2005 Buick Lacrosse

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALLOWED OTHER COMPONENTS TO FUNCTION INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE HEATER, AND THE DOOR LOCKS. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS HACKED. THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO START OR TURN OVER. THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS ONCE LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST SUFFERED FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS DISABLED. JEFF KEY MOTORS (2889 US HIGHWAY 431, ANNISTON, AL 36206, (256) 820-0280) WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE AFTER A MONTH OF DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR CUSTODY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DISMISSED THE ISSUE STATING THAT THEY ONLY DEALT WITH NEWER VEHICLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED LOCKED IN CAR AND ALMOST DIED DUE TO HEAT. *TR

FROM APPROX. 60,000 MILES DRIVERS DOOR WOULD STICK IN THE LOCKED POSITION REGARDLESS OF LOCK SOLENOID ACTUATION. CYCLING DOOR LOCK SOLENOID SEVERAL TO "MANY" TIMES USUALLY LOOSENED IT UP, HOWEVER, AT 80,000 MILES IT STUCK FOR 3 DAYS. DEALER THAT REPLACED THE MECHANISM ADVISED THAT WHEN THE DOOR UNLOCKS, THERE IS A METAL GEAR IN THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM THAT ENGAGES A PLASTIC GEAR THAT MOVES TO ENGAGE THE DOOR HANDLES (IN & OUT) SO WHEN YOU PULL ON EITHER HANDLE THE DOOR OPENS. SO, WHEN THE PLASTIC GEAR WEARS OUT, YOUR DONE. DEALER HAD TO BREAK INTO THE CAR BECAUSE THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THIS MALFUNCTION. DRIVERS DOOR, PASSENGER DOOR AND NOW, LAST WEEK AT 180,000 MILES THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAVE ALL MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. APPROX. $250 - $300 EACH TIME DEPENDING ON NEED TO BREAK IN. SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU GET LOCKED IN WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLATCH AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR AS THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX WEEKS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,400.

ON A COLD MORNING IN FEBRUARY, OUTSIDE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF DURING NORMAL OPENING FUNCTION. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE ENTIRE HANDLE IS MERELY CHROME-PLATED PLASTIC, WITH PEM NUTS INSERTED INTO THE REAR SIDE OF THE HANDLE. THE ENTIRE TENSILE LOAD OF THE HANDLE IS CARRIED ON THESE TWO POINTS, AND THIS IS WHERE THE PLASTIC FRACTURED. HAVING NO LUCK FINDING REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT PUTTING A SIMILARLY-DESIGNED HANDLE WOULD PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING, I REPAIRED THE HANDLE BY DRILLING THROUGH THE HANDLE AND PUTTING 2 BOLTS AND 2 NUTS THROUGH THE BODY OF THE HANDLE TO SECURE IT TO THE DOOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. IT WAS MADE KNOWN TO THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO CHILD LOCKS ON THE DOORS IN HIS VEHICLE. THROUGH RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE 2004, 2006, AND 2007 LACROSSE MODELS WERE EQUIPPED WITH CHILD RESTRAINT LOCKS. HE FELT THAT IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT HIS YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER TO REACH A RESOLUTION. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SOMEONE FROM THE SAFETY DIVISION OF THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH HIM. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000. UPDATED 4/23/09 *CN UPDATED 04/27/09.*JB