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2011 Buick Lacrosse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Buick Lacrosse do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

125 reports with mileage · 44 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

9 reports
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120,000 miles · Jun 1, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103 WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEM AND I DON'T KNOW IF ITS EFFECTING MY A/C TO I HAVE TAKEN IT EVERYWHERE TO GET FIX AND NO ONE FIXES IT COMPLETELY STILLS BLOW COOL NOT COLD LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326885

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE WHICH HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS TRYING TO GET FIXED FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO OTHER CERTIFIED AUTO TECHNICIANS AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES. FRI, 2/14/2020 I ALMOST LOSS MY LIFE. MY CAR DASHBOARD STARTED GOING BLACK AS…

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LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE WHICH HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS TRYING TO GET FIXED FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO OTHER CERTIFIED AUTO TECHNICIANS AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES. FRI, 2/14/2020 I ALMOST LOSS MY LIFE. MY CAR DASHBOARD STARTED GOING BLACK AS I DROVE UP TO RAMP ONTO THE INTERSTATE IT COMPLETELY LOSS POWER AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO THE GRASS. I WAS SECONDS AWAY FROM THE INTERSTATE!

NHTSA ODI #11309679

53,000 miles · Jul 25, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

JULY 23, 2019 -I WAS ON THE HWY FOR APPROX. FOUR HOURS WITH MY NIECE WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR CREATED A LOUD SOUND AND I LOST POWER AND CONTROL OF MY CAR INCLUDING MY BRAKES. I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MILE PER HOUR. LUCKILY, TWO CARS HAD JUST PASSED ME WHEN THIS OCCURRED OTHERWISE I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS ON TH…

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JULY 23, 2019 -I WAS ON THE HWY FOR APPROX. FOUR HOURS WITH MY NIECE WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR CREATED A LOUD SOUND AND I LOST POWER AND CONTROL OF MY CAR INCLUDING MY BRAKES. I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MILE PER HOUR. LUCKILY, TWO CARS HAD JUST PASSED ME WHEN THIS OCCURRED OTHERWISE I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS ON THE LEFT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. THE HWY. WAS FLAT AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP. THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START, BUT AFTER APPROX. FIVE MINUTES IT STARTED BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO MOVE. THE CAR IDLED EXTREMELY ROUGH. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ON. I WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK IN 96 DEGREE WEATHER FOR TWO HOURS BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET A TOW TO A GARAGE 40 MILES AWAY. THIS HAPPEND ON TUESDAY. I LEFT MY CAR AT THE BUICK DEALER AND LEFT THE KEY IN THE DROP BOX. I WAS TOLD WEDNESDAY MORNING THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT UNTIL TODAY (THURSDAY), SO I HAVE NO IDEA AS YET WHAT DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED TO THE ENGINE. I HAVE ONLY 53,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND IT IS A 2011 MODEL. HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN?

NHTSA ODI #11234782

91,431 miles · Feb 20, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY THE INFORMATION PANEL FLASHED STABILITRAK SERVICE REQUIRED (OR SIMILAR) THEN LOW POWER MODE. CAR WENT FROM 60 TO 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. UNABLE TO SPEED UP. NEEDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED CAR OFF. TRIED TO RESTART AND IT WOULDN'T RESTART FOR SEVERAL TRIES. RESTARTED…

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DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY THE INFORMATION PANEL FLASHED STABILITRAK SERVICE REQUIRED (OR SIMILAR) THEN LOW POWER MODE. CAR WENT FROM 60 TO 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. UNABLE TO SPEED UP. NEEDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED CAR OFF. TRIED TO RESTART AND IT WOULDN'T RESTART FOR SEVERAL TRIES. RESTARTED AND STILL SAID LOW POWER AND WAS IDLING LOW. TRIED AGAIN AND WAS NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES AND ALWAYS IS SIMILAR. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AT ALL IN A 30 MILE TRIP, SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS 3 TIMES. VERY DANGEROUS! COULD BE REAR ENDED! I HAVE READ MANY OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN THE 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. AFTER THIS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. WHEN I HAD THE AUTO PARTS STORE RUN DIAGNOSTICS IT FLAGGED MULTIPLE MISFIRES, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR 3 TIMES, POWER CONTROL MODULE INDICATOR, TRACTION CONTROL. IT SEEMS THIS IS A FLAW IN THIS CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO GET A PICTURE OF THE SATBILITRAK SENSOR INDICATOR LIGHT, BUT IT FLASHES ON AND OFF PRETTY QUICKLY AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI #11181366

112,000 miles · Jan 6, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, DROPPED SUDDENLY TO 30 MPH. HAD TO PULL ONTO SHOULDER FROM PASSING LANE, ALMOST REAR ENDED BY TRACTOR TRAILER DUE TO SUDDEN POWER LOSS, COULD NOT ACCELERATE. STABILITRAK LIGHT TURNED ON STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, WENT AWAY. CAME BACK ON…

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LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, DROPPED SUDDENLY TO 30 MPH. HAD TO PULL ONTO SHOULDER FROM PASSING LANE, ALMOST REAR ENDED BY TRACTOR TRAILER DUE TO SUDDEN POWER LOSS, COULD NOT ACCELERATE. STABILITRAK LIGHT TURNED ON STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, WENT AWAY. CAME BACK ON AGAIN 3 X'S WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME ON HIGHWAY, HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY PULL OVER AND RESTART ENGINE TO CLEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11060889

112 miles · Jan 6, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, SUDDEN WARNING STABILITRAK NEEDS SERVICE, ENGINE POWER REDUCED. SPEED DROPPED TO 30 MPH ON HIGHWAY FROM 70MPH TRAFFIC FLOW. COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL TO KEEP UP W/TRAFFIC, HAD TO PULL ONTO SHOULDER TO AVOID GETTING REAR ENDED. COULD NOT ACCELERATE ENOUGH SPEED TO MERGE BACK ONTO…

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LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, SUDDEN WARNING STABILITRAK NEEDS SERVICE, ENGINE POWER REDUCED. SPEED DROPPED TO 30 MPH ON HIGHWAY FROM 70MPH TRAFFIC FLOW. COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL TO KEEP UP W/TRAFFIC, HAD TO PULL ONTO SHOULDER TO AVOID GETTING REAR ENDED. COULD NOT ACCELERATE ENOUGH SPEED TO MERGE BACK ONTO HIGHWAY LIGHT TURNED OFF. DANGEROUS!!!

NHTSA ODI #11060886

105,000 miles · Jan 4, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE STABILITRAC AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCED POWER WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE STABILITRAC AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCED POWER WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HUB THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/04/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL. UPDATED 07/25/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI #10939697

5,004 miles · May 12, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteeringCrash

ATTEMPTED TO STOP FOR RED TRAFFIC LIGHT; APPLIED BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. CAR THEN ACCELERATED -- USED BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL UNSUCCESSFULLY. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP LAUNCHING CAR INTO VEHICLES PARKED IN A USED CAR DEALERSHIP LOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587767

5,334 miles · Jun 11, 2012
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, VEHICLE ELECTRONICS WENT INOPT WHILE CRUISING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. SPEEDOMETER, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TURN SIGNALS, NAVIGATION AND RADIO WERE ALL INOPT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10461254

Official recalls

4

21V00F000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 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 & remedy

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.

20V764000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 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 & remedy

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.

14V447000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 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 & remedy

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.

11V149000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:windshield:electrical Heating Element

Mar 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.