NHTSA Complaint #11062640 — 2017 BUICK ENVISION

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OR MAYBE NOT, WITH A HORRENDOUS GROANING RATTLE THAT OCCURS WITHIN SPECIFIC PARAMETERS. AT ABOUT 45-50MPH, IF CRUISING WITH ALMOST NO ACCELERATION, WHEN YOU DO ACCELERATE, YOU GET AN AWFUL RATTLE THAT SOUNDS AS THOUGH IT IS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. IT IS STARTLING AND IN OF ITSELF DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A SAFETY ITEM EXCEPT IT STARTLES YOU. DEALER INDICATED WHEN BROUGHT IN THAT ROAD SALT, SMALL STONES, ETC. HAD SETTLED ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AND CAUSED THIS GOD AWFUL SOUND. THEY SAID THEY BLEW IT OUT AND THE PROBLEM DID APPEAR TO BE FIXED - EXCEPT IT TOOK ONLY A WEEK FOR IT TO RETURN. IF WHAT THE DEALER SAID WAS TRUE, THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND BODY THAT ALLOWS NORMAL ROAD DEBRIS (SALT, PEBBLES, ETC.) SETTLE UP THERE AND CAUSE THIS CONDITION TO OCCUR. NOT A SAFETY ISSUE EXCEPT IT IS DISTRACTING AND STARTLING WHEN IT OCCURS. COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF OTHER THINGS GET UP THERE, LIKE A RAG OR CLOTH, AND IT RIDES AGAINST THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHILE LODGED ABOVE THE FUEL TANK, AND CATCHES FIRE. THAT AS NOT HAPPENED, BUT IMAGINE IT IS POSSIBLE GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES.