2012 Buick LACROSSE: complaints, problems and recalls

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE WITH EASIEST. I HAD IT LESS THAN 48 HOURS AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THEY STATED THE GENERATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACED AND THERE WERE 7 CODES THAT SHOWED UP. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO HAVE ONE SHIPPED FROM THE ASSEMBLY PLANT. IT WAS INSTALLED ON 10/21/11 AT WHICH TIME I WENT TO PICK IT UP. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. THEY TESTED IT AND 5 CODES CAME UP WHICH THEY SAID ARE RELATED TO THE GENERAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 237 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432428 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE FAILURE FOR OVER TEN DAYS, AS WELL AS PERFORM SEVERAL TEST DRIVES BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455480 at NHTSA ↗

2012 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER STATES MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE COULD SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND A VERY LOW KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK, THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THERE WAS OIL LEAKING BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED A WARNING LIGHT NEVER APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD TO WARN HIM OF A PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10459447 at NHTSA ↗

I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN PARKING BAY AT A GAS STATION AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS IN THERE APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND A GENTLEMAN GAME INTO THE BUILDING AND ASKED DID ANYONE IN THERE OWN A BUICK LACROSSE. I SAID IT WAS MINE, HE TOLD ME IT HAD ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING BAY TOWARDS HIS MERCEDES, HE HAD STOPPED MY VEHICLE. I SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND I HAD TURNED THE ENGINE OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE SO THERE WAS NO BRAKING EFFECT. WHERE I HAD PARKED THE PAVEMENT WAS A VERY GENTLE SLOPE SO I DID NOT NOTICE ANY MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN I ALIGHTE…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465699 at NHTSA ↗

ON TOW OCCASIONS, WHILE MOVING AHEAD AT APPROX. 10 MPH, IN FRONT OF THE GROCERY STORE, AN INDIVIDUAL WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AND THE POST BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE WINDSHIELD BEING SO WIDE, OBSTRUCTED THE VIEW OF HIM/HER CROSSING THE DRIVE LANE. MY WIFE WAS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SHE WAS ABLE TO HIM/HER AND ALERTED ME, BECAUSE I COULD NOT DUE TO THE POST BEING SO WIDE. IT BLOCKED MY VIEW OF HIM. ANOTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH A CAR PULLING OUT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE BEING PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY THE POST ON THE RIGHT. IT…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472181 at NHTSA ↗

WE WERE ON I 35 TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THE MOTOR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. AFTER ABOUT 30 TO 45 SECONDS SOME POWER SEEMED TO COME BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SERVICE ROAD. EXTERNAL TEMP. WAS 93 AND BUT THERE WAS NO WORKING AIR CON INSIDE THE CAR. I CALLED ONSTAR. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSIS AND SAID MY CAR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. I STARTED TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE CAR MOTOR STOPPED COMPLETELY. NO POWER OF ANY KIND. COULD NOT RESTART. COULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALERS…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478015 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE AND CHECK SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN LOST POWER AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,750 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,805. ....UPDATED 12/20/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED DURING THE SE…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478483 at NHTSA ↗

HEAD REST IS ANGLED TOO FAR FORWARD - THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE ANGLE (ONLY UP AND DOWN HEIGHT). THIS CREATES NECK PAIN, BACK PAIN, ETC. THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST WHERE MY HEAD IS NOT FORCED INTO MY CHIN IF I FULLY REST MY SHOULDERS ON THE SEAT. I FEAR A SEVERE NECK INJURY IF EVER IN A CRASH IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480642 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-08-03 (August 3, 2011)

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.

Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.

Reported: 2013-05-06 (May 6, 2013)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.

Consequence: If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.

Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.

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.