NHTSA — Power Train Problems

2012 Buick LaCrosse (Page 1 of 2)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,020 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Buick LaCrosse drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Buick LaCrosse Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

May 112022

LaCrosse

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving stability trac, check engine light flashed and rpm, and speed gauges start going haywire. The car loses power even while accelerating, the steering wheel locks and car stalls. Then after 15-30 minutes the car starts fine and drives. Has happened at least 8 times. Took it to Buick dealer who ran diagnostic but unable to recreate codes but acknowledged a problem. Supposedly fixed it only to return the car a few days later. This is quite scary and dangerous as it happens without warning and while driving. Thankfully I wasn't on the expressway when it happened because all steering, power and brake function is lost.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #22

Sep 012021

LaCrosse

  • miles
Car shut off while in stopping position. Happen 3 times before supposed problem was fixed and then two more time after oil change and transmission control module fixed. Dealership does not know what the issue. Thankful each time I was not driving on interstate.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #21

Jul 022019

LaCrosse

  • 84,500 miles
Stability tracking light comes on randomly causes transmission to kick and jurk comes to a stop in traffic. Electronic brake light comes on, telling to have serviced. Told dealer about problem.told they couldn't find problem reset computer. Dealer code was. Programed in and continues to act up over and over. Was told it was a short problem. Told me they resolved the problem with a used pump in transmission! sorry to say didn't fix the problem.

- Lake, MI, USA

problem #20

Sep 012019

LaCrosse

  • 83,177 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My vehicle stalled out while I was on the express way. Then it would not start without a jump. Check engine light came on along with traction control light. Computer put out a code P062F. Now I have to get a jump almost every other day.

- Markham, IL, USA

problem #19

Apr 222019

LaCrosse

  • 172,000 miles
Just recently got my car fully service and within 2 weeks later I was driving my vehicle and it started decelerating and shifting abnormal. All my fluids was visible in my car and its not shifting properly, wont let me catch speed past 33mph, wont go in reverse and also sometimes it stall to go forward. I believe this vehicle should be on recall due to safety driving issues. I have 2 family members that own the same kind of vehicle like me and they are experiencing the same issues with they car. Got it towed to dealership and I was told that my transmission would need repair or get a new one. Havent heard anything back to why so many people having the same issues so figure I would give this a shot so these vehicles can get inspected. During the time of my issues, my vehicle was in motion on a busy street and it seem like as I make a turn it wouldnt get no better. Wont let me catch speed once it decelerate and wont reverse at all(I can put it in reverse gear but its not backing up at all).

- Mcclellanville, SC, USA

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problem #18

Aug 022018

LaCrosse

  • 50,000 miles
The engine light had come on and I went to a repair shop to have it repaired. I was told to bring it back the next day and on my way back the charging light came on. I was on the highway doing 70 miles an hour in a curve when all systems went down the instrument panel lit up and I lost braking, steering and all other functions. And I was very lucky to not have wrecked the car. This is a very dangerous situation that needs to be corrected.

- Bunn, NC, USA

problem #17

Apr 112018

LaCrosse

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The issue I'm reporting has already happened approximately 8 times. First time I'm driving on the highway at 65 mph, and engine on car completely shuts down, driving wheel locks or power steering gets lost and brake pedal stops working gets very stiff and all this happened on a state highway. All that can be done is let the car come to a complete stop in its own all while using all my force to try my best to steer car away from traffic, because it locks and that time I could barely make it turn slightly due to the stiffness. After that, the car's engine wont start but lights and radio work. After constantly turning it in and off engine finally starts up after approximately an hour, but when placed on drive only moves very slow even when stepping on gas it will move at about 1 mph. I turn it off and on several time and then when I finally step on the gas it jerks me forward finally when on drive....

- Laredo, TX, USA

problem #16

Nov 222017

LaCrosse

  • 52,894 miles
My car was moving and cut off on me and then automatically restarted while driving. The power steering locked up. This is been a going on for a few days now. Sometimes I restart it myself sometimes it automatically restarts. Engine light is on for a day and then goes off and comes back on again.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #15

Oct 052015

LaCrosse

  • 53,000 miles
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.

- River Forest, IL, USA

problem #14

Sep 252014

LaCrosse

  • 90,000 miles
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.

