2008 Buick Lucerne visibility problems

Filed Dec 12, 2013 · Body, Seats · 20,000 miles · MO

Sometime between 1998 and 2008 the buick line, and almost all other lines, enlarged the size of the columns supporting the roof, modified the front side windows to add a small triangle of material at the front of the windows, and raised the height of the side mirrors and raised the height of the "dash" above the instrument cluster. I am in excess of 6 ft tall and this had little impact on my field of vision. My wife is less than 5 ft and age is taking a toll on both of us and this has a severe impact on her field of vision, even with the use of booster pillows. The current models have the same design flaw, except for the honda civic and the ford fusion. I have personally "tested" this condition by locating myself at an intersection where several crashes, some fatal, and "scrooching" down as best I could to simulate a 5 ft person with the seat at its max height, and there is a critical loss of visibility, particularly to the right. There were three crashes, all involved seniors, that were in a collision because they proceeding, after stopping, to cross the intersection in front of oncoming traffic. I heartily support your proposal to develop some type of recommendations, or "rating", for vehicles that are the most appropriate for seniors. Thank you.

Filed Jul 9, 2013 · Suspension, Visibility · 48,000 miles · MO

I was stopped with engine running and air conditioner fan on high. I turned the wipers on to clean windshield. Immediately I was overcome with extreme burning in my eyes I could not open them. I reached for door handle and got out. I was in a panic, having no idea what happened. I asked 2 people for help,the second person came to my car and we searched car for something burning and found nothing. I was afraid to get back into my car.I have never experienced a burning in my eyes as this. I felt helpless because no one witnessed this freak incident. Finally I used wet paper towels and covered all the AC vents and drove home in fear that it was going to happen again. There is no doubt what so ever if I was driving when this happened I would of crashed. I could not see. When tubing broke the fluid landed on a hot engine paet and the water evaporated and the methanol vapors came through the AC vents directly into my face. The buick dealer didn't mention or discuss this plastic tubing be replaced. He just put a piece of rubber to hold the ends of broken plastic tubing. Im very uncomfortable using wipers now because as I mentioned if it were to happen while driving I might as well be blind. I want to know if the tubing is not suppose to ever break and more so, why did it come through the AC vents that was on high.?

Filed Mar 12, 2012 · Engine, Visibility · NY

I understand there is a recall to disable and remove the heated windshield solution from the car. This is a feature that cost extra when buying the car and I feel you should repair it, not just remove the feature. Is there any repair instead of removal? If not how do you compensate owners for the loss of functionality of the heated windshield system. I live in the northeast and use it occasionally in the winter.

Filed Dec 16, 2010 · Visibility · 16,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 buick lucerne cxl. The contact noticed that the windshield washer was inoperable. The dealer was informed and advised the contact to leave the vehicle in his garage. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 16,000. Updated 03/25/11*lj updated 05/03/11*lj the consumer stated the windshield wiper fluid freezes and there is no way to prevent it. Updated 08/05/11 updated 09/19/11

Filed Aug 17, 2010 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 19,950 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 buick lucerne. The contact stated when refueling the vehicle, gasoline would spew back out from the filler tube and onto the contact. The dealer advised that the vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. In addition, the front driver window was abnormally slow in opening and would squeak. The driver seat has no padding and when exiting the vehicle, she would have to tilt the steering wheel upward in order to exit. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 19,950. Updated 12/7/10 *cn the consumer also stated the traction light illuminated and the door locks had to repaired. Updated evoq 03/01/11

Filed Aug 2, 2010 · Electrical, Visibility · 10 miles · NY · fire

The heated windshield washer recall 10153 is not sufficient. They are not offering a repair but to disable it. I and many others who have this option are not going to get the recall done because we want this feature to work. Because of this many are at risk. What if someone does not get it done and parks their vehicle under an apartment complex garage and it ignites? Even people who that do not have this car are at risk. I bought a much more expensive car then I really needed because of this feature. Gm should be forced to find a new vendor to design a replacement module. It's being disabled because it is cheaper for them to give you $100 then to redesign and fix the problem. What will be next, if the ABS modules start to burn and the vendor goes out of business will they then have a recall to disable the ABS? I plead with you to not let gm get away with this. Thank you

Filed Jun 9, 2010 · Visibility · MN

This complaint is an exact copy of another one because we experience the exact same issue. During freezing rain or snow conditions there is a build-up of ice at the base of the windshield below the point of the defrosters. Heat from the defroster system cannot reach the area of build-up causing the wipers to constantly pass over the ice and become clogged with ice which is then dragged across the windshield causing poor visibility and a potential driving hazard. In just a few miles of driving it was necessary to pull over and scrape the windshield and clear the ice from the wipers in order to have adequate visibility. This is a potential safety condition due to the limiting of visibility and the repeated stops to clear the ice.

Filed Mar 2, 2009 · Visibility · 3,000 miles · WI

During freezing rain or snow conditions there is a build-up of ice at the base of the windshield below the point of the defrosters. Heat from the defroster system cannot reach the area of build-up causing the wipers to constantly pass over the ice and become clogged with ice which is then dragged across the windshield causing poor visibility and a potential driving hazard. In just a few miles of driving it was necessary to pull over and scrape the windshield and clear the ice from the wipers in order to have adequate visibility. This is a potential safety condition due to the limiting of visibility and the repeated stops to clear the ice.

Filed Jan 17, 2009 · Engine, Visibility · 18,600 miles · NY

Defroster vents improperly positioned to keep front windshield clear in near zero conditions. Window wiper blades park in an area below the heated portion of the windshield. Wipers froze to the window, during the delay in the interrupted operation, while driving in a snow storm at 3 deg. Temp. Window actually became totally frozen over and visibility became impossible. On the passenger side, ice accumulated in the wiper pave in the lower right corner, about 3 x 6 x 1/4 thick and the wiper had to navigate up and over this frozen mass.

Filed Aug 16, 2008 · Transmission, Visibility · CA

This is a report of a design flaw that might result in a safety issue. I recently took delivery of a 2008 buick lucerne cxl. I purchased the optional six-passenger version which means that the gearshift lever is mounted on the steering column instead of on a floor console, like most other cars. When the gearshift lever is in the "drive" position, the view of the radio display is obscured, causing me to move my head to look around the gearshift lever to view the display. As a result, my attention to the road is much more distracted than if I had an unobstructed view of the radio display. This could lead to an accident.