RoadVitals

2011 Buick Lacrosse Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
18
Latest Sep 7, 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.
11%
of 169 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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Buick Lacrosse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 brake

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

BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Sep 7, 2025

When going around town or on the highway the steering wheel will start shaking badly and when going to break even after the breaks have been changed the parking break will not stay on and the steering wheel will start shaking horribly to the point where your might crash your car I have had the car looked at multiple times by different manufacturers dealerships and auto shops and they all say to Change the breaks I tell them that I had them changed by Buick and Chevrolet of Dan Cummins where I had got the car and they done the same thing over again as when I bought the car

NHTSA ID
11685571
Incident
Jul 6, 2025
Brakes
Filed Jul 18, 2023

I was driving down the highway and when I went to apply my brakes the pedal completely broke off. It was just dangling on the floorboard. I had no brakes. I was forced to put my car in neutral to slow myself down and apply my parking break in order to stop. The road was very busy and I was going 60mph. I could have died. Luckily I was able to make it over 2 lanes and stop in the grass on the side of the road. I had the car towed to my mechanic and he had to replace the whole brake assembly. I have the broken parts and they are available for inspection. There were no warning lights

NHTSA ID
11533076
Incident
Jun 30, 2023
Brakes
Filed Jan 1, 2023

The brakes are getting stuck on while I am driving. The most recent occurrence happened while I was on the highway. The car would not accelerate, the whole system was shaking, there was no safe space for me to pull over. This vehicle has a recall for this exact problem but from what the dealer is saying, not my VIN. I find it hard to believe that this has occurred and it is unrelated to a previous recall for faulty brakes on 2011 Buick LaCrosse. Since this incident, the abs light has been on and another dash light has been on. My mechanic believes the brakes getting too hot may have lead to further damage to the abs sensor.

NHTSA ID
11499700
Incident
Dec 25, 2022
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 6, 2022

The component is the brakes and the brake pedal while not engaging the brakes they remained on even after the vehicle was shut off .the vehicle brake lights remained on this was not duplicated when I took the car in by the dealer of how the brake remains engaged we even when not being used I would have to release the break by pulling it up with my foot while driving . This was duplicated and witnessed by two others the dealership where I bought the car and a trusted mechanic. which no avai there was no warning light indicating any type of concern prior to it doing this. the brake pedal being slightly stuck my transmission shifts not properly and hot feeling to the car now I have a warning saying that AC will not work due to the overheating of my engine which I believe to have repaired however the repair that was believed to be the problem obviously wasn't the problem because the light still remains on and the fan runs continuously the minute I start the car to the time I shut the car off I live in North Dakota and it is -1 today and the fan continues to run at all times and the warning light is on cooling fan the car lunges at times which is easy to lose control over when it does this it lunges to the point where it physically noticeable and and no warnings of this that a compensation is going to need to be made in my driving with this lunge issue. I do feel this break issue has affected many other parts of the vehicle and the safety associated with these components. Also at times the driver's seat will not move it goes up to the dash or back to the back seat leaving me in a position where I cannot drive the vehicle safely at all. Also the cruise control would not engage because of the brakes being slightly engaged. Took her to the dealership discussed this problem with them and they could not duplicate and it's been going on since I purchased the car It had 30,000 miles on it when I bought it and it continues to do this and I think it's a safety issue

NHTSA ID
11496326
Incident
Apr 17, 2019
Brakes
Filed Jul 19, 2020

BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT RAISE AFTER APPLYING BRAKES. BRAKES REMAIN ENGAGED CAUSING DRAG AND BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. MUST PULL PEDAL BACK UP TO STOP BRAKING ACTION AND GET BRAKE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS TO WEAR OUT QUICKLY.

NHTSA ID
11340198
Incident
Jun 28, 2020
Mileage
75,300 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed May 29, 2020

MY WHEEL BEARING NEEDS REPLACED I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT HAPPENED IT JUST DID. ALSO MY ABS LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S ABOUT OR WHAT IT MEANS. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326562
Incident
May 26, 2020
Mileage
135,452 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 20, 2019

THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS 'STUCK' DURING NORMAL BREAKING. I HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL AND PULL IT BACK UP OR THE BRAKES WILL NOT DISENGAGE.

NHTSA ID
11290230
Incident
Dec 19, 2019
Mileage
78,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 27, 2019

BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT RAISE AFTER APPLY, REMAINS APPLIED AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON UNWANTED WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY ON STREETS, HIGHWAYS AND WHILE TURNING. GM ISSUED AN INTERNAL BULLETIN ON 05/11/2018 (SEE PIC5692D) RECOGNIZING THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AMONG 5 OF ITS MODELS (BUICK LACROSSE, BUICK REGAL, CADILLAC SRX, CADILLAC XTS AND CHEVROLET MALIBU) WITH THE LACROSSE PROBLEM BEGINNING 2010 THROUGH 2015. BRUSTOLON, A GM DEALER IN MYSTIC, CT CHARGED ME $70.63 TO REPLACE THE PEDAL AND RETAINER CLIPS. GIVEN HOW WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AMONG SEVERAL GM MODELS FOR UP TO 6 YEARS, THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GM AS A RECALL AT NO COST TO THE VEHICLE OWNER.THIS SITUATION IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN DEPRESSED REMAINS APPLIED WEARING THE BRAKES OUT PREMATURELY. *JS

NHTSA ID
11235284
Incident
Jun 23, 2019
Mileage
33,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Dec 31, 2018

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AND INTITATING A TRN ON A CITY STREET, THE ENGINE STOPPED AND LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE JUMPED AND A ROD KNOCK SOUND OCCURRED. THE ENGINE LATER SIEZED UP PERMANENTLY AT THE SERVICE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND OIL LEVELS WERE WITHIN NORMAL OPERATING RANGE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF ENGINE TROUBLE.

NHTSA ID
11164259
Incident
Dec 13, 2018
Mileage
71,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 5, 2018

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL IN THE WINTER, WENT TO TURN INTO NEIGHBORHOOD AT TOP OF HILL, JUST AS TURNING THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE DIED. EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING. ENGINE SHUT OFF, BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, LIGHTS WENT OFF, THEN WOULDN'T START. THEN THE VEHICLE INSTRUCTED TO ROLL DRIVER WINDOW DOWN THEN UP, ROLL RIGHT WINDOW DOWN THEN UP. ALMOST LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO REBOOT. BUT THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. AFTER TRYING A THIRD TIME TO START, IT STARTED. ALL INFORMATION WAS GONE, NO MILEAGE, OIL LIFE GONE, TRIPOMETER GONE. DROVE VEHICLE HOME, JUST A BLOCK AWAY AND BEEN TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11066972
Incident
Jan 26, 2018
Mileage
80,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 4, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THE STABILITRAC AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REDUCED POWER WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HUB THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/04/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL. UPDATED 07/25/2017*JS

NHTSA ID
10939697
Incident
Dec 30, 2016
Mileage
105,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 23, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT STOP SIGN BY APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP THEN ACCELERATED. WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BRAKES STILL FAILED WITH VEHICLE PLYING THROUGH FIELD AND COMING TO REST ONLY WHEN PLOWING INTO AN EMBANKMENT,

NHTSA ID
10887919
Incident
Jul 23, 2016
Mileage
33,000 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 9, 2015
Crash reported

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED TOWARDS THE RIGHT TOWARDS A CURB ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND STEERING WHEEL AND CAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS AND THE STEERING LOST ITS POWER BRINGING THE CAR TO SLAM INTO THE CURB. I HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING OR TURNING THE WHEEL OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10693044
Incident
Mar 5, 2015
Mileage
96,400 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed May 12, 2014
Crash reported

ATTEMPTED TO STOP FOR RED TRAFFIC LIGHT; APPLIED BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. CAR THEN ACCELERATED -- USED BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL UNSUCCESSFULLY. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP LAUNCHING CAR INTO VEHICLES PARKED IN A USED CAR DEALERSHIP LOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587767
Incident
Apr 25, 2014
Mileage
5,004 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 29, 2013

BACKING INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN BRAKES FAILED. NO PRIOR WARNING OR FAILURE LIGHTS EVER CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504984
Incident
Mar 29, 2013
Mileage
17,991 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 28, 2012
Crash reported

SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION DURING A LOW SPEED (<5 MPH) TIGHT LEFT HAND TURN. FIRST INCIDENT RESULTED IN CRASH AGAINST HOUSE WALL, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE REPAIRED BELOW INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE, NO DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE. SECOND INCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT, ON OR ABOUT MAY 16, 2012, ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITH NO CRASH. THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED AT NEIGHBORS HOUSE JUNE 26, 2012, CAUSING CRASH. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND GARAGE DOOR. ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN LIFTING FROM ACCELERATOR PRIOR TO STEPPING ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE (VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE, NO BRAKING). AFTER 3RD INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE BUT WAS TOWED TO THE SELLING/SERVICING BUICK DEALER. VEHICLE IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED BY DEALER. CONDITION DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME IN THE SAME TIGHT LEFT HAND TURN. TYPE OF TURN IS 90 DEGREES IN DRIVEWAYS TO SIDE LOADING GARAGES AND INTO PARKING SPACES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10463391
Incident
Feb 8, 2012
Mileage
3,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jun 11, 2012

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, VEHICLE ELECTRONICS WENT INOPT WHILE CRUISING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. SPEEDOMETER, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TURN SIGNALS, NAVIGATION AND RADIO WERE ALL INOPT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10461254
Incident
Jan 30, 2012
Mileage
5,334 mi
Brakes
Filed May 22, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10402331
Incident
Mar 13, 2011
Mileage
1,800 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.

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Data sources

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