What 169 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Lacrosse Hybrid

THIS VEHICLE HAS THE PUSH BUTTON KEYLESS START. PAGE 10-89 OF THE OWNER MANUAL DESCRIBES THE METHOD TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOWING THE VEHICLE OR MOVING IT WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE (IF THE CAR BATTERY IS DEAD OR THE ENGINE WILL NOT START FOR ANY OTHER REASON), SUCH AS ONTO A TOW TRUCK FOR TRANSPORT TO A SERVICE CENTER. THE MANUAL SAYS TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE (THIS CANNOT BE DONE IF THE CAR BATTERY IS DEAD BECAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE IS ELECTRICALLY OPERATED), SELECT THE ACCESSORY MODE (BY PUSHING THE START BUTTON TO SHOW AN AMBER LIGHT AS DESCRIBED ON PAGE 9-20), THEN SQUEEZE THE SMALL LEVER ON THE FRONT OF THE TRANSMISSION LEVER, AND MOVE IT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL. THIS DOES NOT WORK. THE LEVER CANNOT BE MOVED OUT OF PARK. APPLYING THE FOOT BRAKE DOES NOT HELP. I TOOK THE CAR TO LIBERTY BUICK IN PEORIA, AZ, AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO SALESMEN AND SERVICE ADVISORS. NONE OF THEM COULD MAKE IT WORK OR EXPLAIN WHY. THIS PROCEDURE WAS TRIED WITH ANOTHER LACROSSE WITH THE KEYLESS START FEATURE AND IT ALSO DID NOT WORK, VERIFYING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL LACROSSE KEYLESS START VEHICLES. THIS PROCEDURE WORKS WITH A "KEYED START" VEHICLE IF THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE 'ON' POSITION (NOT THE 'ACCESSORY' POSITION AS STATED IN THE MANUAL). APPARENTLY, INSUFFICIENT TESTING WAS DONE ON THIS FEATURE AND IT WAS NOT CORRECTLY PROGRAMMED INTO THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. THE INTERLOCK BETWEEN THE ENGINE, BRAKE, AND TRANSMISSION LEVER IS NOT RELEASED IN THE ACCESSORY MODE AND THERE IS NO 'ON' POSITION FOR THE KEYLESS IGNITION WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE. THIS MEANS THAT IF MY CAR IS IN MY GARAGE OR ON A ROAD AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD OR THE ENGINE WILL NOT START, I WILL BE UNABLE TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE OR OUT OF TRAFFIC OR ONTO A TOW TRUCK.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HOOD, FENDERS, AND BUMPER OR THE GROUND IN ORDER TO VERIFY WHEN TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE SALES MANAGER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO INSTALL A BACK UP BUMPER CAMERA TO THE FRONT BUMPER TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,050 . THE CONSUMER STATED WHERE THE HOOD AND DASH MEET AT THE WINDSHIELD, BOTH ARE RISING AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SIT ON TOP OF THAT. IT IS DESIGNED FOR RECESSED WIPERS, BUT THE BLADES ARE NOT RECESSED. THEY SIT ABOVE THE HIGH PART OF THE DASH. ONE THIRD OF THE HOOD SURFACE WOULD BE INVISIBLE WITHOUT WIPER BLADES. TO SEE THE HOOD TOP SURFACE, THE CONSUMER MUST RAISE THE SEAT AND PLACE IT FORWARD, SO HE CAN HIS CHIN OVER THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. UPDATED 10/28/11 UPDATED 11/09/2011 *LN *TR

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2011 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEAD REST LOCK IN VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD REST CAN NOT BE MOVED DUE TO THE ADDED LOCK FEATURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE FORCED TO LOOK DOWN AT THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO BE COMFORTABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO SUPPORT FROM THE SEAT OR THE HEAD REST, WHICH CAUSES A STIFF NECK AND SHOULDERS. *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A PUSH BUTTON START ENGINE AND WHEN HE PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD START WHILE HE WAS WALKING AWAY. THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON FOR TEN MINUTES DURING THE LAST TWO TIMES THE FAILURE OCCURRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS COMPUTERIZED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ALSO STATED IT WAS ALL COMPUTERIZED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 435.

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THE 2011 BUICK LACROSSE WITH A 3.6 HAD POPPING SOUND UPON STARTING WHEN CAR WAS 5 DAYS OLD; BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS ASKED IF I WAS SURE IT WAS MY CAR. THEY CHECKED VEHICLE AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT POPPED UPON STARTING 8-9 MORE TIMES IN 3 WEEKS. UPON LEAVING A RESTAURANT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START & HAD NO POWER; ONSTAR WAS OF NO USE. DEALER HAD CAR TOWED TO THEM; KEPT CAR FOR 10 DAYS AND PUT 160 MILES ON IT AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY REPROGRAMMED 3 COMPUTERS BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE POPPING SOUND. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND DISCOVERED THAT IT HAD BEEN HIT WHILE AT DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAD CAR PAINTED. I GOT MY CAR ON TUESDAY, THURSDAY IT POPPED TWICE. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME TO PICK CAR UP THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST EXPANDED UPON STARTING AND MADE A POOFING SOUND. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD DO. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH BUICK EXECUTIVE OFFICES. THE CAR HAS 1087 MILES ON IT. IT HAD 287 WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND THEY PUT 160 MILES ON IT WHEN THEY HAD IT. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR 6 WEEKS AND 2 OF THOSE WEEKS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP. THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ME ANOTHER VEHICLE LIKE THE ONE I HAVE OR GIVE MY MONEY BACK. WHAT OPTIONS ARE LEFT?? LEMON LAW. I DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO THAT. I LOVE THE RIDE OF THE CAR AND THE FEATURES, BUT I CANNOT ENJOY IT AT ALL AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY REVERSED INTO THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR AND CONTINUED TO ROLL, CRASHING INTO A CURB WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND FOUR RIMS WERE DAMAGED. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AND IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A DENT ABOVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER TRAIN. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND COLLISION REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,142. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE FAILURE HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK INTO GEAR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT RATHER THE PROGRAMMING OF THE COMPUTER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER WAS SENDING INCORRECT SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000. SM.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE SUSPENSION LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,810.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE SUSPENSION LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ALLOWED TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,300.

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BRAKES HAVE FAILED SEVEN TIMES AT LOW VEHICLE SPEED. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, DEALER COULD FIND NO CAUSE. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING. PUMPING BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES CAUSES BRAKES TO START WORKING AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS. *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG PREMATURELY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.

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I WAS DRIVING OUR BUICK LACROSSE WITH 3036 MILES ON IT, AT 58 MPH, WHEN THE WHEEL BEGAN TO JERK BACK & FORTH VIOLENTLY. I WAS SKIDDING DOWN THE ROAD UNABLE TO STEER. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. THE RIGHT REAR TIE ROD BOLT HAD BROKEN. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM WAS BENT. BOTH PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.. WE WERE TOLD THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT HAPPEN. *TR

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MEMORY SEAT RECALL DOES NOT OPERATE AS DESCRIBED. *TR

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MOONROOF FRONT GLASS OF MY 2011 BUICK LACROSSE EXPLODED OUTWARD WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN GOING OFF. CLIMATE CONTROL WAS ON "AUTO". *TR

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2011 BUICK LA CROSSE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ARE REFLECTED THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OUT ONTO THE SIDE MIRROR WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT *TGW

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2011 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH KEYLESS PUSH BUTTON START FEATURE SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUAL DESCRIBED THE METHOD TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOWING THE VEHICLE OR MOVING IT WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD OR THE ENGINE WILL NOT START FOR ANY OTHER REASON. THE MANUAL STATED TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE WHICH CAN NOT BE DONE IF THE BATTERY IS DEAD BECAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE IS ELECTRICALLY OPERATED. THE CONSUMER STATED EVERYTHING STATED IN THE MANUAL, CAN NOT BE PERFORMED IN REALITY. THE CONSUMER STATED IT SEEMED AS THOUGH INSUFFICIENT TESTING WAS DONE ON THE FEATURE. *JB

