NHTSA Complaint #10978809 — 2008 BUICK LACROSSE

I WRITE TO LODGE A SAFETY COMPLAINT ON GM. THIS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE CENTERS ON THE DETACHMENT OF THE REAR SPOILER WHILE OPERATING MY 2008 BUICK LACROSSE, MY ARGUMENT IS THAT ENGINEERS, BOTH LICENSED AND UNLICENSED, ARE EMPLOYED BY VEHICLE MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONS. THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING VEHICLES THAT ARE PLACE INTO OPERATION ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS. THEIR WORK DIRECTLY AFFECTS PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE THAN THEIR LICENSED COLLEAGUES IN CONSULTING ENGINEERING. THESE ENGINEERS AND THEIR CORPORATIONS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND PRODUCT LIABILITY. THIS HAS BEEN CLEARLY DOCUMENTED BY CASES SUCH AS MACPHERSON V. BUICK. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS A NUMBER ONE CONCERN THIS IS CODIFIED IN TITLE 49 USC. VEHICLE MANUFACTURES HAVE THE INHERENT RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE FOR VEHICLE SAFETY AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF DEFECTS AND NONCOMPLIANCE ISSUES. US FEDERAL REGULATIONS THROUGH THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS (FMVSS) SPECIFY DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE, AND DURABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND REGULATED AUTOMOBILE SAFETY-RELATED COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND DESIGN FEATURES. THIS INCLUDES ENGINEERING DESIGN AND ENGINEERING MANUFACTURING DEFECTS, SHORTFALLS, AND SHORTCOMINGS. I WAS COMMUTING TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WORK TO OBTAIN AN ANNUAL VIRGINIA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE SOUTHBOUND, AT A SPEED OF 60-65 MPH, AROUND THE 147 MILE-MARKER, THE REAR SPOILER DETACHES FROM MY VEHICLE CAUSING AT LEAST TWO TRAILING VEHICLES TO OPERATE THEIR VEHICLES ERRATICALLY IN AN AVOIDANCE MANEUVER. THE REAR SPOILER DETACHED AND SKIDDED TO A HALT ON THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I THEN SIGNALED TO THE LEFT SHOULDER TO STOP RETRIEVE THE DETACHED SPOILER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN EGREGIOUS OUTCOME.