General Motors has decided to remove certain comfort and convenience features from its vehicles as it continues to grapple with the effects of the semiconductor chip shortage. As we covered previously, certain Chevy models will receive limited heated seat and steering wheel availability – and GM Authority can now confirm these changes will also be applied to certain Buick models as well.
Buick models affected by GM’s decision to remove the heated steering wheel feature from certain models include the Buick Enclave, Encore GX and Envision. The only Buick model not affected by this change is the entry-level, subcompact Encore – which cannot be ordered with a heated steering wheel in any trim level.
Model | Affected Trim Levels | Affected Units | Heated Steering Wheel | Heated Front Seats | Ventilated Front Seats | Heated Outboard Rear Seats |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buick Enclave | Essence, Premium | Some units | X2 | |||
Buick Enclave | Premium, Avenir | Some units | X1 | |||
Buick Enclave | Avenir | All units | X4 | |||
Buick Encore GX | Preferred, Select, Essence | Some units | X1 | |||
Buick Encore GX | Essence | Some units | X2 | |||
Buick Envision | Preferred, Essence, Avenir | Some units | X3 | X1 | ||
Buick Envision | Avenir | Some units | X1 | X1 |
- Feature made unavailable as of November 15 production
- Feature made unavailable as of December 6 production
- Feature made unavailable as of November 22 production
- Heated steering wheel still standard, but automatic activation feature removed
The availability of the heated steering wheel in affected Buick vehicles depends on the model and trim level. Not all units between the individual models and trims are affected equally, so some units may have the heated steering wheel feature, while others may not.
The chart embedded below provides a complete overview of the Buick models affected by the deletion of heated steering wheels as of November 15th production. The chart also lists those models that are affected by the deletion of heated/ventilated seats, which we covered in a separate article published last week.
Just like the affected Chevy models, Buick vehicles affected by this change may come with a credit/price reduction ranging between $150 and $500. Some models may also be eligible for feature retrofitting when further parts become available in the future.
The global chip shortage has forced GM to delete certain electronic features from its lineup, which effectively reduces the number of chips it uses per vehicle. The feature deletion for heated steering wheels will go into effect on November 22nd. It’s not clear when the features will once again be available, although the expectation is that this change will remain in place throughout the remainder of the 2022 model year.
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Comments
From a local Chevy dealer with a $48K Blazer – credits for no heated seats or steering wheel. Yeah, I’ll pay $48K for a vehicle without those options in snow country!
Not Equipped with Driver and Front Passenger Heated Seats
-$50
Not Equipped with Heated Steering Wheel
-$150
Total Vehicle and Options
$46,630
Destination Charge
$1,195
MSRP – Total Vehicle Price
$47,825
I can’t imagine buying a luxury vehicle without these options
GM continues to shoot themselves in the foot. Their sales will suffer.
i agree also buick is a hit by sr till producing the regal in china englan and eourpe but we in america can not even buy the car gm you should be ashsamed , get red cheverolet instead , cant stand any of there products , why cant swe buy buick in america ,except for tne invision, rhat know does not even have heated seats i am so disapointed in general motors , you should go into the ground you do not kknow how to run run a seccsefull company you should go under , and i have owen buick for years i have a cascada now you dont deserive to have the buick shields
No heated steering wheel no purchase…period!
I understand the need to do it if they cannot get the parts but they really need to be able to retrofit the feature if they want to keep their sales.