NHTSA Complaint #10486718 — 2011 BUICK LACROSSE

BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM (BSWS) INOPERATIVE QUE ON VEHICLE MULTI FUNCTION INFORMATION DISPLAY (MFID), LOCATED BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL IN A 3"X4" AREA IS INADEQUATE. THE BSWS ON THIS VEHICLE IS VERY SUSTAINABLE TO ROAD SPRAY DURING RAIN EVENTS THAT RENDERS THIS SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. THE ISSUE IS IN THE WARNING THAT IS DISPLAYED TO THE DRIVER WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED IS ONLY SHOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 SECS, THEN IS REMOVED WITHOUT ANY DRIVER ACTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . NO ICON IS SHOWN TO REMIND DRIVERS OF ACTIVE MESSAGES. IF THIS MESSAGE IS MISSED, THE DRIVER IS NOT AWARE THAT THIS SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. ALSO, THERE IS NO MESSAGE TELLING THE DRIVER WHEN THIS SYSTEM BECOMES OPERATIONAL AGAIN. TWO POSSIBLE OUTCOMES. 1. THE DRIVER DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE SYSTEM, LOSING THE BENEFIT OF THIS VALUABLE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN THIS VEHICLE MODEL WITH ITS LARGE BLIND SPOTS, OR 2. THE DRIVER BELIEVING IN THE SYSTEM AND TURNS INTO TRAFFIC, NOT REALIZING THAT THE SYSTEM HAS BECOME INOP AND UNAWARE BECAUSE OF THE MISSED MESSAGE ON THE MFID. THESE ARE BASIC HUMAN FACTORS ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRIES FOR YEARS. THE INDUSTRY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE TYPES OF ISSUES AS WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR RELIANCE ON AUTOMATION IN THESE VEHICLES. THE LACK OF A STANDARD AND STANDARDS BETWEEN MANUFACTURERS WILL BECOME A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER IN COMING YEARS. *TR