NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Buick LaCrosse. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE SUSPENSION LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ALLOWED TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2011 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEAD REST LOCK IN VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD REST CAN NOT BE MOVED DUE TO THE ADDED LOCK FEATURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE FORCED TO LOOK DOWN AT THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO BE COMFORTABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO SUPPORT FROM THE SEAT OR THE HEAD REST, WHICH CAUSES A STIFF NECK AND SHOULDERS. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG PREMATURELY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.
I WAS DRIVING OUR BUICK LACROSSE WITH 3036 MILES ON IT, AT 58 MPH, WHEN THE WHEEL BEGAN TO JERK BACK & FORTH VIOLENTLY. I WAS SKIDDING DOWN THE ROAD UNABLE TO STEER. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. THE RIGHT REAR TIE ROD BOLT HAD BROKEN. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM WAS BENT. BOTH PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.. WE WERE TOLD THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT HAPPEN. *TR
BRAKES HAVE FAILED SEVEN TIMES AT LOW VEHICLE SPEED. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, DEALER COULD FIND NO CAUSE. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING. PUMPING BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES CAUSES BRAKES TO START WORKING AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS. *TR
THE POSTS ON THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE RESTRICT VISIBILITY TO A SERIOUS DEGREE. BECAUSE OF THE POST ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR BLOCKING VISIBILITY I HAVE HAD NEAR MISSES, AND ACTUALLY CAUSED ME TO HIT A CURB AND GET A FLAT TIRE. OTHER TIMES I HAVEN'T SEEN PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. THE POST AND MIRRORS SIZE AND LOCATION MAKES IT A VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
MEMORY SEAT RECALL DOES NOT OPERATE AS DESCRIBED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ERROR CODES WERE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WHY THE BATTERIES WERE FAILING. WHILE DRIVING TO HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
MOONROOF FRONT GLASS OF MY 2011 BUICK LACROSSE EXPLODED OUTWARD WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN GOING OFF. CLIMATE CONTROL WAS ON "AUTO". *TR
2011 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH KEYLESS PUSH BUTTON START FEATURE SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUAL DESCRIBED THE METHOD TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOWING THE VEHICLE OR MOVING IT WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD OR THE ENGINE WILL NOT START FOR ANY OTHER REASON. THE MANUAL STATED TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE WHICH CAN NOT BE DONE IF THE BATTERY IS DEAD BECAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE IS ELECTRICALLY OPERATED. THE CONSUMER STATED EVERYTHING STATED IN THE MANUAL, CAN NOT BE PERFORMED IN REALITY. THE CONSUMER STATED IT SEEMED AS THOUGH INSUFFICIENT TESTING WAS DONE ON THE FEATURE. *JB
2011 BUICK LA CROSSE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ARE REFLECTED THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OUT ONTO THE SIDE MIRROR WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT *TGW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD RESTRAINT MOVED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
WE BOUGHT A NEW 2011 BUICK LACROSSE CXS 11-15-10, DROVE IT 200 MILES AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED IN COSTCO PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH AND NO IMPACT. THE RIM POPPED OPEN AT THE CENTER SEAM CREATING A BIG OVAL OPENING THAT LOCKED UP ON THE BRAKE CALIPER, STOPPING THE WHEEL WHICH SNAPPED THE TIE ROD END, LETTING THE TIRE WEDGE INTO THE INNER FENDER THEN THE A-ARM BENT AND CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CRADLE. MY WIFE CRACKED HER HEAD ON THE SIDE WINDOW IT WENT DOWN SO FAST. THE GENERAL MOTORS ENGINEER CAME TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT, FOUND NO IMPACT DAMAGE, BUT REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION. THE TIRE SHOWS NO IMPACT BRUISES AND THE RIM HAS NO DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR A SMALL CHUNK ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM WHERE THE STEERING RAM POPPED THE RIM WHEN IT LOCKED INTO THE INTER FENDER. MY POINT: IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE RIM STARTED THIS CHAIN REACTION, BUT AT SUCH A MINOR SPEED THE SUSPENSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A NEW SUSPENSION FOR THE 2011 CXS SPORT MODEL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. I DO NOT WANT TO RISK MY FAMILIES SAFETY WHEN I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THIS NEW SUSPENSION AND HAVE ASK FOR A REFUND. GM HAS DENIED MY REQUEST, AND NOW IT GOES TO MY ATTORNEY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR CONSUMER SAFETY. *TR
THIS VEHICLE HAS THE PUSH BUTTON KEYLESS START. PAGE 10-89 OF THE OWNER MANUAL DESCRIBES THE METHOD TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOWING THE VEHICLE OR MOVING IT WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE (IF THE CAR BATTERY IS DEAD OR THE ENGINE WILL NOT START FOR ANY OTHER REASON), SUCH AS ONTO A TOW TRUCK FOR TRANSPORT TO A SERVICE CENTER. THE MANUAL SAYS TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE (THIS CANNOT BE DONE IF THE CAR BATTERY IS DEAD BECAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE IS ELECTRICALLY OPERATED), SELECT THE ACCESSORY MODE (BY PUSHING THE START BUTTON TO SHOW AN AMBER LIGHT AS DESCRIBED ON PAGE 9-20), THEN SQUEEZE THE SMALL LEVER ON THE FRONT OF THE TRANSMISSION LEVER, AND MOVE IT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL. THIS DOES NOT WORK. THE LEVER CANNOT BE MOVED OUT OF PARK. APPLYING THE FOOT BRAKE DOES NOT HELP. I TOOK THE CAR TO LIBERTY BUICK IN PEORIA, AZ, AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO SALESMEN AND SERVICE ADVISORS. NONE OF THEM COULD MAKE IT WORK OR EXPLAIN WHY. THIS PROCEDURE WAS TRIED WITH ANOTHER LACROSSE WITH THE KEYLESS START FEATURE AND IT ALSO DID NOT WORK, VERIFYING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL LACROSSE KEYLESS START VEHICLES. THIS PROCEDURE WORKS WITH A "KEYED START" VEHICLE IF THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE 'ON' POSITION (NOT THE 'ACCESSORY' POSITION AS STATED IN THE MANUAL). APPARENTLY, INSUFFICIENT TESTING WAS DONE ON THIS FEATURE AND IT WAS NOT CORRECTLY PROGRAMMED INTO THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. THE INTERLOCK BETWEEN THE ENGINE, BRAKE, AND TRANSMISSION LEVER IS NOT RELEASED IN THE ACCESSORY MODE AND THERE IS NO 'ON' POSITION FOR THE KEYLESS IGNITION WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE. THIS MEANS THAT IF MY CAR IS IN MY GARAGE OR ON A ROAD AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD OR THE ENGINE WILL NOT START, I WILL BE UNABLE TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE OR OUT OF TRAFFIC OR ONTO A TOW TRUCK.
