NHTSA Complaint #10475488 — 2002 BUICK LESABRE

THE PADDED DASH HAS PEELED UP AND AWAY FROM DASH FRAME IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS CONTINUING TO SPREAD (PEEL UP AND AWAY FROM THE FRAME) ACROSS THE PADDED DASH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TOWARDS THE PASSENGER AREA. IT CONTINUES TO GROW IN SEVERITY, AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, WITH RESPECTS TO IT DEPLOYING WITHOUT WARNING, DUE TO THE PEELING/WARPING OF THE DASH AROUND IT. I HAVE PUT A DASH MAT (COVER) OVER THE PROBLEM FOR APPEARANCE PURPOSES, BUT EVEN THAT DOESN'T HIDE THE GROWING MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM ANYMORE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WILL COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $350 - $1,200.00 TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM FROM INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS IN THE AREA, TO THE GM BUICK DEALER. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, & "SAFETY" ISSUE DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. OTHER THAN THIS EVER INCREASING PROBLEM, THE CAR IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION, & I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT DUE TO ITS MECHANICAL RELIABILITY, FUEL ECONOMY, & COMFORT. I BELIEVE AN OEM PADDED DASH REPLACEMENT, SHOULD BE MADE A RECALL ON THE PART OF GM AS THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED DUE TO NEGLIGENCE, AGE OF THE VEHICLE (IT BEGAN WHEN THE CAR WAS RELATIVELY NEW), OR ACCIDENT. I RESPECTFULLY LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING A RESPONSE FROM YOU. *TR