What 169 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Lacrosse Hybrid

THE TRANSMISSION,WITH APPROX 89,000 MILES BURNED UP WHILE I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP. I WAS 9 HOURS FROM MY HOME AND ALONE WITH A FULL CAR OF VACATION EQUIPMENT. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 24 IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE. I PULLED OFF AND A SERVICE STATION CHECKED WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE CODES SHOWED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I SHOULD TRY TO GET TO THE NEAREST BUICK DEALER, IN CLARKSVILLE TENNESSEE. THEY SAID IT WOULD MAKE IT. I WAS ALONE. THANK GOODNESS FOR ONSTAR. I HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN CLARKSVILLE BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AND IT WAS GETTING DARK. THE CAR WAS BARELY MOVING BY NOW. IT WAS FRIGHTENING. I STAYED THE NIGHT AT A BAYMONT IN CLARKSVILLE AND WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT 6 30 AM. WAS PRAYING IT COULD BE FIXED AND I COULD CONTINUE ON MY WAS TO MILWAUKEE WITH MY BEAUTIFUL CAR, WHICH I HAD PUT SO MUCH EFFORT IN KEEPING IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. JUST BEFORE MY TRIP, I HAD REPLACED MY TIRES WITH BEAUTIFUL MICHELINS, AND SICK MY CAR HAD GONE INTO LIMP MODE TWICE, REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. EVERYTHING READY FOR A ROAD TRIP TO AMELIA ISLAND FROM MILWAUKEE. WYATT JOHNSON DEALERSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT. 4500.00 TO FIX, AND WOULD TAKE A WEEK. I WAS STUCK. I HAD TO GET HOME 9 HOURS AWAY. I WOULD NEED A RENTAL TO DRIVE HOME, THEN DRIVE BACK THEN DRIVE HOME IF I WOULD HAVE THE NEW TRANSMISSION. I GAVE MY BEAUTIFUL CAR TO THEM FOR 1500.00. I BOUGHT ANOTHER 2015 LACROSSE. I HAD TO UNLOAD A FULL CAR INTO THE NEW ONE. EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING SITUATION. I NOW HAVE A 2015 BUICK LACROSSE WHICH I BOUGHT FOR 19,800. JUST SO SHOCKING THAT AN AMERICAN MADE TRANSMISSION WOULD BURN UP AT 89,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, BUT IN SLOW TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN NASHVILLE WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN. I WILL SEND COPIES OF ALL DOCUMENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11085144

I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE A/C IT DOES IT'S OWN THING AT TIMES. THE A/C FAN NEVER HAS BLOWN STRONG. IT'S LIKE THE DUCK WORK IS OBSTRUCTED SOME HOW. SITTING STILL AT TIMES THE A/C DOES NOT BLOW COLD AT ALL UNTIL YOU MOVE THEN IT STARTS TO BLOW COOL. AT TIMES A SMALL PART OF THE COOL AT TIMES SMALL AMOUNTS OF AIR SEEPS THROUGH THE DEFROSTER AND FOGS UP THE WINDSHIELD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI 11072653

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL IN THE WINTER, WENT TO TURN INTO NEIGHBORHOOD AT TOP OF HILL, JUST AS TURNING THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE DIED. EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING. ENGINE SHUT OFF, BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, LIGHTS WENT OFF, THEN WOULDN'T START. THEN THE VEHICLE INSTRUCTED TO ROLL DRIVER WINDOW DOWN THEN UP, ROLL RIGHT WINDOW DOWN THEN UP. ALMOST LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO REBOOT. BUT THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. AFTER TRYING A THIRD TIME TO START, IT STARTED. ALL INFORMATION WAS GONE, NO MILEAGE, OIL LIFE GONE, TRIPOMETER GONE. DROVE VEHICLE HOME, JUST A BLOCK AWAY AND BEEN TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11066972

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, PISTON AND PISTON RINGS. BURNING 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 2000 OR LESS MILES. AFTER CHECKING I FIND OUT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MAKE AT A SPECIFIC PLANT. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 95,550 MILES. I THOUGHT BUICKS WERE GOOD CARS AND STOOD BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THIS IS QUIET EXPENSIVE, CAN YOU HELP? THE OIL LIGHT DOESN'T EVEN COME ON WHEN IT GOT THAT LOW. IT STARTED ACTING FUNNY AND WHEN CHECKED, LOW OIL, NO . I HAVE KEPT MY VEHICLE VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AROUND 10/16/17 AND AFTER LOOKED AT AGAIN 1/8/18 DRIPS OR LEAKS

NHTSA ODI 11062143

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, DROPPED SUDDENLY TO 30 MPH. HAD TO PULL ONTO SHOULDER FROM PASSING LANE, ALMOST REAR ENDED BY TRACTOR TRAILER DUE TO SUDDEN POWER LOSS, COULD NOT ACCELERATE. STABILITRAK LIGHT TURNED ON STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, WENT AWAY. CAME BACK ON AGAIN 3 X'S WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME ON HIGHWAY, HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY PULL OVER AND RESTART ENGINE TO CLEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11060889

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, SUDDEN WARNING STABILITRAK NEEDS SERVICE, ENGINE POWER REDUCED. SPEED DROPPED TO 30 MPH ON HIGHWAY FROM 70MPH TRAFFIC FLOW. COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL TO KEEP UP W/TRAFFIC, HAD TO PULL ONTO SHOULDER TO AVOID GETTING REAR ENDED. COULD NOT ACCELERATE ENOUGH SPEED TO MERGE BACK ONTO HIGHWAY LIGHT TURNED OFF. DANGEROUS!!!

NHTSA ODI 11060886

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER STOPPED WORKING AND WOULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IN COLD TEMPERATURES. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME FROSTED WITH ICE AND DECREASED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V149000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

NHTSA ODI 11034304

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IT STALLED AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAM SOLENOID FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,800.

NHTSA ODI 11024203

I WAS DRIVING DOWN OUR LOCAL EXPRESSWAY WITH OUR CHILDREN AND THE TILT STEERING LOCKING LEVEL GAVE WAY AND MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNSTABLE, MOVING ABOUT. LOST CONTROL OF TILT AND TELESCOPIC LOCKING ON THE WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI 11022262

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL UNDER THE VIN AND WOULD GET BACK TO HER THE NEXT DAY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11016518

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WIRES WERE MADE WITH A SOY CHEMICAL THAT ATTRACTED RODENTS. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED TWICE. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT THE AREA OF THE ENGINE WIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED AROUND THE BATTERY WIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GEORGE MATICK CHEVROLET (TELEGRAPH ROAD, REDFORD CHARTER, MI,48239 PHONE: (313) 531-7100) AND TAYLOR CHEVROLET (3801 TELEGRAPH ROAD, TAYLOR, MI 48180 PHONE: (734) 250-6220) FOR THE REPAIRS. THE ENGINE AND BATTERY WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI 11012775

POTENTIAL FATAL SAFETY HAZARD WITH DOOR LOCK PULL TOGGLES WHEN AN ACCIDENT DISABLES THE BATTERY. IN NORMAL OPERATION, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALWAYS RETRACTS THE DOOR PULL TOGGLES COMPLETELY INTO THE TOP OF THE DOOR DURING ANY SHIFT OF THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE PULL TOGGLE DISAPPEARS COMPLETELY INTO THE DOOR WITH NO PORTION EXPOSED. IF THE VEHICLE BATTERY IS DISABLED, AS IN MINOR CRASH, THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS CANNOT BE OPERATED AND THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPEN MANUALLY. THE OCCURPANT IS LOCKED WITHIN THE VEHICLE UNTIL A WINDOW IS BROKEN OUT. THERE IS SIMPLY NO WAY TO OVERRIDE THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM TO EXIT THE VECHILE. PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT OVERRIDE THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS. A SIMPLE FIX WOULD MERELY BE TO MAKE THE PLASTIC PULL TOGGLES 3/4 IN. LONGER SO THAT SOMONE CAN GRAB THE TOGGLE AND PULL IT TO THE UNLOCKED POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ELECTRICALLY LOCKED.

NHTSA ODI 11010747

ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE BEGINNING TO EXIT FROM AN EIGHT LANE HIGHWAY (680). COULDN'T RESTART. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED MY BATTERY FOR $361.77, IN ORDER TO START THE CAR AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO INFORM ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE...FOR $9000.00!!! ON A CAR THAT WAS WELL MAINTAINED, WITH 60,000 MILES???? TOWED THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THE A FAULTY SEAL CAUSED A ROD TO BREAK, AND THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE DAMAGE. HAD A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED FOR ABOUT $6000.00. I BELIEVE THAT GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAULTY SEAL, AND THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND LIFE WHICH WOULD CAUSE A VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING...CAUSING THE BRAKES AND THE POWER STEERING TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11000988

I HAVE ISSUES WITH MY DEFROST SYSTEM IN MY 2011 BUICK LACROSSE WHICH IS CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES (SAFETY) WHEN I DRIVE. SEVERAL TIMES I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS AND TRY TO GET MY WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST SO I COULD SEE TO DRIVE. I LOOKED UP RECALLS ON CARS.COM AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED IN MARCH 2011 FOR 2011 BUICK LACROSSE MODELS FOR THE ECC MODULE DESCRIBING THE EXACT SYSTEMS MY CAR IS HAVING. I CALLED THE BUICK 1-800 NUMBER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RECALL AND THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN# WAS NOT ON THAT RECALL LIST BUT I COULD TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND FOR REPAIRS AT MY EXPENSE. I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IF MY CAR IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALL IS STATING WHY WOULD MY CAR NOT BE UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE. SHE STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY MANUFACTURED AT A DIFFERENT PLANT AND NOT AT THE PLANT WHICH RECALLS WERE ISSUED. MY QUESTION IS "IF I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR THE 2011 BUICK LACROSSE MODELS THAN WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND FIXED?" I BELIEVE THAT BUICK SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND CONTACT A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY CAR DIAGNOSED AND THEN IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THOSE REPAIRS AS WELL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING ISSUE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR (USED) IN OCTOBER 2014

NHTSA ODI 11000806

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE HVAC SYSTEM FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE LOCAL DEALER (HIGH PERFORMANCE BUICK GMC, LOCATED AT 1985 CALIFORNIA AVE SW, CAMDEN, ARKANSAS) THAT THE ECC PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ECC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V149000 (VISIBILITY) THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 07/13/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10991272

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE, AN 18 WHEELER TRUCK MERGED OVER AND SMASHED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE INTO THE METAL GUARDRAIL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY, BACK PAINS, AND LEG PAINS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO AIR BAG RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS TO REACH OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10984669

THIS VEHICLE STALLS/CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING OR TAKING OFF FROM A STAND STILL. IT MAINTAINS A STORED HISTORY CODE P0014 AND AFTER SERVICE WILL REAPPEAR. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA. BUICK HAS A NOTICE ABOUT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND THAT HAS TO BE REPROGRAMED FOR THAT VEHICLE MODEL AND MY VIN NUMBER FALLS WITHIN THAT BULLETIN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT DOESN'T WORK AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT A MOMENTS NOTICE. RIGHT NOW I'M AFRAID THAT MY LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE IS IR REAL DANGER. UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. WHILE SEARCHING FOR A SOLUTION I FOUND NUMEROUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM/ SAME COMPLAINT. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE THE LOSS OF LIFE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10970289

TAKATA INFLATORS: MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ALMOST 2YEARS AND I SEE THAT IS A RECALL ON AIRBAGS FOR THE 2011 BUICK

NHTSA ODI 10967814

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE STABILITRAC AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCED POWER WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HUB THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/04/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL. UPDATED 07/25/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10939697

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK FUEL FROM UNDER THE HOUSING UNIT. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, IT WOULD JERK AND HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 10935625

MY VEHICLE A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE CXL 2.4L ENGINE RPO LAF. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE MAKING NOISE DUE TO BALANCE SHAFT CHAIN SPECIAL COVERAGE RECALL 12313 WHERE BACK THEN THEY INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE BALANCE SHAFT CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND ALSO THE ENGINE MOUNT HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, THEN TO SAY THIS BULLETIN HAS BEEN REVISED TO REMOVE SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE FUEL PUMP THAT IS NOW INCLUDED IN VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL 43180. UPDATES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE PART INFORMATION, SERVICE PROCEDURE, AND WARRANTY TRANSACTION INFORMATION SECTIONS. PLEASE DISCARD ALL COPIES OF BULLETIN 12313B. CAME THE REVISED 12313B AND NOW AS OF SEPTEMBER 2016 REVISED AGAIN TO 12313C. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 43180 IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2011 BUICK LACROSSE WITH THE SAME ENGINE RPO LAF. I'VE CALLED GM VARIOUS TIMES AND SPOKE EVEN TO THE GM DEALER, MY CAR WAS EVEN AT THE DEALER SITTING THERE FOR WEEKS TO ONLY SAY IT'S NOT COVERED THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO GET RECALLED. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS, THE OIL SMELLS LIKE GAS, AND I CAN'T SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, IT STAYS RUNNING AND THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT IT OFF IS PUTTING IT ON DRIVE THEN SHUTTING IT OFF. ALL THIS DUE TO ON SOME 2010-2011 MODEL YEAR BUICK LACROSSE, CHEVROLET EQUINOX, AND GMC TERRAIN; AND 2011 MODEL YEAR BUICK REGAL VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH A 2.4L ENGINE (LAF), THE CHROME LAYER ON THE BALANCE CHAIN PINS MAY WEAR, ALLOWING THE CHAIN TO STRETCH. THIS WOULD CAUSE AN ENGINE NOISE, AND IF LEFT UNTREATED, COULD CAUSE THE CHAIN TO BREAK, LEADING TO ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS IS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO NOT RUN RIGHT AND A HARD TIME TO ACCELERATE GM CASE # 8-2573359821

