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Engine & cooling

Buick Lacrosse Engine problems by year

260 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Buick Lacrosse's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20193000
20184000
20176000
20164000
20151000
20144110
201332000
201252000
201135100
201051120
20096000
200817000
200716100
200612000
200517000

Latest Lacrosse engine complaints

2017 Buick LacrosseEngine & cooling

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine thermostat became stuck in the open position, preventing the engine from reaching normal operating temperature within the time expected by the vehicle's control system. When this occurs, the vehicle commands the engine cooling fans to run at high speed continuously, causes the engine temperature gauge to read cold, disables air conditioning operation, and eventually illuminates the check engine light. The...

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thermostat and vehicle are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The primary safety concern is the loss of windshield dehumidification capability due to the air conditioning system being disabled. During rain, high humidity, or rapidly changing weather conditions, the inside of the windshield can fog over quickly and significantly reduce visibility. This can occur while traveling at highway speeds, creating a situation where the driver must attempt to clear the windshield while maintaining vehicle control and searching for a safe location to stop. The loss of air conditioning during periods of extreme heat can also create uncomfortable and distracting driving conditions. Opening windows at highway speeds is not an equivalent substitute due to excessive noise, air-pressure fluctuations, and reduced driver comfort. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The condition is repeatable and consistently occurs when the thermostat is stuck open and the engine does not achieve the expected operating temperature. The symptoms return until the thermostat is replaced. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been diagnosed as having a thermostat stuck in the open position. No police or insurance inspections have occurred. Were there any warning lamps, messages or othe

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11777243
2012 Buick LacrosseTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

13136 recall issued on [redacted] was visually inspected by [[redacted]] Chevrolet Pleasant Hill Iowa on 7/10/13. With the statement no further action required .Diagnostic inspection done by Thompson Buick Springfield [[redacted]] [redacted] the following codes flagged.B1517,P0606,P0700,P0AC4,P0BE6,P0BEE,P0C0B,U0140,U0293,U1817 The vehicle is owned by my wife's aunt a [[redacted]] widow the car is a critical Lifeline used by her niece to drive a 2.5 hour highway route from [[redacted]] to [[redacted]] where her...

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aunt resides in a nursing home. On a return trip to [[redacted]]. The vehicle experienced catastrophic shut down power windows failed , air conditioner quit functioning and a mile of home the car lost power steering. Because recall inspection was done one month after the recall roll out [redacted] and then recall inspection was done [redacted] was a visual inspection that did not replace the known to be ,a future failure point part. After the catastrophic shut down, we took the vehicle to Thompson Buick [[redacted]]. To have a diagnostic service done which showed Parts noted in the original recall had failed the dealership was unable to do anything because the recall showed no further action completed . Service manager contacted GM representative who stated GM declined the request because the vehicle is outside the age and mileage guidelines for repair assistance GM does not allow for assistance Beyond 7 years or 50,000 miles Beyond warranty and service date. I believe this is taken out of context and the recall should be reviewed because the inspection was not adequate to solve the initial problem noted in the recall. There have been several changes to this recall to facilitate a review. But they have refused to have any other statement. All check engine lights activated. This misinterpreted recall failure has put an elderly patient and her caregiver in possible fatal conditions as well as innocent drivers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11776885
2013 Buick LacrosseTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

2013 Buick Lacrosse hybrid, campaign #13136, NHTSA 13V173000. Intermittent Battey light illumination Service Charging System warning. battery voltage drops until loss of power. After car setr for a period of time, when started Battery voltage is approximately 14.5 volts until the battery light illuminates Service Charging System warning is indicated then the battery voltage slowly until the voltage drops so low it quits.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11772883
2012 Buick LacrosseBrakesEngine & coolingFuel system

2012 Buick LaCrosse V6 (Fairfax Plant). The vehicle suffered a sudden, complete loss of engine power and forward propulsion while traveling at highway speed, cutting off mid-drive with no warning. This occurred alongside a persistent StabiliTrak malfunction; the dash showed repeated "Service StabiliTrak" warnings before the failure, then turned bright orange with multiple warning lights and a message instructing me to activate my turn signal and pull over before RPMs dropped to zero. Because power cut out...

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instantly, my [[redacted]] son (passenger) and I were trapped in the center lane of a dense, multi-lane highway. I was forced to dodge high-speed traffic and coast the dead vehicle across multiple active lanes to reach the shoulder, creating an imminent collision risk to us and other drivers. We were then stranded on the narrow shoulder awaiting a tow, with traffic passing within feet at highway speed. Both my son and I have CMT2A (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), a neuromuscular disability limiting mobility; we were incapable of quickly evacuating the vehicle or reaching safety up the embankment, leaving us trapped in a highly dangerous position. No official inspection or diagnosis has been performed yet. My dash displayed the same "Service StabiliTrak" warning referenced in NHTSA Campaign 11V404000, though my VIN was excluded from that recall, and my failure went beyond the handling/deceleration issue described in that recall to a complete loss of propulsion. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Service brakes · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11749557
2012 Buick LacrosseEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2012 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the vehicle shut off in the middle of the roadway and the vehicle failed to restart. A bystander advised the contact to press the alarm button twice to restart the vehicle. The contact followed the advice of the bystander, and the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to Firestone, where an unknown diagnosis was made. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where an unknown repair was performed;...

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however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the dealer on several occasions. The dealer replaced the motor mounts, the engine oil, and other unknown parts; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 11742307
2011 Buick LacrosseElectrical systemEngine & cooling

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving a 2011 Buick LaCrosse CXL. The vehicle has repeatedly shut off while being driven, creating a dangerous situation. The issue first occurred in January 2026. The vehicle was later towed for repair in February 2026, and I was told the issue had been fixed and picked up the vehicle 3/20/2026 and gave 1600. However, on April 9, 2026, the vehicle shut off again while driving. This issue has occurred multiple times and persists despite repair attempts. When the vehicle...

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shuts off, it creates a loss of power and poses a significant safety risk in traffic. I am concerned that this may be a broader safety issue and am requesting that this defect be documented and investigated.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11731073
2012 Buick LacrosseSuspensionEngine & cooling

All the specific details are unknown, but I had a mechanic work on my car and the problem that he had to fix. He stated that it should've been detected, but it was something wrong with my car, letting me know that I had the problem and also I have to keep replacing my camshaft timing Solenoid my car keeps giving me error codes P0011 and P0128

Filed Incident Suspension · EngineNHTSA 11706046
2007 Buick LacrosseElectrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

Car refuses to relearn the app sensor. Throttle body and sensor is good, always changed the EVAP Purge valve. Still throwing codes and reduce engine speed stays on..

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11695165
2018 Buick LacrosseAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated the hand controls were not working properly. While driving, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The engine power reduced message was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. After several attempts, the codes were reset, and the vehicle worked as designed. The contact linked the failure to the Special Coverage Campaign: N182188250. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who disconnected the...

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hand controls and informed the contact that the controls were operating as designed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the accelerator pedal position sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated to 15 MPH. The message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the accelerator pedal position sensor needed to be replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,600.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 11688843
2013 Buick LacrosseEngine & cooling

Today is 8.26.2025, I took this car back and left it w/dealership: Let them figure it out! I told them 0ne month after purchase this car is constantly EMPTY with no/Oil. I should not be getting oil changes this often. "Oh, it just burns more Oil and you bought a USED car"...Months later I hear smalls sounds, engine light comes on, then goes away, smoke begans to continue spreading behind the BUMPER building a permanent black spot on bumper! It smells, from time to time, plus car feels sluggish when driving past...

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50mph almost SCARED it will cut off** Now, I gather my funds that I don't have to SPEND (CASH) no CREDITCARD and I proceed to BELLE TIRE! I am on file within their system. (Receipts) They do what they do... apparently no Leaks. But the car is burning too much oil!! too Fast! "Keep an Eye on your Levels"... hmmm* I also got a MAINTENANCE TUNE-UP on my next visit. So far roughly $2000 has been SPENT towards this VEHICLE (Buick). (New Battery also) plus AAA Cost *I have a Membership* Now time continues to move forward this car KNOCKING,CLOUDS of SMOKE, In the car, Outside the car, Around the Car, thru the vents, PULLING, STAHLING, KNOCKING, CLUNCK,CLUNCK,; EMBARASSING!!! My son and I, Oh no... *We the Meat Inside a Barbecue Grill* DROP OFF/ASAP (pulled over Called AAA). (7/24/2024 - 8/25/2025)Owned this car 1Yr!! I need a New Car they wont give me one...I made every monthly payment On time all by WESTERN UNION (receipts). I go into the same store each month 19th -22nd and PAY. They don't want to TRADE-IN either*

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11683040
2019 Buick LacrosseEngine & coolingFuel system

When accelerating to get on to highway pushing on pedal but nothing happens, have to get pushing up and down until it goes. Has done this four time's and dealer says Buick has no fix for it. Have almost got rear ended twice.

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11677212
2013 Buick LacrosseTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Well the belt tensioner and the hybrid motor Drive Motor Performance and Hybrid Power train Control Module Requested MIL Illumination Yes not just any mechanic can work on the car because of the hybrid system is to much voltage And the check engine light came on the car

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11676340
2013 Buick LacrosseEngine & cooling

The bolt that secures the Serpentine belt tensioner unit to the motor block has repeatedly snapped apart leaving the tensioner unit to dangle from the block. Not secured, which causes the belt to dislodge or break (both have happened) the spring is left to flail about as is the tensioner unit since it is no longer connected to the engine block. Not to say where the other half of the bolt could end up. So far each time it snaps in half the other half remains in the block. But the unit is no longer secured to the...

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block. While driving when this occurs makes controling the vehichle unsafe. It loses power and or surges at will. A hope to make it to the side of the road without crashing or causing a crash is an issue. I cannot afford a repair establishment, a family member does my repairs. ... There has been no other inspection of the issue. As for warning lights. No. Everything is fine until the unit is jiggled away from the block after the bolt snaps in half. The force of the tensioner unit action (im assuming) is too much for the bolt - causing it to snap in two. It has occurred 2 times the second was the beginning of Feb 2025 and the first about 9 to 10 months earlier in 2024. The belt has also broken off before but the unit remained attatched to the block that time. I did see on youtube that others have had the bolt snap. Like it is not strong enough for the job it has to perform. Hope u can help

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11642962
2016 Buick LacrosseEngine & cooling

Diagnostic trouble code P0442. Evaporative emission system leak detected indicated by check engine light on.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11637143
2018 Buick LacrosseEngine & cooling

The 3.6 liter engine in my 2018 Buick Lacrosse Avenir only has 53,939 when we experienced a thermostat failure. The engine temperature was dead cold, and the dual electric fans were running non-stop. When I scanned the trouble code, I found PO128 which points to a faulty thermostat. Because the thermostat is buried under the intake manifold, we had the local Buick dealership replace it at a cost of over $800.00. I don't feel that a car with so few miles should be experiencing a thermostat failure. But this seems to be a common problem with the GM 3.6 liter motor according to a number of Buick forums that I read after the problem occurred.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11623656

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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