NHTSA Complaint #10955321 — 2013 BUICK VERANO

THE SHIFT LEVER IS ON A CONSOLE BETWEEN THE TWO FRONT SEATS. PUSHING THE LEVER TOWARD THE DRIVER CHANGES THE TRANSMISSION MODE FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL. THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL PUSHES SWITCHING THE TRANSMISSION TO MANUAL MODE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MY PASSENGER, WHILE ADJUSTING HER COAT, HAS SWITCHED THE CAR TO MANUAL MODE WHILE THE CAR WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND I HAVE SEEN HER PURSE SOMETIMES VERY CLOSE TO THE LEVER WHILE SHE IS DOING THINGS WITH THE PURSE (THE CAR IS A COMPACT--THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO BOTH FRONT SEATS). FORTUNATELY WHEN SHE ACCIDENTALLY SWITCHED THE TRANSMISSION TO MANUAL MODE I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCERATOR WHILE I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RACING; FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHERE THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.