What 204 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Buick Lacrosse Hybrid

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. YATES BUICK GMC (13845 W TEST DR, GOODYEAR, AZ) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11045804

CHECK AIR BAG WARNING IN DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER IN MY WIFE'S 2012 LACROSSE W E-ASSIT COMES ON SOMETIMES ,BUT GOES OFF IN LESS THAN 15 SECONDS. HAS 87,000 MILES. IS THIS COVERED OR DO I HAVE TO TAKE IT IN AND PAY FOR IT? SHE WANTS TO KNOW IF THE AIR BAG IS WORKING ALL THE TIME, OR WHAT?

NHTSA ODI 11042920

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BATTERY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED, THE BATTERY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CHARGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HILEY BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 3535 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116 817-632-8800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

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VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY, STREETS, ETC . CANNOT BREAK , STEER , ETC. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES WILL START RIGHT BACK UP WITH A JUMP BUT WILL SHUT DOWN AGAIN AS DRIVING. BRAND NEW BATTERY . VERY UNSAFE !!! TAKEN TO GMC DEALERSHIP BUT STILL NOT FIXED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (COACHELLA VALLEY BUICK/GMC, INDU, CALIFORNIA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS PROGRAMMED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 11000412

SEAL IN FRONT TIMING COVER FAILED AND WAS LEAKING OIL.

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ALL POWER FEATURES SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON STREET. LOSS PARTIAL CONTROL OF STEERING, BRAKING POWER WAS REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY AND ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

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WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY.

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REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE 2ND WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY HAS NOW FAILED

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED RANDOMLY EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 10965877

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,293.

NHTSA ODI 10956149

THE CAR STARTED STALLING AND IT SMELL LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AND RESTART ON ITS OWN. I REPLACED THE ENGINE OUT OF MY POCKETS AND NOW I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. FIRST BEFORE REPLACING THE ENGINE THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AND I HAD THE REPAIRED, ABOUT SIX MONTH LATER A BOLT BROKE INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THAT IS WHEN I REPLACED THE ENGINE. I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK THREE WEEKS AGO AND NOW IT IS DOING THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI 10949585

BOUGHT MY 2012 BUICK LACROSSE USED LAST JUNE. FISHTAILING PRESENTED IN THE FIRST MONTH. HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES (INCLUDING WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE) TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. FISHTAILING OCCURS IN ALL CONDITIONS AND ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. MOST TERRIFYING IS AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY-THE SWAY CAN BE VERY VIOLENT..AND IT HAPPENS A LOT. BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN IN THE FALL (5TH OR 6TH VISIT FOR THIS ISSUE). I ASKED SPECIFICALLY IF ESC SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING IS NOT NORMAL. THEY SAID COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW A PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT IS THE WAY THAT THIS CAR IS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE. THAT IS WHEN I SEARCHED FOR A RECALL AND FOUND THE ONE BELOW-A VERY ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR ("CONSEQUENCE") BUT MY VIN IS NOT IN THE RECALL. GM IS TRYING TO DECIDE IF THEY WILL FIX IT BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BECAUSE MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HELP! NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 11V404000. "SUMMARY: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BUICK LACROSSE PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 9, 2011, THROUGH JULY 2, 2011, FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 126, "ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS (ESC)." THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM HAS AN INCORRECT CALIBRATION THAT MAY CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO NOT PROPERLY DETECT IF A SENSOR WERE TO MALFUNCTION, AND THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATING WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE, AS REQUIRED IN THE SAFETY STANDARD. CONSEQUENCE: THE IMPROPER DIAGNOSING MAY CAUSE THE ESC TO FALSELY ACTIVATE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING AND DECELERATION, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE'S DESIRED PATH OF TRAVEL AND DESIRED VEHICLE SPEED, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING" ------------- *TR

NHTSA ODI 10940187

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH, THE FRONT SWAY BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,938.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH COMING OFF THE EXPRESSWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH THE BRAIN BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,798.

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WITH NO IMPACTS, THE CAR WAS PARKED, AND WHEN PLACED IN R TO BACK UP, THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER,GRILL,LIGHTS WHEEL WELLS AND FOG LIGHT WIRES DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE. ALL "RUBBER CONNECTORS TO THE CHASSIS WERE FATIGUED. 30189 MILES ON THE CAR. A CLEARLY DEFINED DEFECTIVE DESIGN TO HOLD THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR BY SIX FLIMSY, THIN AND PLASTIC OR RUBBER CONNECTORS. COST $1300, TO ME, $500. A FLIMSY ATTACHMENT FOR THE FRONT END. A DISASTER IF CAR WAS MOVING AT ANY SPEED.

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SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR IT'S BEEN VERY HARD TO DRIVE ON THE HWY ONCE I HIT A CERTAIN SPEED IT LOSES CONTROL VERY EASY ALSO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE KEEPS FAILING LOSS OF BATTERY ALL THE TIME I SMELL A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR EVERY SO OFTEN AND THE FRONT SEAT LOCKS UP ALL THE TIME ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE A FAILURE TO IT AS WELL AND THE 2012 BUICK LACROSSE I OWN SAYS THERE NO RECALL WHEN I RUN THE VIN BUT HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE 2012 BUICK LACROSSE THAT IS ON RECALL

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AS DRIVING AT 50 MILES/HR ON SUBURBAN MAIN STREET, ENGINE LOST COMPLETE POWER. ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT SAME TIME ALONG WITH CHECK ENGINE ICON. MY BUICK LACROSSE HAD NO ACCELERATION, NO POWER STEERING, AND NO POWER BRAKES. THE CAR HAD NO PREVIOUS WARNING. NO PREVIOUS REDUCED PERFORMANCE WITH ENGINE. NO PROBLEMS WITH GAS ECONOMY. ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THIS WOULD HAPPEN. CAR STILL HAD ELECTRICITY SINCE SPEEDOMETER STILL READING AND RADIO ON. AFTER TURNING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. GM STATES NO ERROR MESSAGE IN COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THIS IS OUR SECOND GM CAR TO EXPERIENCE A REDUCED ENGINE SCENARIO. THIS TIME HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT REDUCED JUST COMPLETELY OFF. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN! WHAT IF IT OCCURS ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH FAST TRAFFIC. LUCKILY IT WAS A LOCAL, BUT BUSY STREET, AND A SUNDAY. I CANNOT BELIEVE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAS NOT HELD GM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. A CAR WITH SUDDEN POWER LOSS IS A MAJOR PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. LUCKILY AGAIN I'M AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH A SIMILAR INCIDENCE IN ANOTHER GM VEHICLE AND KNEW IF I HIT THE BRAKES I WAS A SITTING DUCK. HOW CAN A CAR LOSE POWER AND MULTIPLE POSTS ON INTERNET AND NO RECALL ? OUR BUICK ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10860209

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT LOCK, WHICH RENDERS AIRBAGS INOPERABLE. INVOLVED MY SAFETY; I CONSIDERED EQUIPMENT DEFECT. DEALER SAID SEAT BELT KIT WAS NECESSARY TO REPAIR AND CHARGED ME $235.60.

NHTSA ODI 10852928

TRUNK POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED INTERMITTENTLY.

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I NOTICED A FEW WET SPOTS UNDER THE VEHICLE, BUT I COULDN'T ESTABLISH WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. ON 25/NOV/2015 WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY WENT UP, FOLLOWED BY "ENGINE OVERHEAT" MESSAGE AND ALARM. I WAS ON A LONG BRIDGE IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA, AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP ON THE SIDE IN A VERY DANGEROUS LOCATION. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO COOLANT REMAINING. THE SHOP MECHANIC ADDED MORE COOLANT WITH A DYE AND LET IT RUN IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHERE IT WAS LEAKING FROM. THERE WAS NO LEAK AT ALL. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE HOME AND COME BACK THE NEXT DAY FOR A CHECK. I WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY, AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF LEAKAGE. AFTER ABOUT 1 WEEK I STARTED NOTICING THE WET SPOTS ON THE THE GROUND AGAIN. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO THE BUICK DEALER, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY SIGN OF LEAKING COOLANT. I CHECKED ON THE WEB AND REALIZED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BUICKS. MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH COOLANT LEAKS WHOSE COURSE COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT COULD LITERALLY GO UP IN FLAMES ANY MOMMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL DESIGN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED.

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WE HAVE A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE WITH EASSIST. WHEN DRIVING AT AROUND 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS SUDDENLY UNLOCK AND LOCK, THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS AND THE RPMS GO WAY UP AND A LIGHT COMES ON THAT SAYS "SERVICE POWER STEERING". WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO CODE DROPPED IN THE COMPUTER WHEN IT DOES IT AND THEY DON'T HAVE IT HAPPEN WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE IT, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE CAR HAS 53K MILES ON IT AND THIS HAS PROBABLY HAPPENED ABOUT 2 DOZEN TIMES. THE ENTIRE EVENT LASTS FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS BUT IT IS VARY SCARY WHEN YOU ARE CRUSING ALONG AT 65+ MPH AND ALL OF THESE THESE EVENTS JUST HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY THE HIGH RPMS, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE ENGINE BRAKING AS THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT PROPERLY AND THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURING THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MORE THAN ONE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *CN

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APROX. 1130 PM ON AUGUST 27TH, 2015, I WAS DRIVING (60 MPH) HOME FROM WORK AND LOST ALL POWER STEARING, I ALMOST HAD A ACCIDENT AND CASHED MY 2012 BUICK LACROSSE DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I MADE IT ABOUT A HALF OF A MILE DOWN THE STREET AND CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE SINCE IT WAS DARK. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRCUK TO COME GET MY CAR AND TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. ON FRIDAY AUGUST 28TH THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER MY PART IT WAS THE SURPINTINE BELT AND IT WOULDNT BE THERE UNTIL MONDAY AUGUST 31ST. ON MONDAY 8/31/2015 THE DEALSHIP TECH SAYS IT MAY BE A MOTOR ISSUE BUT WONT KNOW UNTIL HE TRIED THE BELT FIRST. MONDAY 8/31/15 THE AUTO TECH SAID THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE TOOL. ON TUESDAY 9/1 THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE THE TOOL BUT NOW MY CAR NEEDS NOT ONLY A BELT BUT THE TENSIONER AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP IS QUOTING ME A PRICE OF OVER $650 PLUS THE COST OF MY RENTAL CAR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND A BULLETIN IN MARCH 2012 FOR BUICK LACROSSE AND REGALS WITH FAULTY SURPINTINE BELTS MADE OF TENSIL OR COPPER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY SPETEMBER 2012, I DID NOT PURCHASE MY CAR UNTL NOVEMBER 2012. NOW GM IS REFUSING TO FIX THE PART ENVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE A 100K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THEY HAVE THE BROADCAST NOTIFICATION OF A FAULTY PART. NOW GM REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE PART AND/OR MY RENTAL CAR. I ALMOST HAD A INJURY DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION. I NEED ASSISTANCE. PLEASE ADVISE.

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