RoadVitals

2010 Buick Lacrosse Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
15
Latest Apr 25, 2025
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.
8%
of 189 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.
0
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

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Buick Lacrosse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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 powertrain

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 25, 2025

The transmission (randomly) fails to upshift. 1st to 2nd gear. Cold or hot. Start or in morion. Transmission was last serviced at 120,000 miles.

NHTSA ID
11656881
Incident
Apr 25, 2025
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Apr 16, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT-OFF AS THE SERVICE POWER STEERING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAITED APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,400.

NHTSA ID
11408381
Incident
Mar 26, 2021
Mileage
94,400 mi
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 14, 2020

AIR BAG IS ON SAYS IT NEEDS CHECKED AND ALSO SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK WHILE ACCELERATING

NHTSA ID
11349243
Incident
Aug 3, 2020
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 5, 2019

OVER THE TWO YEARS, WHILE DRIVING, THE SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT COMES ON; THE ABS & PARK ASSIST LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF; MY RPM, SPEEDOMETER, & TEMPERATURE GAUGES GO HAYWIRE; AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK. THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. I HAVE BEEN PUT IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING INCLUDING ON SIDE STREETS AND MAJOR HIGHWAYS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AND STAYS ON THROUGHOUT THE REST OF MY DRIVE. YOU CAN GO SOMETIMES WEEKS OR MONTHS INCIDENT FREE AND WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THEN OUT OF NOWHERE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DAVE SINCLAIR BUICK / GM DEALER LOCATED IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS FOR THE SAME ISSUE YET TO NO AVAIL IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE DEALER'S TECH SAID MY CARS PROBLEM IS ALMOST CERTAINLY ELECTRICAL. SO FAR THEY HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE CODES FOR ECM (THEY REPLACED AT MY COST) & TCM LOST COMMUNICATION PCM MALFUNCTION & OTHER COMMUNICATION ISSUES (THEY REPROGRAMMED). THEY HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR AND HAVE DUPLICATED THE ISSUES BUT TO THIS POINT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM BUT SAID THAT IT'S ELECTRICAL. I CONTACTED BUICK AND CHATTED WITH AN ADVISOR (A COPY WAS UPLOADED) WHO BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. A QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET WILL SHOW SEVERAL OTHER BUICK OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS I DESCRIBE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION & I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR SINCE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER, THUS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11278264
Incident
Sep 1, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 15, 2017

WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY STILL INTACT I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING AND HAD IT RESET. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS I HAVE HAD IT COME ON MORE FREQUENTLY SINCE THEN AND NOW IT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR. WITH FRUSTRATING AMOUNTS OF TIME SPENT TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT THE ISSUE IS I FINALLY FOUND OUT THE TIMING CHAIN AND SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED. ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS IS THAT THE OIL IN MY CAR IS NOT BEING DISTRIBUTED PROPERLY. THIS WOULD ALSO BE ONE OF THE REASONS I HAVE HAD TO ADD OIL BEFORE EVERY 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR WILL START RUNNING HARD AND ACCELERATION IS HARDER. MANY TIMES I WOULD ONLY PUT 1500 MILES ON MY CAR AND MY OIL WOLD BE BONE DRY. PUT OIL IN AND IT GETS BETTER. IF I WOULDNT HAVE HAVE CAUGHT THIS MY ENGINE WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN BLOWN. SO NOW 3 YEARS LATER I AM STUCK WITH THIS ISSUE WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AS ALL THE SAME ISSUES WERE OCCURRING THEN AND NOW. I CANT SEEM TO ACCESS MY BUICK ACCOUNT ONLINE SURPRISINGLY BUT IT DID HAVE ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS PROVING MY ATTEMPTS WITH THEM. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE, I KNOW THAT THE SAME VEHICLE JUST WITH A SAMLLER ENGINE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME THING. WHY NOT THE BIGGER ENGINE? I NOW HAVE A $2000 REPAIR TO MAKE NOT INCLUDING THE SEVERAL HUNDRED IT TOOK TO DETERMINE THE ISSUE. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT IS HAPPENING IN BUICKS OF THIS AGE AND NEWER BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING ALOT.I HAVE MANY SERVICE RECEIPTS SHOWING THE PROCESS OF THIS AND ALSO THE DIAGNOSIS TODAY AND THEONE I WILL BE GETTING TOMORROW TO CONFIRM AND WILL BE GLAD TO FORWARD ON TO YOU IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ID
10966220
Incident
Mar 15, 2017
Mileage
82,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 17, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND IN THE PROCESS OF ACCELERATION. THE ISSUE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10896688
Incident
Mar 10, 2016
Mileage
60,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 9, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER STICK WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. A MAINTENANCE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT KNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ID
10894389
Incident
Aug 4, 2016
Mileage
41,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 6, 2016

