NHTSA Complaint #11483137 — 2017 BUICK ENCLAVE

Rear vision camera or monitor does not provide adequate view of objects directly behind the vehicle, especially during daylight hours. Even moderate sunlight causes severe fading of what the driver should see on the monitor. The problem is exacerbated by inability to make any significant adjustments of contrast. One day at about noon, while moving my Buick from the driveway to an on-street parking space, I very nearly ran over a toddler who was on a walk with his granddad. The toddler momentarily escaped the supervision of his granddad who was several yards behind him. The toddler was not within my sight when I walked behind my vehicle to reach the driver's door. He apparently ran ahead of his granddad, turned a corner and was waiting behind my vehicle for his grandfather to catch up. I now had a toddler standing right behind my vehicle, who was nowhere in sight when I approached the car. Nevertheless, these things happen. I put the Buick in "Reverse", activating the back-up camera. I checked the monitor which should have given me a view of the toddler, but it did not. Fortunately, I did not rush to back into the street. Instead, I paused to carefully establish that no traffic was passing behind me. As I looked to my left, the granddad was waving his arms, indicating that I should not back up. As I put the Buick back into "Park" I realized that a neighbor working in his yard across the street, ran up to the rear of my vehicle & picked up the toddler to bring him to safety. Fortunately, the neighbor's efforts were unnecessary, as the vehicle remained motionless until the toddler was safely out of danger. Despite my best efforts to maintain safety, this incident could have ended in tragedy. I am angered that a device installed for the purpose of preventing exactly this incident, failed to perform in the manner in which it was intended. An internet search found other complaints regarding the picture quality of the back-up camera on this 2017 Buick Enclave. Thanks