UPON LEAVING DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASE OF NEW CAR, TURNED RIGHT TO EXIT AND TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL, ALMOST REAR-ENDED. THOUGHT I MAY HAVE HIT SHIFTER. ANOTHER TURN FROM STOP AND TRANS JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL DURING TURN WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC. JUST MISSED BEING HIT AND PERHAPS KILLED. MANUALLY RETURNED TO "D". LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. RET TO DEALER AND DEMONSTRATED. NEXT DAY DEALER ADVISED THAT A "MODULE" ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS BY GM MFG. ADVISED GM DAY AFTER OCCURRENCE. LATER GM CALLED AND TOLD ME CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND GET IT OR "THEY" WOULD CHARGE ME STORAGE. OBVIOUSLY, AFTER EXPOSING WIFE AND MYSELF TO GREAT RISK, WE DID NOT WANT THAT VEHICLE. NOW GM WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME AS I TRY TO ENSURE THAT THE AUTOS PRODUCED PRIOR AND POST TO MINE WERE VERIFIED TO ENSURE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME LIFE THREATENING DEFECT AND REACT ACCORDINGLY. GM SEEMS NOT TO CARE. PLS NOTE: THE CAR "DROPPED" FROM DRIVE IN NEUTRAL EVERYTIME I ACCELERATED FROM A TURN INTO TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM WAS DEMONSTRATED TO THE DEALER; DEALER SAID PARK IT NOW. QUESTION IS HOW MANY BUICKS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH THIS VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT. THE 2 TIMES THIS HAPPENED, PRIOR TO KNOWLEDGE OF THE/A PROBLEM, IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO RETURN TO "DRIVE" AND PROCEED WITH MAXIMUM ACCELERATION, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNQUESTIONABLY HIT BY APPROACHING CARS. HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING, HER REACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN SLOWER AND SHE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING. I DELAYED CONTACTING THE NTSB IN THAT I BELIEVED GM WOULD TAKE ACTION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TO BE THE SITUATION. HELP - LIVES ARE DEFINITELY AT RISK IF ANY CARS PRIOR TO OR AFTER MINE HAVE THIS DEFECT. SUSPECT POORLY TRAINED INDIVIDUAL ON THE LINE THAT DAY "FILLING" IN. POOR ENGINEERING AS DEALER STATED THE PART WAS SO DESIGNED AS IT COULD BE INSTALLED BACKWARDS. PLEASE CONFIRM YOU ARE TAKING ACTION AS THIS IS A CRITICAL DEFECT THAT COULD VERY EASILY RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY AS I CANNOT CONFIRM GM ACTION. *TR
I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM NOT LONG AFTER GETTING CAR WHEN STOPPED IN DRIVE GOING FROM BRAKE TO GAS CAR SEEMS TO ACT LIKE ITS ON OIL SLICK THEN CATCHES ON WITH A SUDDEN JERK. IT WILL ALSO WHEN GOING FROM GAS TO BRAKE EVEN ON INCLINE WILL LUNGE FORWARD IT ALSO WILL JUST SUDDENLY SPEED UP WITH OUT ANY ACCELERATION ITS LIKE THE CAR IS IN CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE HAD CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES AND ALWAYS THEY CANT TELL ME ANYTHING I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO NOTICES THIS ANYONE WHO IS IN CAR ASKS WHAT WAS THAT OR WHAT JUST HAPPENED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER EXITING HIS VEHICLE AND COMING BACK A FEW MOMENTS LATER, HE NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK WAS OPEN. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE TRUNK RELEASED ON THE REMOTE KEY WAS VERY SENSITIVE AND RELEASED THE TRUNK WHILE HE WAS AWAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD ORDER TWO NEW REMOTES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000....UPDATED 01/04/13 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REMOTES. HOWEVER, THEY STATED THE REMOTES WOULD PROBABLY CONTINUE TO EXHIBIT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, AS THE NEW REMOTES, AS THEY ARE IDENTICAL TO THE OLD ONES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE FAILURE HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK INTO GEAR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT RATHER THE PROGRAMMING OF THE COMPUTER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER WAS SENDING INCORRECT SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000. SM.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026