Complaint 1257257

Complaint Summary

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Owner Narrative

THE PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE TERRIBLE. THEY ARE DIM AND HAVE A VERY POOR LIGHT PATTERN. (THE BULB PRESUMABLY MEETS FEDERAL STANDARDS, BUT THE PROJECTOR SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED FOR A BRIGHTER BULB). IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE SIDES OF THE ROAD, OR VERY FAR DOWN THE ROAD, ON ROADS WHERE THERE ARE NO STREETLIGHTS. IT IS EVEN WORSE ON A RAINY, DARK ROAD. GM INSTITUTED A TSB (#PIT5374, ATTACHED) IN FEBRUARY 2015 WHICH INVOLVES REPROGRAMMING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) TO INCREASE THE VOLTAGE TO THE HEADLIGHT BULBS AND SUBSTITUTING VOSLA HIR 55 WATT BULBS FOR THE ORIGINAL STOCK 55 WATT BULBS. THE RESULTS ARE A MINIMAL IMPROVEMENT. THE NEW 2016 MODELS HAVE THE SAME HEADLIGHT DESIGN BUT HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO A HID BULB THAT CANNOT JUST BE PLUGGED INTO THE 2014/15 HEADLIGHTS. THE IMPROVED BULB AND WIRING IS EVIDENCE THE TSB DID NOT REALLY IMPROVE THE LIGHTING VERY MUCH. (THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE; RECOMMEND YOU GOOGLE "GMC SIERRA HEADLIGHTS" AND SEE WHAT YOU GET!). I LIVE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND WOULD BE GLAD TO COME DOWN TO THE NHTSA BUILDING ON A DARK, RAINY NIGHT AND GIVE YOU A RIDE -- THE PROBLEM ISN'T SO BAD IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE STREETLIGHTS, BUT IT IS TERRIBLE OUT IN THE COUNTRY. BOTTOM LINE, GM SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO ISSUE A RECALL THAT INVOLVES REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS AND BULB WITH THEIR LATEST DESIGN. THE HEADLIGHTS IN THE 2014/2014 SIERRA ARE HAZARDOUS TO THE PEOPLE IN THE TRUCK AND TO PEDESTRIANS ALONG THE ROAD. THANKS FOR LISTENING TO MY COMPLAINT, AND PLEASE TAKE ACTION FOR SAFETY'S SAKE. (NOTE: THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TIME, MILEAGE, MPH, ETC., THAT THIS WAS NOTED. IT IS CONTINUAL. I HAD THE TSB PERFORMED IN THE SUMMER OF 2015 AND NOTED MINIMAL IMPROVEMENT AT THAT TIME.)

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.