2013 Buick LACROSSE: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) CAME ON; 5 MINUTES LATER CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WITH WARNING THAT "CHARGING SYSTEM NOT WORKING". SHORTLY THEREAFTER, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2012 BUICK LACROSSE LOOKED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FOUND THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SHREDDED. VEHICLE BEING TOWED TO DEALER IN MORNING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500074 at NHTSA ↗

ON SATURDAY, APRIL 7,2013 MY WIFE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A CONDO IN MARCO IS.FL. SHE WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. KNOWING THAT THE LACROSSE HAS A LOW FRONT END,SHE SLOWS DOWN TO A CRAWL TO AVOID DRAGGING THE FRONT END ON THE PARKING LOT BLOCKS. SHE IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARKING LOT AS MY DAUGHTER LIVES THERE AND SHE HAS PARKED THERE OFTEN. THIS TIME UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT STOP,WENT OVER THE PARKING BLOCKS AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE CAR.THE LACROSSE HAS BEEN CITED FOR A BRAKING PROBLEM BY THE NHTSA AND ISSUED A RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,020 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505647 at NHTSA ↗

4/6/2013 MY 2013 BUICK LACROSSE 4 CYLINDER MODEL WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. AT 9PM MY HUSBAND WENT OUTSIDE TO GET SOMETHING FROM THE CAR AND SAW THE CAR ON FIRE WITH FLAMES COMING FROM THE BACK END REAR BUMPER. BY THE TIME HE COULD GET A HOSE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE BACK BUMPER, THE REAR SIDE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAD ALL MELTED FROM THE HEAT. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE BODY SHOP SINCE 4/8/2013 AND NO WORK CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THE SHOP CAN NOT GET A CRITICAL PART FROM GM. THE PART IS THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE EASSIST AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,357 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510864 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS WOULD CONTINUE TO CLOSE AFTER THE POWER SWITCH WAS NO LONGER BEING ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,800. ..UPDATED 07-05-13 *BF UPDATED 07/12/2013 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513394 at NHTSA ↗

PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE TOO SENSITIVE. OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DETECT ADULT SIZED PASSENGERS. HOWEVER A SMALL PURSE (6LBS) IS SUFFICIENT TO ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE AND RING THE CHIMES ALERTING THE DRIVER THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER IS NOT BELTED IN. TESTED WITH 8 Y/O DAUGHTER (43LBS) WITH SAME RESULT. DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE SYSTEM AND FOUND IT TO BE PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE RETURNED MY PHONE CALL AND STATED THAT BASED ON THE MALFUNCTION AND THE VERBIAGE IN BUL…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520736 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK UP CAMERA WAS EXTREMELY DIM AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO SEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10521840 at NHTSA ↗

THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45 TO 50 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTS CAUSING THE MOTOR TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS COMPLETELY RELEASED THE SPEED IS QUICKLY REDUCED LIKE THE BRAKE IS BEING APPLIED...TO MAINTAIN A SPEED OF 25 TO 30 MPH THE MOTOR RPM HAS TO BE IN THE 3500 RANGE. THIS CONDITION REMAINS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND THEN IT RETURNS BACK TO NORMAL OPERATIONS. THIS VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR CORRECTION BUT THEY SPENT TWO DAYS AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,206 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536414 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000. ..UPDATE 04-10-14 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537519 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-03-15 (March 15, 2013)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012, through February 18, 2013 for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." A software problem may cause the transmission to inadvertently shift to Sport mode removing any transmission-related engine braking effect.

Consequence: If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2013. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. Buick owners may call 1-866-694-6546.

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: 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.

Reported: 2021-08-12 (August 12, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and 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 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. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 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 N212330130.