NHTSA Complaint #10873191 — 2006 BUICK LUCERNE

ON MAY 13, 2016 I WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. TO MY UTTER SURPRISE, THE HANDLE CAME COMPLETELY OFF! ON MAY 25, I TOOK IT TO REICHARD, DEALERSHIP. SINCE THE CAR HAS ONLY 54, 589 MILES ON IT I ASKED THE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE IN PAYING TO FIX IT. HE REFUSED, SAYING "WE GET A LOT OF THESE. THE MANUFACTURER USED PLASTIC INSTEAD OF METAL AND THE PLASTIC BREAKS." I ASKED THE ADVISOR TO CALL GENERAL MOTORS. SHE DID AND REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT GM WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. ONE OF THE ADVISORS TOLD ME THAT I CAN EXPECT THE OTHER THREE DOOR HANDLES TO BREAK AS WELL. SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAS 54K MILES, HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN? I HAVE THREE OTHER CARS AND ONLY DRIVE THE LUCERNE A FEW TIMES A YEAR, MAINLY ON OUT-OF-TOWN TRIPS. THEREFORE, I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR ONLY ABOUT 5,500 MILES PER YEAR. I CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS DEFECT WILL COST ME ABOUT $1,000. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF/WHEN A I NEED TO TO ENTER THE CAR AND WHEN SOMEONE HAS TO BE QUICKLY EXTRACTED FROM THE CAR! ALSO, A FEW FRIENDS AND COMPLETE STRANGERS WHO OWN BUICK LUCERNES HAVE TOLD ME THAT I CAN EXPECT TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. HAVE YOU HAD COMPLAINTS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS?