2011 Buick LaCrosse Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the engine misfired while driving at various speeds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that there was a defective valve in the engine which caused the misfire. The contact was informed that the failure was related to a manufacturer defect. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KYLE EDWARDS BUICK GMC LOCATED AT (1600 N MAIN ST, MUSKOGEE, OK 74401) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CEASED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

OUR FAMILY'S 2011 BUICK LACROSSE ONLY HAS 57K MILES ON IT, AND THE ENGINE ALREADY HAS PERMANENT IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE FROM A MANUFACTURER OVERSIGHT IN WHICH THE TIMING CHAIN "SKIPS TIME." WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR UNPREDICTABLY LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. I QUICKLY MUSCLED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, BUT THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR OUR FAMILY AS WE WERE FORCED TO CROSS TRAFFIC, AT SPEED, TO REACH THE ROAD SHOULDER. A DAY PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WENT INTO "REDUCED POWER" MODE WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL, CUTTING SPEED FROM 55MPH TO 35MPH, BACKING UP TRAFFIC. CARS WERE PASSING AND HONKING IN A DOUBLE YELLOW-LINED STRETCH OF ROAD. WE SUBSEQUENTLY SHOULDERED THE CAR, SHUT OFF ITS POWER AND IT SEEMED TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY UNTIL OUR DESTINATION, BUT WE ONLY HAD 3 MILES LEFT TO TRAVEL. THE TIMING GEAR IS PRESSED-ON INSTEAD OF KEYED-ON. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN TO "SKIP TIME," DAMAGING THE ENGINE AND CAUSING ERRATIC ENGINE BEHAVIOR. OUR MECHANIC HAS SEEN OUR EXACT ENGINE ISSUE WITH THE 3.6L 6-CYL ENGINES IN VARIOUS OTHER GM VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE ENGINE REBUILD COMPANIES TO KEY-ON THE TIMING GEAR, INSTEAD OF GM'S TYPICAL PRESS-ON PROCESS. OUR MECHANIC ADVISES THAT KEYING-ON THE TIMING GEAR IS KNOWN TO FIX THE ORIGINAL ISSUE OF THE TIMING CHAIN DANGEROUSLY "SKIPPING TIME." ONE SUCH COMPANY, RECOMMENDED BY OUR MECHANIC, IS JASPERENGINES.COM. I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA CAN INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND HOLD GM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DANGEROUS OVERSIGHT FOR WHICH GM FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR ADDRESS. MY COMPLAINT IS ON RECORD AT GM'S CORP SERVICE CENTER WITH PHONE NUMBER 866-790-5600 - TICKET #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION AND STABILITRAK CAME ON AND THEN STATED REDUCED ENGINE POWER. AT WHICH TIME I LOST ALL POWER TO GET THROUGH INTERSECTION. ALMOST GOT HIT BY 3 DIRECTIONS TRYING TO GET MY CAR OUT OF THE ROAD. I FINALLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON DROVE FOR ANOTHER MILE BEFORE IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I AM NOW STUCK AT WORK I DO NOT DARE TO DRIVE IT.

TAKATA RECALL MY BUICK LACROSSE ONE TIME GOING DOWN THE ROAD OUT OF THE BLUE IT DONE ENGINE POWER REDUCTION,AND THEN IT JUST DIED ON ME.AFTER THAT I DID GET IT TO START BUT IT RAN RUFF AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL.

POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE IT HAS EXCESS PLAY IN THE CANSHAFT.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, PISTON AND PISTON RINGS. BURNING 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 2000 OR LESS MILES. AFTER CHECKING I FIND OUT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MAKE AT A SPECIFIC PLANT. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 95,550 MILES. I THOUGHT BUICKS WERE GOOD CARS AND STOOD BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THIS IS QUIET EXPENSIVE, CAN YOU HELP? THE OIL LIGHT DOESN'T EVEN COME ON WHEN IT GOT THAT LOW. IT STARTED ACTING FUNNY AND WHEN CHECKED, LOW OIL, NO . I HAVE KEPT MY VEHICLE VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AROUND 10/16/17 AND AFTER LOOKED AT AGAIN 1/8/18 DRIPS OR LEAKS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IT STALLED AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAM SOLENOID FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL UNDER THE VIN AND WOULD GET BACK TO HER THE NEXT DAY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE BEGINNING TO EXIT FROM AN EIGHT LANE HIGHWAY (680). COULDN'T RESTART. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED MY BATTERY FOR $361.77, IN ORDER TO START THE CAR AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO INFORM ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE...FOR $9000.00!!! ON A CAR THAT WAS WELL MAINTAINED, WITH 60,000 MILES???? TOWED THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THE A FAULTY SEAL CAUSED A ROD TO BREAK, AND THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE DAMAGE. HAD A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED FOR ABOUT $6000.00. I BELIEVE THAT GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAULTY SEAL, AND THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND LIFE WHICH WOULD CAUSE A VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING...CAUSING THE BRAKES AND THE POWER STEERING TO STOP.

2011 BUICK LACROSSE (60,000 MILES - PROPERLY MAINTAINED BY 73 YEAR OLD MAN) BROKE DOWN ON INTERSTATE HWY. WHILE VACATIONING IN KNOXVILLE, TN - BUICK BEGINS TO STALL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (WAS FLICKERING AND NO ACCELERATION). WE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AT A GAS STATION AND CALLED AAA - WHO TOWED US TO A CERTIFIED AAA REPAIR/TOW COMPANY. WE INITIALLY SUSPECTED IT WOULD BE THE FUEL PUMP OR FILTER . MECHANIC IN KNOXVILLE WHO IS A ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR 40 YEARS SAID IT WASN'T THE FUEL PUMP SO HE PUT HIS DIAGNOSTIC TESTER AND DETERMINED THERE WERE MORE PROBLEMS AND STARTED TO TAKE APART THE ENGINE....AND FOUND THE MAIN VALVES WERE BROKEN AND FELL INTO THE PISTONS. ENGINE FAILURE AND HE SAID IN HIS 40 YEARS THIS HAD HAPPENED ONLY 3 TIMES BUT NOT ON A 2011 CAR WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. HE SAID IF WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED DRIVING, THE WHOLE ENGINE WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP. CALLED THE LOCAL BUICK DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT NO RECALL, NOR DID WE HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (A BIG MISTAKE - AND WE LOVED THE LACROSSE THINKING IT WOULD LAST A LONG TIME). LOOKED UP BLUE BOOK VALUE - WORTH $11,000 (WITH RUNNING ENGINE) AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE APPROX. $8,000 AND WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO REPLACE. SOLD THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC IN KNOXVILLE, TN) AND PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA AVALON IN KNOXVILLE. VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED IN G.M. *TR

ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ALLOWS WINDSHIELD TO BECOME FOGGED OVER AND I CANNOT SEE TO DRIVE OR CONTROL HVAC SYSTEM. I CANNOT CONTROL THE HEATING, COOLING AND VENTILATION. EXAMPLE: THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO BLOW OR ALLOW WARM AIR IN CABIN WHEN THE A/C IS ON SET AT 68-72 DEGREES. THIS IS WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND AT IDLE ON ANY ROAD I TRAVEL. I REPORTED PROBLEM TO RICE BUICK-GMC, INC. 8330 KINGSTON PIKE KNOXVILLE, TN 37919-5449 (865) 693-0610 ON 9/16/2014, 9/25/2014 AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED & GETTING WORSE TO DATE 01/07/2019. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL. SAFETY RECALL IS LISTED FOR 2011 BUICK LACROSSE ON MARCH 4, 2011 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V149000 SOFTWARE IN ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL AFFECTS DEFROST SYSTEM REDUCING DRIVERS VISIBILITY AND COULD RESULT IN CRASH. UNABLE TO CONTROL HVAC SYSTEM. SECOND PROBLEM IS ENGINE/ EMISSIONS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SENSOR ERRORS. ALL HAVE CAUSED CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND THE ENGINE LOSING POWER WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE START TO LOSE POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR TURNING CAR WILL SOMETIMES SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP. *TR

2011 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, THE DASHBOARD READ, ENGINE IS LOSING PRESSURE. THE VEHICLES SPEED DROPPED TO 10 MPH AND BEGAN SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES BETWEEN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER STATED THE WATER PUMP AND BALANCE SHAFT CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON FEBRUARY 2, 2013, THE DEALER ONLY FOUND A HALF QUART OF OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED FROM AND THE ONLY THING THEY FOUND WAS MOISTURE IN CERTAIN AREAS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6, 2014, WHERE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB UPDATED 03/13/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE IGNITION FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE 2011 BUICK LACROSSE WITH A 3.6 HAD POPPING SOUND UPON STARTING WHEN CAR WAS 5 DAYS OLD; BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS ASKED IF I WAS SURE IT WAS MY CAR. THEY CHECKED VEHICLE AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT POPPED UPON STARTING 8-9 MORE TIMES IN 3 WEEKS. UPON LEAVING A RESTAURANT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START & HAD NO POWER; ONSTAR WAS OF NO USE. DEALER HAD CAR TOWED TO THEM; KEPT CAR FOR 10 DAYS AND PUT 160 MILES ON IT AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY REPROGRAMMED 3 COMPUTERS BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE POPPING SOUND. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND DISCOVERED THAT IT HAD BEEN HIT WHILE AT DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAD CAR PAINTED. I GOT MY CAR ON TUESDAY, THURSDAY IT POPPED TWICE. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME TO PICK CAR UP THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST EXPANDED UPON STARTING AND MADE A POOFING SOUND. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD DO. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH BUICK EXECUTIVE OFFICES. THE CAR HAS 1087 MILES ON IT. IT HAD 287 WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND THEY PUT 160 MILES ON IT WHEN THEY HAD IT. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR 6 WEEKS AND 2 OF THOSE WEEKS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP. THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ME ANOTHER VEHICLE LIKE THE ONE I HAVE OR GIVE MY MONEY BACK. WHAT OPTIONS ARE LEFT?? LEMON LAW. I DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO THAT. I LOVE THE RIDE OF THE CAR AND THE FEATURES, BUT I CANNOT ENJOY IT AT ALL AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,300.

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.

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.