ON FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016 I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A 2 LANE ROAD WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL SET WHEN MY CAR SUFFERED A LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE STILL WAS RUNNING, BUT APPARENTLY MY TRANSMISSION LOST THE ABILITY TO POWER THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, AND EVENTUALLY, TOWED TO MY MECHANICS SHOP. YESTERDAY I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL AND IT WILL COST ME $1060 TO REPAIR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT BUICK DEALERS KEEP THE PART IN STOCK.. IF IT IS THAT COMMON OF A PROBLEM, AND CARS ARE LOSING POWER ON THE ROAD, THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL, INSTEAD OF TAKING HARD EARNED MONEY OUT OF OWNERS POCKETS TO FIX! I MIGHT ADD THAT THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 68,000 MILES ON IT!

NHTSA ID
10882865
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
67,500 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 5, 2015

THIS IS A REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF COMPLETLY WHILE DRIVING OR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10681453
Incident
Feb 5, 2015
Mileage
87,737 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 15, 2014

THE TRANSMISSION DOES FORCEFUL JERKING WHILE GOING 30-35 MPH. ALSO WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL AS GM DESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION THIS WAY. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588720
Incident
Mar 17, 2014
Mileage
61,300 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,591. UPDATED 1/29/14*CN VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE A FEEL OF LOSING POWER VIA GAS PEDAL, BUT SO FAR, HASN'T STOPPED AGAIN, BUT DOES SLOW DOWN WHEN THIS HAPPENS. ALL OTHER INFO ON FORM IS GOOD. UPDATED 01/29/14

NHTSA ID
10559393
Incident
Jul 30, 2012
Mileage
23,591 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 31, 2011

WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY FREEWAY 2010 BUICK LACROSSE LOSS ALL POWER, WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BESIDES PANIC AND COAST OFF FREEWAY TO MERIDIAN, VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY SITUATION. BUT I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MODULE SWITCH THAT DIDN'T TELL THE TRANSMISSION WHAT TO DO. BUT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACE PRIOR TO THAT INCIDENT AND STILL HAVING PROBLEM AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR, IT MIGHT SHUT DOWN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING JUST FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR, IM TERRIFY OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10433747
Incident
Oct 6, 2011
Mileage
79,192 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 30, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BUICK LACROSSE CXL AWD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE INTERNAL MODE SWITCH MANUAL SHIFT AND D-DENT LEVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SHIFT AND THE LEVER WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,360.

NHTSA ID
10428028
Incident
Sep 13, 2011
Mileage
13,360 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 13, 2010

TODAY, WHILE DRIVING MY 2010 BUICK LACROSSE ON ATL HIGHWAY 75 SOUTH, MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND HAD TO COAST OFF THE FREEWAY. THE CAR STOPPED MOVING AS I ROLLED INTO A DRIVEWAY. IT WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER. ALSO, WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED WIRING FROM THE TRANSMISSION PUMP AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PUMP BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS LOOSE AND SLOPPY, AND EVERYTIME I MADE A LEFT TURN, THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE LOCK JAMMED AND WOULD NOT OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10355399
Incident
Sep 13, 2010
Mileage
18,199 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 30, 2010

DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY @ 60 MPH. CAR ENGINE, RADIO, WORKING, SUDDENLY NO TRANSMISSION. PULLED TO SHOULDER, TOWED TO BUICK DEALER. ALTHOUGH NOTHING FOUND WAS TOLD TO WAIT 10 MINUTES AND RESTART IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. WAS ALSO TOLD THIS HAPPENED TO ONE OTHER PERSON LOCALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10352889
Incident
Jun 18, 2010
Mileage
26,420 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 .