NHTSA Complaint #11310507 — 2013 BUICK LACROSSE

WHEN THE CAR HAD MILEAGE IN THE MID-UPPER 30,000 IN 2018, WE NOTICED THAT AS THE SPEED COASTED DOWN TO 30MPH, THERE WAS A HARD DOWNSHIFT. SO HARD, YOU THOUGHT THE ENGINE FELL OUT OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME WE HAD NOT REALIZED IT ONLY DID THIS WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. SO, WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. IN 12/2019, WE LEFT IT OVERNITE AND THEY "DID" REPLICATE THE ISSUE THE NEXT MORNING. THIS IS STATED ON OUR SERVICE BILL. THEY SUGGESTED A DEEP ATM FLUSH, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A NORMAL FLUSH 18 MONTHS EARLIER WITH THEM. WE PAID THEM TO DO IT AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. SINCE WE SLOW DOWN EVERY TIME WE APPROACH A STOP SIGN OR STOPLIGHT, THIS OCCURS AS WE GET DOWN TO 30MPH. EXACTLY AT 30MPH!!! ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM IT, WE DO NOT NOTICE THE ISSUE. BUT WE LIVE IN NORTHERN OHIO & THE NITES ARE COLD OCT-APRIL. WE DROVE THE CAR TO WARM MIAMI FL IN 1/2020. IT STILL DID IT, BUT ONLY A MILD DOWNSHIFT THEN QUICKLY DID NOT REPEAT AS THE TEMP WAS WARMER THERE. TO REDUCE THE HARDNESS OF THE DOWNSHIFT, WE HAVE REVERTED TO TRYING TO LET THE CAR WARM UP AFTER STARTING IT AND APPLYING THE BRAKES AS WE SLOW DOWN TO 30MPH! IT IS SAD THAT THIS HAS TO BE DONE, AS WE HAVE BEEN TAKING GREAT CARE OF THE CAR & IT ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES. AND WE ARE NOT MOVING TO FL!!! WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THIS DEALER.