We did buy a 2010 SE a couple weeks ago (the wife loves the car!) and I tried the steering wheel with the key off and then out, (not trying to bust your chops here)&(not to say that yours didn't have other problems) there is a mechanical connection to the front wheels, (though it does turn hard without the power steering) no need for the motor to be running, in fact the steering wheel doesn't even lock with the key off or out. I haven't tried the brakes yet but I'd bet that they will also work with the motor off, though be very hard to get any real braking out of after the first stab (the first stab should still have vacuum in the power assist can). I have to think that the liability would just be to great if they needed the motor running or the electronics to work. One thing we did notice, the small amount that the window rolls down when you open the doors doesn't always work when the windows have ice on them, not sure if the inner workings got melt water on them then froze or what. We got the door open but didn't shut it till we got the window to move down a little.