NHTSA Complaint #11195737 — 2019 GMC ACADIA

THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFTER CONTROLS IN LOW GEAR ON THE CENTER CONSOLE DO NOT SHIFT. THE MANUAL CONTROL WORKED DURING THE TEST DRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE CAR HAD 17 MILES ON IT, MARCH 10, 2019. THE SHIFTER FAILURE WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 500 MILES ON IT, COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ON A HIGHWAY WHEN WE TRIED TO USE THE ENGINE TO BRAKE INSTEAD OF USING THE FOOT BRAKE ON MARCH 30, 2019. IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO DATES ON MARCH 21, 2019, THE CAR HAD A WATER LEAK AFTER IT RAINED THAT DRIPPED INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR AND DIRECTLY ONTO THE SHIFTER AND OTHER ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. I BELIEVE THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILURE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF WATER DRIPPING ONTO THE SHIFTER AND OTHER ELECTRONICS ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. I HAVE 3 DOCUMENTED SERVICE RECORDS ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE WATER LEAK AFTER 3 SEPARATE RAINSTORMS THAT WAS ULTIMATELY DETERMINED BY GM ENGINEERING TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. WHEN THE GLASS IS POSITIONED FOR THE REAR MOONROOF, THE POSITIONER IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE GLASS IN PLACE FOR A MOMENT TO SEAL. INSTEAD THE POSITIONER MOVES CREATING AN AIR POCKET. THIS RESULTS IN WATER INTRUSION INTO THE CEILING OF THE VEHICLE AFTER RAIN, WHICH THEN SEEPS INTO THE FABRIC LINER AND DRIPS DIRECTLY ONTO THE CONTROLS. I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHERE ELSE WATER HAS TRAVELLED WITHIN THE CAR, KNOWING IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN JULY 2018 AND STORED OUTSIDE MOST OF ITS LIFE. THE SHIFTER IS THE FIRST OF WHAT I FORESEE AS MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT CAN ENSUE WITH WATER INTRUSION, AS IT HAS OCCURRED IN A CAR HAVING UNDER 900 MILES ON IT. WITH ALL ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONTROLS, I AM WORRIED THAT IF WATER DAMAGED THE LOW GEAR SHIFTING, THERE COULD BE FUTURE AND MORE DETRIMENTAL TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS (POSSIBLY CATASTROPHIC). BEYOND ELECTRICAL FAILURES, MOLD IS A WORRY IN THE HEADLINER AND CARPETS CREATING A HEALTH HAZARD IN MY VEHICLE WHERE I TRANSPORT MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN.