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 COA…
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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. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10560677
4,700 miles · Aug 22, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2012 BUICK LACROSSE, IT STARTED SOONER THAN THIS WITH MY AIR DEFLECTOR FALLING OFF AT 75 MPH AND ALMOST FLIPPING MY CAR. THIS TIME ON JULY 30TH MY VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT FROM THE MEMORY LOSS, THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS STALLED IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS IN MY…
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I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2012 BUICK LACROSSE, IT STARTED SOONER THAN THIS WITH MY AIR DEFLECTOR FALLING OFF AT 75 MPH AND ALMOST FLIPPING MY CAR. THIS TIME ON JULY 30TH MY VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT FROM THE MEMORY LOSS, THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS STALLED IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS IN MY CITY. AS I WAS TRYING TO GET MY VEHICLE TO MOVE AGAIN THE LIGHT TURNED RED AND AN 18 WHEELER ALMOST BROADSIDED ME. I FOUND OUT THAT BACK IN MAY A SAFETY RECALL WAS SENT DOWN ON MY VEHICLE. THE ONES WITH EASIEST THE BATTERY IN THE BACK CAN CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE PROBLEMS. I DID NOT EVEN GET MY NOTICE UNTIL I HAD PICKED MY VEHICLE UP AND GM SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO SEND NOTICES UNTIL THEY "HAD A PROBLEM" WELL PARTS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER DUE TO THE PROBLEM SEEMS LIKE A HUGE PROBLEM. GM KEEPS GIVING ME EXCUSE AFTER EXCUSE AND DOES NOT WANT TO HELP ME IN ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. MY AIR DEFLECTOR FALLING OFF THEY SAID COULD NOT HAPPEN, I SAID IT DID AND IT IS GONE, CAN'T REPRODUCE SOMETHING WITH NOTHING THERE. IN FRONT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD A CADILLAC ESCALADE DROPPED HIS AIR DEFLECTOR TOO, SAME SIDE DROPPED, SAME SIDE TWISTED OFF, NOTHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE THE PROOF YET GM DOESN'T CARE AND STILL SAYS IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. MY MECHANIC SAID IF IT IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THEY WILL JUST FALL OFF, THE AIR DEFLECTORS ON GM PRODUCTS ARE HELD ON BY ONLY 2 BOLTS, THE OTHER SPOTS HAVE NEVER BEEN BOLTED ON, NOW I HAVE A DAMAGED VEHICLE AND GM SAYS IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED THREE TIMES AND MY DAUGHTER ONCE IN THIS VEHICLE, HOW NORMAL IS THAT? PLEASE HELP!! *TR
UN SMOOTH SHIFTING AROUND 30 MPH ,CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK OR BRAKE FEELS LIKE THE ASSIST IS NOT SENSING ,CAUSING THE HAD TO DEALERSHIP NOTHING THEY CAN DO ALL CHECK OUT BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10511084
100 miles · Jul 15, 2012
Power Train
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 SUBSEQUE…
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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 ALIGHTED FROM IT. THIS MODEL HAS REMOTE WIRELESS KEY SO YOU DO NOT INSERT ANY KEY TO EITHER START OR STOP THE ENGINE. TO START YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE KEY WITHIN THE VEHICLE BE IN EITHER PARK OR NEUTRAL AND DEPRESS THE FOOT BRAKE AND THEN PRESS THE START BUTTON. WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE CAN BE IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING, DRIVE, REVERSE, NEUTRAL OR PARK. SO IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN ANYTHING BUT PARK AND THEN TURN OFF THE MOTOR THEN THE VEHICLE IS FREE TO ROLL AWAY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF IT HITTING SOMETHING OR WORSE STILL HITTING A PERSON. WITH ALL AUTOMATIC VEHICLES I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED YOU NEEDED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK BEFORE YOU COULD REMOVE YOUR KEY AND AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE YOU KNEW IT WAS EFFECTIVELY BRAKED AND WAS NOT GOING TO ROLL AWAY. I BELIEVE THIS MATTER NEEDS ADDRESSING BEFORE IT DOES RESULT IN A POSSIBLE FATALITY. TO ALLEVIATE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE MOVING EITHER THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE ALTERED SO THAT YOU MUST PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK BEFORE TURNING OFF THE ENGINE OR AT THE VERY LEAST THERE SHOULD BE EITHER AN AUDIBLE ALARM OR VISUAL ALARM TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE DRIVER HAS NOT LEFT THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE CONDITION. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER IT WAS DETERMINED THIS ANOMALY APPLIED TO ALL OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR
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.
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.
