We here at GM Authority openly love General Motors cars, trucks, and SUVs. However, we are usually the first to point out those General Motors products that need improvement as well. Don’t believe us? Just listen to any one of our Weekly or Debate podcasts.
Today, the GM vehicles in question include all current Lambda-based crossovers, including the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave – and the specific complaint surrounds the front passenger’s seat of these full size CUVs.
You see, the passenger’s seat in Lambda products is only adjustable in six different ways, which means that height adjustment is not available. Not only that, but no current trim level on any Lambda crossovers offers anything greater than 4-way electronic adjustment. Not even the $43,220 GMC Acadia Denali.
This is a very popular complaint about Lambda crossovers voiced by customers to dealers, GM, as well as to GM Authority (just check out the comments on this article). Most of these letters, submitted on our contact page, praise the Lambda-based vehicles for driving, comfort, and capability, but then go on to state that the lack of an eight-way front passenger seat is downright uncomfortable and annoying.
The GM Authority Take
This seems like a no-brainer to us. The least expensive Lambda vehicle, the Chevrolet Traverse, starts at just under $30,000. Now I’m not sure about you, but that’s a price point at which I would expect eight-way power adjustable front seats to be standard equipment. And that’s not even taking into account higher-priced Lambda-based vehicles such as the GMC Acadia or Buick Enclave. The lack of an eight-way passenger’s seat gets very embarrassing in the $43,000+ GMC Acadia Denali.
And while an adjustable seat height may seem trivial to some, it’s one of those things that shouldn’t go unnoticed under the New GM. And it goes without saying that the more adjustable a seat is, the more comfortable it feels, with height adjustment being especially noticeable to those who aren’t as tall as others.
What’s more, we’re not even sure that the upcoming Lambda-based Cadillac model will even have eight-way power adjustable seats for both the driver and the front passenger. And we’re not sure why The General does not equip the Buick Enclave with the seat height adjustment  – seeing that the Tri-Shield seems to be desperately aiming to get a foothold in the luxury market.
Having said that, I think it’s clear that GM should add eight-way power adjustable passenger’s seats to every new Lambda vehicle. The only argument against doing so is increased cost, and that pretty much dissipates due to economies of scale: since all Lambda products are built at the same plant (in Delta Lansing Township), The General can spread the added cost of adding the height adjustment motor across all Lambda crossovers, capitalizing on humongous economies of scale. At the end of the day, The General should take care of this as soon as possible. And we’re not talking about the next generation model, but rather a rolling update to today’s vehicles (after the necessary testing and planning, of course). For as much as they cost, an eight-way passenger seat is nothing else but mandatory.
Do you agree? Voice your comments below – and after you’re all finished commenting, be sure to sit back and enjoy a thorough review of the Lambda-based Chevrolet Traverse here.
Comments
Completely agree, as a sales person at a GMC store I believe this needs to happen right away, the other thing that needs adjusting is the style/positioning and size of the manual seat back lever. It’s way too small and placed in a horrible spot, if your hands are larger than a 6 year olds it’s almost impossible to reach and adjust. Fix ASAP please!
Great article. The passenger seat should never have been put in from day one, apparently whoever gave the go ahead never sat in it. When you have to brace yourself against the back firewall to stay in the seat something not right. Dealers complain, zone managers and customers complain but GM fails to take action.
Read online where customers have put extra foam in the seat or added shims to get seat angled back. Does this sound like something you should have to do in a 40-50 thousand auto, WAKE UP GM!!!
Taxpayers bailed you out so pay us back with a comfortable passenger seat. Dealers don’t want to help correct the issue because of liability and warranty. GM should offer dealer service a kit with track and motor so customers can pay to have the passenger seat corrected. I just ordered a new Enclave because it’s the best in its class of SUV’s. The only thing missing is a decent passenger seat. Brian Sweeney – make it happen soon!
I think the neatness factor would be upped a notch or two if GM offered 6-way electronic seats to the second row as well (maybe just for the Denali, loaded Buick and Cadillac Lambdas). Same applies to GMT900 models such as the Escalade.
I am excited to think someone might listen to this and actually change the seat in the Buick Enclave.
We previously owned 2 Buick Park Ave and always felt they were ahead of their time with extra comforts. However, we went to Tahoe and Yukon in the SUV line for real luxury and size a few years ago.
This year, when we decided to downsize, the Buick was what we thought would be first in luxury. And it was, except the passenger seat!!!
Even many less expensive vehicles with 4 way seats at least had contour seats … not completely flat seats that cannot be tilted in any way. A vehicle of that price and luxury needs 8 way passenger seats as well as driver seats.
Looking forward to seat changes in Buick Enclave. Great vehicle other than that.
how many $$$ were spend to develop two different seat platforms??
I own a 2010 Enclave CXL-2. To clarify, the passenger seat in this vehicle does offer
power lumber as well as power recline and fore/aft adjustment. I agree that the lack of height adjustment is a major flaw in this otherwise fine automobile.
Yeah, we’re going to update the story to reflect that inaccuracy. Thanks for the comment!
Alex Luft
Founder, GM Authority – The Ultimate Independent General Motors Fan Site
We did not purchase an enclave because the front passenger seat had so few adjustments.
Our 05 buick rendezvous had great adjustments on both front seats. Wish the rendezvous was still around. Considering a Lincoln MKT because of seat adjustments.
Virginia,
That’s truly a shame. It goes without saying that GM needs to have fixed this issue yesterday! Interestingly, the “new” GM has been bragging about its newly-found flexibility and ability to make faster decisions… it sure doesn’t look that way from where I’m sittin’.
Alex
Founder, GM Authority
I took delivery on a loaded CXL2 last week. Love the car but the seat is a problem that just won’t go away. I was just inspecting it today to see if there was a way to shim the front up about 2″. The way the seat is “clipped” in at front makes this a tough nut to crack. I measured driver(adjusted at a confortable postion) and compared it to “fixed” passenger and difference is 2″ from floor. GM, AT LEAST, needs to make a shim kit to fix this problem.
In the words of 50 cent — the shim kit would be quite “gangsta.” Seriously, the Enclave is a luxury vehicle. Why doesn’t it have a power 10-way passenger seat is beyond me. And GM’s silence on the matter is even more baffling.
2011 Acadia Denali. 1. Front passenger seat. Does anyone offer an aftermarket solution? 2. Does anyone offer aftermarket side steps? Not currently available through GM as they were with my 2009 Acadia.
Thanks for any suggestions. jim
I totally agree with all complaints of the passenger seat of the Buick Enclave. My spouse has RA and upon stopping it is difficult to keep Her from dumping into the firewall. I think a recall is in order!
My wife has MS and a severe back problems. A few weeks ago we purchsed a totally loaded Enclave. Now I must trade because the front passenger seat is too high in the front with no adjustment. The extra height in the front of seat put pressure on her legs causing problems. Otherwise, we love this vehicle but must get rid of it because of the front passenger seat.
We own a 2011 Buick Enclave fully loaded. We love the vehicle with the exception of the passenger seat. I have called every where trying to get it replaced. Neither my husband or myself wants to be a passenger, we are now looking to get rid of the vehicle. Whoever decided to take away the extra adjustments in the passenger seat apparently was never a passenger . GM should offer a recall on this vehicle to replace the passenger seat.
Hey Linda. That’s really unfortunate — and I know exactly how you feel — since a feature like that should be a no-brainer.
I think you could find an aftermarket shop that would be able to add the up/down adjustment. But they’d need to do some drilling to do it “right” while not breaking any safety mechanisms like airbags, etc.
Keep us updated with what you find!
we are listening and seats are a major cost of every car or suv and we do understand that seats need to fit a variety of people and this information is being reviewed internally keep the comments coming thanks.
Thanks JD — good to know!
Do you have any recommendations for current owners?
Thanks for your replies and suggestions. I have contacted GM Directly regarding this problem. Unfortunately, there are no fixes for the passenger seat or any kits available to fix it. So those of us that own the 2011’s are out of luck. I also called a couple of places to see if I can get a retro fit for my passenger seat, it was explained to me it will void my warranty due to liability reasons. So we are either stuck with the vehicle or we sell it and take a huge loss. My contact at GM was the man that tested the seats to bad he never sat in it as a passenger for an extended period of time. I have a seat cusion that is angled and adds 2 inches to the front seat bunn, hopefully this will help until we can either sell the vehicle or GM come outs with a kit to fix it. I would like to start a petition regarding this problem in hopes that at least GM would come out with a kit to fix the passenger seat before they lose old customers and potentially new customers. Thanks for listening. Linda
I sold my enclave at a loss due to not having the height adjustment on the front passenger seat. My wife could not ride in the vehicle due to her back problems. I will never purchase another vehicle that does not have the 8 way passenger adjusting seat. This experience has been expensive and I may never purchase another GM vehicle.
Gm has been my preferred vechile for my driving life. I currently own a 1984 Chevy truck,700,000 miles on it,a 2004 Chevy Silverado 170,000 miles and a 2011 Acadia Denali with 5500 miles(have had it 10 months it had 500 miles on it when we got it). As soon as I can find something else to trade for it will be gone because of the front passenger seat. In the same 10 months we’ve had the Acadia I’ve put 30,000 miles on my truck a good portion of because my wife can’t sit in the passenger seat for other than a short trip around town because of back issuses. We traded a 2005 Yukon Denali for the Acadia and my wife wanted the Denali package because she loved the Yukon so much. I think GMC screwed the pooch on this seat issue and I’m looking at a Ford Explorer, even went looked at an Acura MDX last night, wife loved the seats in it just not the outward appearance. I’ve driven Cadillacs Fleetwood and Devilles, Yukon Denali and now the Acadia Denali so I’m not afraid to pay premium price for what I want but am totally disgusted with this. GM needes to wake up before they go belly up again and need taxpayers help!!!!!!!!
I am so upset. We bought the GMG Acadia SLT 2 months ago. Just finishd a long trip in it. The passenger seat is so uncomfortable. We saw the controls for the seat and assumed it was like our Trailblazer passenger seat which adjusts 8 ways and cost a LOT less.
Comeon–we paid 37,000 for this and the seat cannot adjust? GMC, come up with a fix fast. I will be telling everyone about this unhappy experience.
As the current owner of bothe a Buick Lucerne and a Yukon Denali, I would have bought neither if the passenger seat adjustablity had been different from the driver side. Prior to my Lucerne, I owned 3 Park Avenues and all had fully adjustable passenger seats. Since the Lucerne has been dropped and no quality replacement is in the works, this will probably be my last Buick. I’ve owned a Cadillac in the past, but it’s not worth the extra cash over essentially the same package in a Buick. Another thing I require in my cars are the outside mirrors that tilt down when backing up. The camera in most of the cars is a nusance, and it is impossilbe to accurately judge your position with one.
I agree with everything above and a few others especially the blind spot in the mirror. Will be getting rid of my 2011 as soon as the warranty runs out. Will probably buy an import, have had it with American cars.
Ihave had 2 Lacrosse sedans and the passenger seat in suck!! the last one is a2009.
Bought the Enclave as a travel vehicle to and from NJ to FL, passenger seat very uncomfortable for long distant travel,also bad blind spots in both side view mirrors. Very dissapointed will trade in have had it with domestic cars no attention to detail or quality. On the plus side great gas mileage and size. My last domestic car.
Prior to buying my 2012 AWD Acadia Denali I accessed the GM Family First Web site and accessed to specs for that car. This was the definition for the passenger seat and a major reason that I bought that vehicle:
4-way power passenger seat The passenger can reposition it fore and aft (as well as up and down) and adjust the seatback’s tilt. They can also choose the precise degree of lumbar support and recline angle.
The passenger seat on my car does NOT go up and down…or tilt.
The dealer is not to concerned and I’m mad as hell.
The FamilyFirst site (Vehicle Shopping>Build, Price and Find Your Vehicle) still has the same description for a 2012 today.
Incidentally the Chevy Traverse LTZ model brags the same feature.
http://prod3.gmautobuilder.com/BuildYourOwn/GMFamilyFirst.byo?priceformula=EM
I could care less about sunroofs, fancy wheels, or fancy electronics, but I do care about Power passenger seat.
I wanted GM to supply a passenger’s seat that would go up and down just as advertised on their website. I pressed my complaint to the GMC dealer and to GM customer relations. After many arguments and phone conversations GM eventually offered a solution(?):
‘An extra $1000 discount to trade my 2012 GMC Acadia Denali for an identical 2013 model which boasted a passenger seat appropriate to the description of features offered on the 2012, but that were actually absent on the 2012 model.’
This initially sounded acceptable except that the dealer would only allow the rock bottom auction price for my 2012 on trade and I rejected that offer and reiterated my request for the passenger’s seat that would do what they said it would do.
After some hassles back and forth with the Dealer and GM customer relations a local aftermarket business was found by the GMC dealer that could provide the ‘correct’ seat for $850. The Dealer said…in effect…that they would pay $415 and that I could pay $415 and I said…in effect…that was not acceptable. That I had already paid for a powered seat that would “go up and down” when I bought the vehicle and I wanted what I had paid for.
I didn’t want money and I didn’t want to pay anything. I just wanted GM and their Dealer to provide what they had advertised as a standard feature. A feature that was one of the deciding factors in my choice of that particular model.
As of today…September 20, 2013…nothing has changed.
Just want to say – hey GM and every other car company .. I am short. I’ll admit it . But every car company tilts their seats up up and away. Hey 50% of the population are females and they have short legs folks! … you need to give us a good tilt option / heat option and remember at 30K or above – POWER PASSENGER SEATS ALSO > at least as an option.
I hope the all new 2018 Chevrolet Traverse has 8 adult passenger seating capability, like the current model does. This is extremely important, because I would like to purchase such a vehicle in the next two years. If it does not, forget about me considering such a vehicle from 2018 onward.