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WE BOUGHT A NEW 2011 BUICK LACROSSE CXS 11-15-10, DROVE IT 200 MILES AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED IN COSTCO PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH AND NO IMPACT. THE RIM POPPED OPEN AT THE CENTER SEAM CREATING A BIG OVAL OPENING THAT LOCKED UP ON THE BRAKE CALIPER, STOPPING THE WHEEL WHICH SNAPPED THE TIE ROD END, LETTING THE TIRE WEDGE INTO THE INNER FENDER THEN THE A-ARM BENT AND CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CRADLE. MY WIFE CRACKED HER HEAD ON THE SIDE WINDOW IT WENT DOWN SO FAST. THE GENERAL MOTORS ENGINEER CAME TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT, FOUND NO IMPACT DAMAGE, BUT REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION. THE TIRE SHOWS NO IMPACT BRUISES AND THE RIM HAS NO DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR A SMALL CHUNK ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM WHERE THE STEERING RAM POPPED THE RIM WHEN IT LOCKED INTO THE INTER FENDER. MY POINT: IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE RIM STARTED THIS CHAIN REACTION, BUT AT SUCH A MINOR SPEED THE SUSPENSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A NEW SUSPENSION FOR THE 2011 CXS SPORT MODEL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. I DO NOT WANT TO RISK MY FAMILIES SAFETY WHEN I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THIS NEW SUSPENSION AND HAVE ASK FOR A REFUND. GM HAS DENIED MY REQUEST, AND NOW IT GOES TO MY ATTORNEY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR CONSUMER SAFETY. *TR

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UPON LEAVING DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASE OF NEW CAR, TURNED RIGHT TO EXIT AND TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL, ALMOST REAR-ENDED. THOUGHT I MAY HAVE HIT SHIFTER. ANOTHER TURN FROM STOP AND TRANS JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL DURING TURN WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC. JUST MISSED BEING HIT AND PERHAPS KILLED. MANUALLY RETURNED TO "D". LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. RET TO DEALER AND DEMONSTRATED. NEXT DAY DEALER ADVISED THAT A "MODULE" ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS BY GM MFG. ADVISED GM DAY AFTER OCCURRENCE. LATER GM CALLED AND TOLD ME CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND GET IT OR "THEY" WOULD CHARGE ME STORAGE. OBVIOUSLY, AFTER EXPOSING WIFE AND MYSELF TO GREAT RISK, WE DID NOT WANT THAT VEHICLE. NOW GM WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME AS I TRY TO ENSURE THAT THE AUTOS PRODUCED PRIOR AND POST TO MINE WERE VERIFIED TO ENSURE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME LIFE THREATENING DEFECT AND REACT ACCORDINGLY. GM SEEMS NOT TO CARE. PLS NOTE: THE CAR "DROPPED" FROM DRIVE IN NEUTRAL EVERYTIME I ACCELERATED FROM A TURN INTO TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM WAS DEMONSTRATED TO THE DEALER; DEALER SAID PARK IT NOW. QUESTION IS HOW MANY BUICKS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH THIS VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT. THE 2 TIMES THIS HAPPENED, PRIOR TO KNOWLEDGE OF THE/A PROBLEM, IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO RETURN TO "DRIVE" AND PROCEED WITH MAXIMUM ACCELERATION, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNQUESTIONABLY HIT BY APPROACHING CARS. HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING, HER REACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN SLOWER AND SHE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING. I DELAYED CONTACTING THE NTSB IN THAT I BELIEVED GM WOULD TAKE ACTION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TO BE THE SITUATION. HELP - LIVES ARE DEFINITELY AT RISK IF ANY CARS PRIOR TO OR AFTER MINE HAVE THIS DEFECT. SUSPECT POORLY TRAINED INDIVIDUAL ON THE LINE THAT DAY "FILLING" IN. POOR ENGINEERING AS DEALER STATED THE PART WAS SO DESIGNED AS IT COULD BE INSTALLED BACKWARDS. PLEASE CONFIRM YOU ARE TAKING ACTION AS THIS IS A CRITICAL DEFECT THAT COULD VERY EASILY RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY AS I CANNOT CONFIRM GM ACTION. *TR

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