2013 Gmc Sierra 4x4 Sle Regular Cab on 2040-cars

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GMC Terrain's first generation could get recalled for headlights

According to Car Sales Base, GMC sold 745,454 Terrain crossovers from the end of 2009 to the end of 2017, all but a few of them representing the first-generation model years of 2010 to 2017. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the carmaker will need to recall almost all, due to a problem with excessively bright headlight reflections. NHTSA takes issue with the fact that federal motor vehicle regulations stipulate how bright headlight reflections are allowed to be within a certain arc of the headlight beam axis. In a certain area of the arc, the Terrain throws two small spots of light that are about 450 to 470 candela strong where the legal maximum at that point is 125 candela — one candela being equivalent to the light from one candle. The NHTSA wants the headlights replaced for being close to four times over this reflective limit, alleging this can cause "glare to other motorists driving in proximity." GM discovered the noncompliance in 2019, then filed a notice of noncompliance that requested an exemption from having to recall the crossover. GM's counterpoint to NHTSA was that the two areas of illegality were 80 degrees outboard of the headlight and 45 degrees up. You'd have to be Slenderman or a giraffe standing on the side of the road — our words, not GM's — to be blinded by the light. The automaker hadn't heard of any incidents nor complaints over the issue. The only customer feedback GM received was a Terrain driver saying the "left headlamp seems to have a portion of the light that shines up in the trees at near a 45-degree angle." Note, that's the left headlight, so the tree in question would likely be on the other side of the road. GM said oncoming traffic wasn't impaired by the excessive brightness. Due to these these mitigating factors, GM asked for an exemption from recalling the Terrains.    This week, NHTSA denied GM's petition.

J.D. Power customer survey of dealers counts Cadillac, Buick as big winners

Cadillac and Buick have taken the trophies in J.D. Power's latest Customer Service Index Study examining satisfaction with dealer service. Surveying more than 90,000 owners and lessees of 2009-2013 model-year cars, the study found that those with pre-paid maintenance packages were ten percent more likely to buy their next car from the same brand.
Dealer satisfaction scores have improved overall, Cadillac nabbed the luxury segment ahead of Audi and Lexus, taking the crown that Lexus held last year. Buick keeps the mass-market dealer satisfaction win in the family, finishing ahead of Volkswagen and last year's winner GMC. The study also found that service department use of tablets increased customer satisfaction, as did "best practices" like "providing helpful advice." Who knew?
You can find details on those and more findings in the press release below.

2024 GMC Acadia to go big again for third generation

In July, spy shooters caught prototypes of the next-gen GMC Acadia wrapped up tight in camouflage. We couldn't make out any useful aspects but one: The coming third-gen Acadia is larger than the current second-gen. Remember, GMC debuted a smaller Acadia for the 2017 model year, lopping eight inches of length and three inches of width from the first-gen large mid-size SUV to create a smaller mid-size three-row SUV. The new prototypes appeared to show that decision would be reversed, now we have proof thanks to more comments unearthed from GM's recent Investor Day presentations in New York. Caught by GM Authority, automaker president Mark Reuss said, "Alongside the Traverse, we’ll move the GMC Acadia to a little bit different size standpoint. This comes in a little bigger than the old Acadia, so itÂ’s a big transformation for GMC and its part of the market." In a 2016 Automotive News piece about how GMC planned to increase sales volume, AN reported, "One potential avenue: venturing into Jeep's terrain. Industry sources believe GMC is drawing up plans for an SUV based on the same body-on-frame platform that serves as the bones of the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup. It's in the early stages — it doesn't appear to have been sourced to suppliers yet and the SUV's arrival isn't expected until 2020 or later." The first-gen 2016 GMC Acadia was 200.8 inches long, while a 2016 GMC Canyon Crew Cab with the roughly 5-foot bed was 212.8 inches long. It's thought that truncating the second-gen GMC Acadia to 193.4 inches long and 75.4 inches wide was intended to leave plenty of room for the planned SUV on the Canyon platform. However far that SUV project got, it was reportedly canned in 2018.   Hence an upsized Acadia returns. Reuss' comment about the Chevrolet Traverse could imply what's coming for the GMC, the Chevrolet being 205.9 inches long and 78.6 inches wide. A bigger Acadia could make a better sales proposition against the two-row Terrain, too. The Terrain costs almost $9,000 less than the Acadia and is 182.3 inches long and 72.4 inches wide. It's not clear when GMC plans to show the new Acadia, but the consensus is that it will go on sale for the 2024 model year. Expect an all-new cabin, Super Cruise capability and a front fascia reminiscent of the new Canyon. Powertrain options are a mystery.