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.
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
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
2
AQ14001 · Sands Chevrolet/hybrid System Fire/stall
Opened May 2, 2014 · Closed May 22, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
NHTSA opened AQ14-001 to determine whether Sands Chevrolet of Surprise, Arizona complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed (49 U.S.C. ?? 30112(a), 30120(i)).NHTSA issued an information request (IR) letter to Sands Chevrolet on May 5, 2014.Sands Chevrolet responded to this request on May 22, 2014.To ensure NHTSA?s information request encompassed all possible reference codes for General Motors recall 13V-173, NHTSA issued another IR letter to Sands Chevrolet on June 8, 2015.Again, a response letter was received on June 9, 2015.NHTSA?s investigation indicated that Sands Chevrolet did sell and deliver recalled vehicles that did not have the recall remedy completed at the time the vehicles were delivered to the customers.NHTSA therefore concluded that Sands Chevrolet was liable for civil penalties for violations of the Safety Act, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. ? 30165.Under a Settlement Agreement dated March 24, 2016, Sands Chevrolet represented that it improved its processes to verify that it checks every vehicle for recalls prior to delivery to the purchaser and that it has not sold and delivered any unremedied new motor vehicles since June 9, 2015.Sands Chevrolet also represented that it now also checks for open recalls on every customer vehicle brought in for service, and that it checks for open recalls on every used trade-in vehicle, regardless of make or model, and takes steps to have all used trade-in vehicles repaired prior to retail sale. Sands Chevrolet admitted to violating the law and must pay civil penalties in the amount of $40,000.This Audit Query is closed.
On July 5, 2013 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ13-003 to investigate whether the service procedures utilized in recall bulletins 13136 and 13142 for safety recall 13V-173 were sufficient to identify the safety defect in the subject vehicles.These safety recalls were issue on May 3, 2013 to address the improper function of the Generator Control Module (GCM) in certain model year (MY) 2012-13 Buick LaCrosse and Regal and MY 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco equipped with eAssist.This condition may result in a loss of battery charge, engine stall and/or inability for the vehicle to start.In severe cases it may also lead to odor, smoke and possibly a fire in the trunk.During discussions with General Motors (GM), ODI was informed that the subject vehicles could be separated into 4 distinct build populations, or groups. Group A contained vehicles built from the start of production through 3/19/2012.Group B involved vehicles built from 3/20/2012 to 8/20/2012, group C from 8/21/2012 to 12/31/12, and group D from 1/1/2013 onwards.Bulletin 13136 instructed dealers to inspect and, if necessary, replace the GCM for vehicles in groups A or C.Bulletin 13142 instructed dealers to replace the GCM of any vehicle in group B.Group D vehicles were not recalled.All eAssist vehicles have a Powerpack which contains a BAS (belt alternator-starter) Power Inverter Module (BPIM)/Accessory Power Module (APM) and a 115-V Lithium-Ion battery.The Powerpack is known by GM's Part Description System as the GCM and Battery Module. The BPIM/APM contains 3 multi-layered printed circuit boards (PCBs) comprised of conductive layers separated by isolating layers.Vehicles built within the time periods of groups A and B had PCBs using single isolation layers.Vehicles build in group C had dual isolation layers on 1 of the 3 PCBs, and group D had all 3 PCBs built with dual insulation.Adding dual insulation to a PCB makes it more robust to material and manufacturing variations, and ultimately less susceptible to an electrical short circuit and subsequent failure.Through initial analysis of the GCM failures, GM identified that vehicles within group B contained PCBs that were contaminated during production due to increased production volumes that resulted in inadequate quality control.GM also noted that GCM failures occurred early in the life of the vehicle (typically <1000 miles).Therefore a service procedure was developed to replicate early life failures by subjecting the GCM to high current loads which would cause the identified failure mechanism (copper migration) to occur quickly and reveal any underlying PCB defect.Although groups A and C were built with PCBs containing single layer PCBs, they were built using better quality control, and as the data supports, experienced significantly lower failures.GM advised that for these reasons the two different service procedures were used in the Recall 13V-173 population.In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) GM submitted 234 unique reports related to the alleged problem. It was noted that 197 (84%) of the received reports fell into the group B population.The 2 fire incidents noted were events in which flames were evident and/or damage was experienced outside of the GCM. Both of these incidents involved group B vehicles. One hundred four warranty claims were also submitted in response to the IR, with 96 claims (92%) from group B.It was also noted that none of the claims from groups A or C occurred after the service procedure was conducted, and that the majority of the A or C incidents occurred during the service procedure.Given the data, ODI believes the ser
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