NHTSA Complaint #10199748 — 2004 GMC ENVOY XL

EVENTS THAT HAVE LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE I BELIEVE IS POOR ENGINEERING OF THE PRODUCT. I HAVE A 2004 ENVOY XL THAT HAS THE DRIVERS' SIDE POWER SEAR AND LUMBAR COMPRESSOR SWITCH SET ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE SWITCHES ARE SURROUNDED BY A THAN LARGE PIECE OF HARD PLASTIC. THE WAY IT IS ARRANGED ON THE SEAT NO MATTER HOW A PERSON GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE; PRESSURE IS PUSHED DOWN ONTO THE PLASTIC SEAT SWITCH COVER. I HAVE REPLACED THIS PRODUCT TWICE NOW WITHIN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. THE FIRST TIME IT COST ME FROM 65 TO 85 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A .50 CENT PIECE OF PLASTIC. I WAS TOLD IT HAD A TWELVE MONTH WARRANTY. WITHIN 3 TO 6 MONTHS THE SAME THING HAPPENED; MY WIFE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SEAT CONTROL SWITCH PLATE FELL TO THE GROUND. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE SERVICE MANAGER ASKED THE PROBLEM AND WHEN I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE SWITCH CONTROL COVER FALLING OFF AGAIN; THE PERSON STATED, " I BET YOU ARE DRIVING AN ENVOY AREN'T YOU?" HE THEN SAID THOSE WERE A BAD DESIGN FOR THAT MODEL AND POP OFF ALL THE TIME. WELL AFTER REPLACING THE PRODUCT UNDER THE WARRANTY THAT COVERED THE FIRST ONE I REPLACED (BOUGHT), I ASKED DOES THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY START OVER FOR THE NEW PRODUCT? HE SAID NO, AND IF IT COMES OFF AGAIN, AND IT WILL; YOU WILL HAVE TO BUY THE NEXT COVER PLATE AGAIN. THAT IS WRONG!!! IF IT IS GENERALLY KNOW THROUGHOUT THE GM SERVICE DEPARTMENTS A PROBLEM EXISTS WHY DOES THE CUSTOMER HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY??? OH BY THE WAY, THE PLASTIC SEAT CONTROL COVER DID POP OFF AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, SO I HAVE ENGINEERED IT WITH ZIP TIES THAT ARE BRIGHT ENOUGH WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF PRODUCT GM ACTUALLY BUILDS. *JB