, reliable and fuel-efficient car for her family, said her concerns are more than money or inconvenience.

"It's so frustrating to get into a vehicle with my son … and not know what's going to happen. It's totally unsafe," she said.

She said all she wants is a new car, but her dealership, Vickar Community Chevrolet on Regent, has done little to make that happen.

Champagne said her next step is to go to Chevrolet's parent company, General Motors, for help.

Representatives with Vickar Community Chevrolet and General Motors told CBC News they are both willing to sit down with Champagne to find a solution.

The GM official added that recalls are a standard industry practice, but stressed that the Cruze is a safe and reliable car.

Still, Champagne said she has been scarred by her experience and warns other people to do their research before they buy a new vehicle.