NHTSA Complaint #10945069 — 2010 BUICK ENCLAVE

THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A P0008 (TIMING CHAIN) CODE WAS DIAGNOSED. AFTER READING NUMEROUS CASES ONLINE ABOUT CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, THE CAR WAS PARKED AND I BEGAN DEALING WITH BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE (CRC) AND LATER WITH THE EXECUTIVE REFERRAL GROUP. THE BUICK BRAND QUALITY MANAGER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS "FIXED" FOR THE 2010 MODEL YEAR AND THAT'S WHY THE GM SPECIAL POLICY #11340C WAS LIMITED TO 2007-2009 MODEL YEARS.THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE IN FIXING THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE GM BULLETIN SB-10052863-6133 SPECIFIES 2007-2012 MODEL YEARS. THE TECHNICIAN THAT PERFORMED THE REPAIRS (AT MY EXPENSE) SAID THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO THE 2007-2009 VEHICLES. THEY EVEN HAD PARTS ON HAND- WHICH SHOWS THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. AS OF THIS WRITING, THERE ARE 65 OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THIS DATABASE OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE ENCLAVE AND IT'S SIBLINGS. THE NHTSA ID 10052863 LISTS 75 ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS. CLEARLY, THERE ARE MANY MORE 2010 FAILURES IF EVERY PRODUCT IS EVALUATED. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD HAVE A CAMPAIGN ISSUED. LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE RESULTING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST IS CLEARLY A DANGER TO THE PASSENGERS AND ALL SURROUNDING PEOPLE AND PROPERTY. PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS, SUCH AS THE GM IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE, SHOW THAT LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST DUE TO LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT DOES NOT CONVEY THE POTENTIAL GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION.