NHTSA Complaint #10643566 — 2011 GMC ACADIA

I OWN A 2011 GMC ACADIA DENALI. I PLACED MY ORDER FOR THIS VEHICLE BEFORE THEY WERE IN PRODUCTION WHICH MAKE THIS ONE OF THE FIRST TO ROLL OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULB NEEDED REPLACING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULB SOCKET HAD MELTED AND THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH THE LENS OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS YOU CAN SEE ABOUT A THREE INCH AREA OF CHROME COATING CRACKED AND PEELING OFF THE INTERIOR OF THE LIGHT HOUSING ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE AND ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF AREA ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE PASSENGER SIDE SOCKET MELTS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER?S DESIGN PROBLEM OR INAPPROPRIATE PARTS PROBLEM. EITHER THE BULB IS TOO HIGH WATTAGE, WHICH GIVE OFF TOO MUCH HEAT, OR THE CHROME COATING IS NOT HEAT RESISTANT ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN ELECTRONICS. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1144.00 FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY PLUS LABOR. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER?S DESIGN OR INAPPROPRIATE PARTS INSTALLED DURING THE PRODUCTION OF THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR GMC TO REPLACE THESE LIGHT FIXTURES AT NO COST TO THE VEHICLE OWNER. I HAVE ROUTINELY TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND NO ONE HAS EVER MENTIONED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I RECENTLY HAD A SAFETY INSPECTION DONE ON MY VEHICLE AND A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULB NEEDED REPLACING. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION. *TR