NHTSA Complaint #10734081 — 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT

UPON ARRIVING AT OUR VACATION DESTINATION, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF CHECKING INTO OUR HOTEL IN TULSA, OK. IT WAS A HOT SO I TOLD MY AUTISTIC ADULT SON TO STAY IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE A/C ON WHILE MY WIFE AND I UNLOADED THE LUGGAGE. THE CAR HAD BEEN BACKED UP A SLIGHT GRADE INTO THE PARKING SPOT. MOMENTS LATER MY WIFE SCREAMED OUT THAT THE CAR WAS BACKING UP. SHE RAN TO THE PASSENGER DOOR AND REACHED IN ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. INSTREAD SHE BUMPED IT INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD DOW THE GRADE. SHE RAN ALONG SIDE IT TRYING TO PROTECT OUR SON WHO BY THIS TIME HAD ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE CAR. SHE BRUISED UP HER SHINS QUITE BADLY. AT THIS POINT I HAD REACHED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND APPLIED THE BRAKE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW PRESENT IN MANY GM VEHICLES WITH CONSOLE AUTOMATIC SHIFTERS. HERES WHY: THE CONSOLE MAKES PROVISION FOR STORAGE IN THE AREA AHEAD OF THE SHIFTER. (THIS IS TRUE OF THE SONIC LOANER CAR I AM PRESENTLY DRIVING) UNFORTUNATELY ITEMS STOWED IN THIS MANNER CAN INTERFER WITH THE SHIFTER GOING INTO PARK. IN MY CASE, MY BLUETOOTH HEADSET WAS IN THE COMPARTMENT AHEAD OF THE SHIFTER. WHEN YOU MOVE THE SHIFTER TOWARD PART, ELECTRONIC CONTROLS ACTIVATE THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO PARK, THE DOORS UNLOCK, AND THE SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT REPORTS PARK. BUT,,,,, THE SHIFTER IS ACTUALLY IN THE MECHANICAL PARK DETENT. THE SHIFTER NEEDS TO TRAVEL NEARLY AN ADDITIONAL 2 INCHES TO REACH THE LOCK IN DETENT. IF IT IS BLOCKED BY AN ITEM IN THE STORAGE AREA, IT WILL NOT LOCK. IN THIS EVENT, THE SHIFTER CAN BE PULLED BACK INTO REVERSE WITHOUT THE DRIVER PRESENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO JIM GLOVER CHEV IN TULSA. THE SERVICE WRITER DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM AND WAS PREPARED TO DOCUMENT IT BUT RENEGED AFTER TALKIG TO MANAGEMENT. KELSEY CHEV IN LAWRENCEBURN, IND. HAS IT NOW, CANT FIX IT. THE ELECTRONIC PORTION OF THE PARK PROCESS NEEDS TO BE SINKED W