RoadVitals

2009 Buick Lacrosse Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Sep 30, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 106 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Buick Lacrosse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 30, 2019

REDUCED POWER/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY AND REDUCED CAR POWER IMMEDIATELY. THIS MADE FOR A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE PASSING A TRUCK AND ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR DROPPED SPEED VERY QUICKLY MAKING FOR A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES WITH NO WARNING UNTIL IT HAPPENS. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR GM VEHICLES ESPECIALLY THE 2009 BUICK LACROSS MODELS. IT'S A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP.

NHTSA ID
11258915
Incident
Sep 29, 2019
Mileage
84,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 9, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE TRAC SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 15 TO 20 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STARTED AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID
11194921
Incident
Apr 8, 2019
Mileage
99,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 18, 2018

TAKATA RECALL.. ALL OF MY WARNING DASH LIGHTS ARE ON AT TIMES OR THE WHOLE DASH, RADIO AND EVERYTHING GO OUT THEN COMES BACK, THE IGNITION HAS BEEN PAUSING BEFORE IT TURNS OVER, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR RATTLES, ABS, T/C AND AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS ON.. I HAVE REPLACED 1000.00S OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING CHANGES. I HAVE REPLACED THE WHEEL HUBS, IGNITION MODULE, THE 700.00 PART FOR THE ECBM, NOTHING CHANGES, I BELIEVE ITS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN TO FIND. IT DOESNT MATTER IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION OR WHERE I AM DRIVING. I NEED HELP WITH MY CAR, PLEASE. I DONT HAVE PICTURES , CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME

NHTSA ID
11152270
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Mileage
112,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 8, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE THROTTLE BEGAN TO FAIL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,648.

NHTSA ID
11071765
Incident
Jan 25, 2018
Mileage
92,648 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 26, 2016
Crash reported

WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT VERY HIGH RPMS AND JUMPED THE CURB HITTING A TREE, EXTREME PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE.. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 DAYS THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED..

NHTSA ID
10899007
Incident
Aug 16, 2016
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 26, 2016

WHILE ENTERING INTERSTATE OFF RAMP I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A VERY HIGH SPEED. WITH EXTREME BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WAS NOT ABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS. I HAD TO CHANGE 3 LANES TO AVOID COLLIONS WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT.

NHTSA ID
10898985
Incident
Aug 14, 2016
Mileage
55,012 mi
Driver assistanceEngineInterior & seats
Filed Nov 18, 2015
Fire reported

ABS STABILITY TRACKING LIGHTS COME ON, CAR DIES NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE DRIVING A CAR THAT IS STILL MOVING WITH NO STEERING OR BRAKES. IN THE PAST THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MY ELECTRIC SEATS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND BURNT OUT.

NHTSA ID
10794556
Incident
Nov 5, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 10, 2015

ABS STABLILITY TRACTION LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR DIES I HAVE NO POWER STEERING OR BREAKING POWER AND MY CAR IS STILL MOVING. GM DID THE PETAL RECALL TO IT THINKING THAT WOULD FIX IT, IT DID AND HAS NOT. THIS IS A DEATH TRAP I HAVE LOST FAITH IN DRIVING THIS CAR. HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE??? HAS HAPPENED TWICE.

NHTSA ID
10789568
Incident
Nov 5, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 28, 2015

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. IT FIRST APPEARED AS A BAD BATTERY WHICH WAS REPLACED. USING THE IN-CAR DIGITAL READOUT, WE BEGAN TO SEE STRANGE VOLTAGE READINGS IN THE CAR. THE VOLTAGE WOULD SOME TIMES READ AS LOW AS 12.6 VOLTS AND THEN WOULD START A STEADY CLIMB UP TO 14.4 VOLTS. IT MIGHT STAY THAT WAY FOR HOURS OR MIGHT SLOWLY DROP TO THE LOW LEVEL. AT THE LOW LEVEL, WE HAVE NOTICED THAT MULTIPLE ITEMS LIKE THE SPEED CONTROL AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT WORK UNTIL THE VOLTAGE WAS AT THE HIGH LEVEL. WE HAVE HAD AN EPISODE WHERE THE LOW BEAM WOULD NOT OPERATE UNTIL I SWITCHED THE HIGH BEAM ON AND THEM SWITCHED TO LOW BEAM. WE HAVE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICED ON THAT ITEM. OTHER STRANGE THINGS ARE HAPPENING LIKE THE RADIO CHANGING STATIONS ON ITS OWN. THE PASSENGER SEAT INDICATOR READS FALSE AT TIMES WHEN TRAVELING. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT READS OFF AND THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR READ UNLATCHED. AS WE CONTINUE TRAVELING, THE INDICATORS GO BACK TO THEIR NORMAL INDICATIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10679598
Incident
Oct 21, 2013
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jan 22, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED AN INACCURATE READING LEVEL OF 120 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID
10678322
Incident
Jan 19, 2015
Mileage
55,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 7, 2014

THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I DON'T RECALL THE MESSAGE I ACTUALLY GOT; BUT I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED AN EMISSION CONTROL ITEM WHICH SEEMED TO DO THE TRICK FOR AWHILE. EVENTUALLY, AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG SOME TIME LATER, THE MESSAGE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" CAME UP; AND I COULD FEEL THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY START TO DRAG. IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE, "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" OR SOMETHING SIMILAR COMES UP. I STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE MANUAL WHICH SAID TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, THEN START THE CAR AND THIS WOULD CLEAR THE CODE SO THAT THE CAR WOULD RUN NORMALLY. I DID THIS, AND I SAW THAT THE CAR WAS OPERATING MORE NORMALLY BUT THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" STAYED ON. AFTER SEVERAL STOPS AND STARTS, THE LIGHT WENT OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. ON 6/3, I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE ONLY THING THEY COULD FIND THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING IT DID NOT SEEM TO BE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WORKED ON THE X101 CONNECTOR AND TEST DROVE IT 16 MILES W/O A PROBLEM. TWO DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING TO WORK (AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MIN.), THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. ANOTHER GARAGE WHERE I HAD MY OIL CHANGED RAN THE CODES AND FOUND THAT P1125 - FUEL & AIR METERING AND P2138 THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION WERE LISTED. I GAVE THIS INFO TO THE BUICK DEALER TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED. THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY EXCEPT FOR EMISSION CONTROLS, SO I PAID FOR THE WORK. THEY WERE NOT SURE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. IT TURNED OUT THAT IT WASN'T. NOW, WHAT? DO I JUST KEEP TAKING IT BACK AND PAYING FOR THINGS TO BE TRIED? *TR

NHTSA ID
10596851
Incident
Jul 9, 2013
Mileage
36,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 5, 2014

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WITHIN A 2 MONTH TIME FRAME THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING A "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM", "SERVICE THEFT SYSTEM", "ABS SYSTEM" ON MY ODOMETER. I HAD TO STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF. THEN THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL BARRING, THEN THEY DID THE ELECTRICAL AND TIRE AND NOW IT IS ACTING UP AGAIN AND THEY DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10596330
Incident
Jun 4, 2014
Mileage
70,144 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .