2011 Buick LACROSSE: complaints, problems and recalls

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 REPAIR…

Owner-reported narrative. 176 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363813 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370855 at NHTSA ↗

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 EVERY…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10374592 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10377849 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 1,630 miles reported. Look up ODI 10379441 at NHTSA ↗

MEMORY SEAT RECALL DOES NOT OPERATE AS DESCRIBED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 178 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393532 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 3,036 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394279 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399818 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-03-04 (March 4, 2011)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 BUICK LACROSSE AND CADILLAC SRX VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS". ON THESE VEHICLES, THE SOFTWARE IN THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL (ECC) MODULE MAY DISABLE THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM SETTINGS. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE HEATING, COOLING, AND VENTILATION FOR THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION AFFECTS THE DEFROST SYSTEM WHEN IT IS REQUIRED, IT MAY DECREASE THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2014-07-23 (July 23, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

Reported: 2020-12-21 (December 21, 2020)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.

Reported: 2021-12-22 (December 22, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.