NHTSA ODI 10935214

2011 BUICK LACROSSE (60,000 MILES - PROPERLY MAINTAINED BY 73 YEAR OLD MAN) BROKE DOWN ON INTERSTATE HWY. WHILE VACATIONING IN KNOXVILLE, TN - BUICK BEGINS TO STALL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (WAS FLICKERING AND NO ACCELERATION). WE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AT A GAS STATION AND CALLED AAA - WHO TOWED US TO A CERTIFIED AAA REPAIR/TOW COMPANY. WE INITIALLY SUSPECTED IT WOULD BE THE FUEL PUMP OR FILTER . MECHANIC IN KNOXVILLE WHO IS A ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR 40 YEARS SAID IT WASN'T THE FUEL PUMP SO HE PUT HIS DIAGNOSTIC TESTER AND DETERMINED THERE WERE MORE PROBLEMS AND STARTED TO TAKE APART THE ENGINE....AND FOUND THE MAIN VALVES WERE BROKEN AND FELL INTO THE PISTONS. ENGINE FAILURE AND HE SAID IN HIS 40 YEARS THIS HAD HAPPENED ONLY 3 TIMES BUT NOT ON A 2011 CAR WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. HE SAID IF WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED DRIVING, THE WHOLE ENGINE WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP. CALLED THE LOCAL BUICK DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT NO RECALL, NOR DID WE HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (A BIG MISTAKE - AND WE LOVED THE LACROSSE THINKING IT WOULD LAST A LONG TIME). LOOKED UP BLUE BOOK VALUE - WORTH $11,000 (WITH RUNNING ENGINE) AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE APPROX. $8,000 AND WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO REPLACE. SOLD THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC IN KNOXVILLE, TN) AND PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA AVALON IN KNOXVILLE. VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED IN G.M. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10920427

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR BRAKES, STRUTS, AND SHOCKS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 10918560

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CLIMATE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V149000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ODI 10913595

VEHICLE COMPLETELY DEAD AFTER ALL TYPES OF ELECTRICAL MESSAGES DISPLAYED WHEN TRYING TO START. CAR WAS STATIONARY BOTH TIMES. THIS FIRST HAPPENED EARLY FEB 2016; THEN REPEATED SIMILAR SCENARIO 20 DAYS LATER. CAR WAS TOWED BOTH TIMES. LOW MILEAGE 52,278 MILES. MESSAGES GENERIC, DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM AND CONTACTED THE GM CUSTOMER CENTER ALSO. NOTHING DONE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME DEALER STARTED UPDATING ALL THE ELECTRONIC MODULES-ALTHOUGH AGAIN NO SPECIFIC CAUSE AND EFFECT COULD BE IDENTIFIED. MODULES UPDATED (EBCM, BCM ECM, ETC. ABOUT 27 MODULES. THUS FAR CAR HAS NOT BEEN DEAD AGAIN WITH EXCEPTION OF BATTERY ISSUE (ALREADY ANOTHER WARRANTY REPLACEMENT FOR ORIGINAL). MY CONCERN: IF THESE ELECTRONIC MODULES (COUPLE THOUSAND OF DOLLARS) ARE THE PROBLEM, HOW COME IT WAS NOT A RECALL VS REPAIR. OWNER SHOULD NOT BE A HOSTAGE TO A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR A REPAIR TO MAKE THE CAR START? OF NOTE; MY CAR HAS HAD 21 WARRANTY FIXES WITH MY LOW MILEAGE. GM PRIOR TO THIS ELECTRONIC FAILURE EXTENDED MY WARRANTY OUT DUE TO THE MANY ISSUES AFTER I WAS FORCEFUL. BASICALLY, GM ENGINEERS ARE PRODUCING A CAR WHERE THEY CANNOT DEFINITIVELY STATE THE PROBLEM, BUT START TRYING EVERYTHING. THESE MODULE UPDATES WOULD COST COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND LOTS OF TIME IN SHOP. NOTE: MY AUTO IS A 4 WD LARGER ENGINE BUICK; FOB VS KEY SO SOMEWHAT FEWER ON THE ROAD. MY AUTO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST 2011 THAT ROLLED OFF ASSEMBLY LINE PROBABLY BUT VERY SIMILAR TO THE 2010 (FIRST YEAR OUT WITH THE CURRENT BODY STYLE). THE OTHER 21 WARRANTY JOBS (DRIVER SEAT, PASSENGER SIDE TRAFFIC WARNING MESSAGE, OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION LEAK AT SAME TIME AS ENGINE OIL LEAK, PROBLEMS WITH DOORS OPENING, RADIO NAV SYSTEM, RIGHT REAR HUB BEARING PAD, AND A COUPLE DRIVEN BY THE ACTUAL REPAIR VISIT.

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