- Elkridge, MD, USA

problem #13

Aug 042015

LaCrosse

  • 25,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Buick Lacrosse. After parking and attempting to exit the vehicle, the vehicle independently rolled back and crashed into the vehicle in its rear. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 25,000.

- Detroit , MI, USA

problem #12

Jan 152013

LaCrosse

  • 350 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Buick Lacrosse. While driving 31 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle violently jerked forward without warning. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 350.

- Powder Spring, GA, USA

problem #11

Aug 012013

LaCrosse 6-cyl

  • 11,000 miles
Shortly after purchasing this vehicle I found that while rounding a corner the power dies and I lost control of the vehicle since I had not power steering or brakes. I was able to steer the car to the berm and waited until power was restored. This has occurred many times. Upon checking with the dealer I was told Buick is aware of the problem, but there is no recall. Then I began having alot of problems with the stabilitrak - the car loses power and surges. Again the dealer told me they are aware of the issues with the Lacrosse, but there was no recall and the cost of repairs was over $2000.

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #10

Aug 132014

LaCrosse

  • 39,000 miles
At around 70 mph the doors unlock and lock and the transmission shifts to neutral causing the engine to over rev.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #9

Jun 042012

LaCrosse 4-cyl

  • 2,000 miles
The car was 5 months old. We were going downhill in the mountains of wv. The car seemed to lose power of propulsion and acceleration, so we coasted to a stop on the side of the interstate highway. The car would not go forward or accelerate at all, although the tachometer would move when we accelerated. This was a frightening experience because of the traffic on the highway. We could have easily been hit by a truck. The service people found no defects. For the past two years we have not lost power, but the car's transmission lurches when we stop accelerating and slow to 32 mph. This gives us a ride that is not smooth, and at times is uncomfortable. Others have reported the same issues online, and we are concerned about safety while driving our car, especially at high speeds and on highways. The GM dealership service department denies there is a defect that can be fixed.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #8

Jan 012014

LaCrosse

  • 12,000 miles
For about 6 months I have been having problems with stalling after slowing and then accelerating. The first 3 times were not as frightening as the one that occurred on 7-7-2014.returning from a trip to new orleans, as I exited the interstate and began to ramp off, the car stalled to the point of no control of the steering. It lurched to regain speed and finally recovered. We took it to the dealer on 7-10-2014 and they did diagnostic check and found no obvious problem which is difficult to do when the problem is intermittent. I am afraid of driving the vehicle until it is repaired. The dealer said to bring it back if the problem occurs again. My question--what if the next time it causes a crash? can you please help me get resolution as my warranty expires in Feb. 2015.

- Greenwell Springs, LA, USA

problem #7

Feb 012014

LaCrosse 6-cyl

  • miles
2012 Buick Lacrosse. Consumer writes in regards to all wheel drive light illuminated. The consumer was informed the entire rear end needed to be replaced.

- Milton Freewater, OR, USA

problem #6

Jun 292014

LaCrosse 6-cyl

  • 9,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle rolled away and hit the wall of a house. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 9,000. Updated 8/27/14 updated 08/29/2014

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #5

Oct 152012

LaCrosse

  • 600 miles
This is a 4cyl car with easiest. Unintended acceleration - the car while going downhill or sometimes uphill, accelerates on its own after releasing the gas pedal. I almost hit another car once because of this. Jerking - the car while decelerating from 50-40 mph to 30-20 mph jerks after releasing the gas pedal (with an intention of decelerating) or while applying brakes. This has been happening regularly since I bought the car in Oct 2012.

- Camp Hill, PA, USA

problem #4

May 012013

LaCrosse 4-cyl

  • 30 miles
The generator control module and **several** other components of the hybrid assist system failed while driving, and subsequently resulted in a loss of power throughout the vehicle. The main battery (in front) also exploded. The vehicle lost power steering, braking, etc. Loss of power steering hampered the driver's ability to coast out of traffic to safety. Had we not been in the left turn lane and had the arrow not turned green as it failed, the car would have died in the middle of a four lane, 45mph road during rush hour, and we probably would have too. Had the driver not been physically fit, it would have been impossible to turn the steering wheel. Not even the hazard lights worked.

- Denver, CO, USA

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