NHTSA Complaint #10406816 — 2011 BUICK REGAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE WAS IN WHAT THE CONTACT BELIEVED TO BE AN UNSAFE POSITION ON THE CONSOLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE LEVER WAS INADVERTENTLY HIT, IT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A HALT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY STOP WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS EN ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE WHICH CAN BE ENGERGIZED BY LIFTING A SWITCH ON THE MIDDLE CONSOLE. IT IS USED WHEN PARKING ON AN INCLINE. THERE IS NO NORMAL FOOT OR HAND LEVER FOR EMERGENCY BRAKING. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A BRAKE ASSIST FEATURE DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE DRIVER IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND IT IS NOT EPB. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE EPB CAN BE ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING IN ANY GEAR POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, IT WOULD BRING THE VEHICLE TO AN ABRUPT STOP SENDING EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD.