NHTSA Complaint #10725050 — 2014 BUICK VERANO

MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELLING SOUTH ON I-95 IN PHILADELPHIA IN OUR 2014 VERANO T W/KEYLESS IGNITION. I WAS DRIVING, AND REACHED UP WITH MY RIGHT HAND TO ADJUST THE CENTER LEFT VENT. AFTER ADJUSTING THE VENT, I NOTICED THAT THE A/C HAD TURNED OFF, AND THAT THE TACHOMETER HAD FALLEN TO ZERO. I THEN REALIZED THAT I MUST HAVE BRUSHED AGAINST THE START/OFF BUTTON (LOCATED NEXT TO THE VENT) AND INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF.MY WIFE (WHO DRIVES THE CAR MORE THAN MYSELF) HAD PREVIOUSLY RELATED TO ME THAT SHE HAD ACCIDENTALLY SHUT THE CAR OFF TWICE BEFORE ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, SO I QUICKLY ASKED HER HOW SHE HAD MANAGED TO START THE CAR AGAIN. SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD TO PULL OVER, PUT IT IN PARK, AND PUSH THE START BUTTON. WELL, SINCE WE WERE DOING ABOUT 60 ON I-95 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND IN AN AREA WITHOUT SHOULDERS ON EITHER SIDE, THIS WAS GOING TO BE NO MEAN TRICK AND POSSIBLY SUICIDAL. I TRIED TO START THE CAR BY PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL AND PRESSING THE START BUTTON, BUT THIS ONLY RESULTED IN THE GAUGE NEEDLES SWEEPING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND THE CAR DID NOT RESTART. WITH NO VIABLE ALTERNATIVE, I PUT THE FLASHERS ON AND MANAGED TO MANEUVER THROUGH THE TRAFFIC TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE.SAYING A PRAYER, I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP IN THE SPEEDING TRAFFIC, PUT IT IN PARK, AND RESTARTED IT. IT WAS TRULY A MIRACLE THAT WE WEREN'T REAR-ENDED DURING THIS ORDEAL. WHEN OUR BREATHING HAD RETURNED TO NORMAL, I ASKED MY WIFE TO CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL (WHICH I HAD READ) FOR ANY PROCEDURE TO RESTART THE CAR UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE HAD JUST EXPERIENCED AND SHE REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NONE.BETWEEN THE TWO OF US WE HAVE 92 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND I CONSIDER MYSELF AN ENTHUSIAST. OUR OPINION IS THAT THE START/OFF BUTTON IS IN A BAD PLACE, UNPROTECTED, TOO SENSITIVE, AND THAT TOUCHING IT ACCIDENTALLY CAUSES UNWANTED ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITH INADEQUATE WARNING TO THE DRIVER.