NHTSA Complaint #10433464 — 2011 BUICK ENCLAVE

ON INCLINE WHEN IN DRIVE -- ROLLS BACKWARD, INDEFINITELY. ON DECLINE WHEN IN REVERSE -- ROLLS FORWARD, INDEFINITELY. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO PARALLEL PARK ON AN INCLINE/DECLINE, AS AT SOME POINT YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO GET GOING AND WHEN YOU DO, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL FORWARD (HOPEFULLY NOT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU) AND THE ACCELERATOR WILL NEED TO BE APPLIED ENOUGH TO MOVE THE HEAVY VEHICLE AGAINST THE GRADE (HOPEFULLY NOT SO FORCEFULLY THAT YOU WILL RISK HITTING THE CAR BEHIND YOU). SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP POINTED ME TO OWNER'S MANUAL (9-25): "IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED ON A HILL, WITH YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL. THIS IS NORMAL AND IS DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER DESIGNED TO IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY AND PERFORMANCE. USE THE BRAKE TO HOLD THE VEHICLE ON A HILL. DO NOT USE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL." HOWEVER, THIS OWNER'S MANUAL ENTRY IS IN THE "DRIVE" SECTION, AND SIMILAR STATEMENTS ARE NOT MENTIONED WITHIN THE SECTION ABOUT "REVERSE." *TR