2012 Buick Lacrosse

NHTSA opened AQ14-001 to determine whether Sands Chevrolet of Surprise, Arizona complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed (49 U.S.C. ?? 30112(a), 30120(i)).NHTSA issued an information request (IR) letter to Sands Chevrolet on May 5, 2014.Sands Chevrolet responded to this request on May 22, 2014.To ensure NHTSA?s information request encompassed all possible reference codes for General Motors recall 13V-173, NHTSA issued another IR letter to Sands Chevrolet on June 8, 2015.Again, a response letter was received on June 9, 2015.NHTSA?s investigation indicated that Sands Chevrolet did sell and deliver recalled vehicles that did not have the recall remedy completed at the time the vehicles were delivered to the customers.NHTSA therefore concluded that Sands Chevrolet was liable for civil penalties for violations of the Safety Act, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. ? 30165.Under a Settlement Agreement dated March 24, 2016, Sands Chevrolet represented that it improved its processes to verify that it checks every vehicle for recalls prior to delivery to the purchaser and that it has not sold and delivered any unremedied new motor vehicles since June 9, 2015.Sands Chevrolet also represented that it now also checks for open recalls on every customer vehicle brought in for service, and that it checks for open recalls on every used trade-in vehicle, regardless of make or model, and takes steps to have all used trade-in vehicles repaired prior to retail sale. Sands Chevrolet admitted to violating the law and must pay civil penalties in the amount of $40,000.This Audit Query is closed.

On July 5, 2013 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ13-003 to investigate whether the service procedures utilized in recall bulletins 13136 and 13142 for safety recall 13V-173 were sufficient to identify the safety defect in the subject vehicles.These safety recalls were issue on May 3, 2013 to address the improper function of the Generator Control Module (GCM) in certain model year (MY) 2012-13 Buick LaCrosse and Regal and MY 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco equipped with eAssist.This condition may result in a loss of battery charge, engine stall and/or inability for the vehicle to start.In severe cases it may also lead to odor, smoke and possibly a fire in the trunk.During discussions with General Motors (GM), ODI was informed that the subject vehicles could be separated into 4 distinct build populations, or groups. Group A contained vehicles built from the start of production through 3/19/2012.Group B involved vehicles built from 3/20/2012 to 8/20/2012, group C from 8/21/2012 to 12/31/12, and group D from 1/1/2013 onwards.Bulletin 13136 instructed dealers to inspect and, if necessary, replace the GCM for vehicles in groups A or C.Bulletin 13142 instructed dealers to replace the GCM of any vehicle in group B.Group D vehicles were not recalled.All eAssist vehicles have a Powerpack which contains a BAS (belt alternator-starter) Power Inverter Module (BPIM)/Accessory Power Module (APM) and a 115-V Lithium-Ion battery.The Powerpack is known by GM's Part Description System as the GCM and Battery Module. The BPIM/APM contains 3 multi-layered printed circuit boards (PCBs) comprised of conductive layers separated by isolating layers.Vehicles built within the time periods of groups A and B had PCBs using single isolation layers.Vehicles build in group C had dual isolation layers on 1 of the 3 PCBs, and group D had all 3 PCBs built with dual insulation.Adding dual insulation to a PCB makes it more robust to material and manufacturing variations, and ultimately less susceptible to an electrical short circuit and subsequent failure.Through initial analysis of the GCM failures, GM identified that vehicles within group B contained PCBs that were contaminated during production due to increased production volumes that resulted in inadequate quality control.GM also noted that GCM failures occurred early in the life of the vehicle (typically <1000 miles).Therefore a service procedure was developed to replicate early life failures by subjecting the GCM to high current loads which would cause the identified failure mechanism (copper migration) to occur quickly and reveal any underlying PCB defect.Although groups A and C were built with PCBs containing single layer PCBs, they were built using better quality control, and as the data supports, experienced significantly lower failures.GM advised that for these reasons the two different service procedures were used in the Recall 13V-173 population.In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) GM submitted 234 unique reports related to the alleged problem. It was noted that 197 (84%) of the received reports fell into the group B population.The 2 fire incidents noted were events in which flames were evident and/or damage was experienced outside of the GCM. Both of these incidents involved group B vehicles. One hundred four warranty claims were also submitted in response to the IR, with 96 claims (92%) from group B.It was also noted that none of the claims from groups A or C occurred after the service procedure was conducted, and that the majority of the A or C incidents occurred during the service procedure.Given the data, ODI believes the ser

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

NHTSA ID

11776885

Incident

Sep 3, 2026

**Subject:** Formal Safety Defect Complaint: Premature Failure of Completed Recall Remedy (NHTSA Campaign 13V173000 / GM Recall 13136) Resulting in Sudden Loss of Power Steering **VEHICLE INFORMATION** * **Year/Make/Model:** 2012 Buick LaCrosse Hybrid (eAssist) * **VIN:** [XXX] * **Current Mileage:** [Insert Current Mileage] **DESCRIPTION OF SAFETY DEFECT & INCIDENT** This vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign 13V173000 to resolve an inherent defect in the Generator Control Module (GCM) that presents a severe stalling and trunk fire risk. On 9-9-26, under normal driving conditions in ambient temperatures of approximately 95°F and after covering a distance of 10 miles, the manufacturer-installed remedy component suffered a premature, catastrophic thermal failure. The replacement GCM ceased regulating and delivering power to the vehicle’s 12-volt system. The resulting critical voltage drop forced the vehicle into an emergency load-shedding protocol, abruptly disabling the air conditioning system. Shortly thereafter, the severe drop in operating voltage caused a total, sudden failure of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) while the vehicle was actively in motion. The driver was forced to navigate a heavy vehicle entirely without steering assistance, causing an immediate, severe collision hazard. Battery warning symbol activated. I have not taken it to the dealership because of the recall status. **REASON FOR ADVANCED ESCALATION** While the vehicle’s VIN status officially shows "No Incomplete Recalls" because the campaign was previously executed, the remedy part provided by the manufacturer has failed in the exact same manner as the original defective component. By failing prematurely, the safety risk mandated to be fixed by federal law has been completely reintroduced. REQUESTED ACTIONS Manufacturer-Covered Remedy: A goodwill replacement of the failed Generator Control Module and associated diagnostics at no cost to the owner. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

NHTSA ID

11765050

Incident

Sep 9, 2026

Shows service stability track

NHTSA ID

11753857

Incident

Jul 23, 2026

I was driving my car the engine turned off by itself everything locked up when i stop i tried to start it again and it just clicked, I thought it was the battery got a new battery started up drove it about a half mile did it again turned off everything locked up

NHTSA ID

11750341

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

I was driving my car the engine turned off by itself everything locked up when i stop i tried to start it again and it just clicked, I thought it was the battery got a new battery started up drove it about a half mile did it again turned off everything locked up

NHTSA ID

11750340

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

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 instantly, my [XXX] 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)

NHTSA ID

11749557

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

Subject: Complaint Regarding Improper Handling of Safety Recall Repair Hello, I would like to file an official complaint regarding a dealership that failed to properly follow required procedures for a federally mandated safety recall repair on my vehicle. Vehicle Information: • Year/Make/Model: 2012 Buick Lacrosse • VIN: [XXX] • Recall Number (if known): Dealership Information: • Dealership Name: Castle Buick • Location: 7400 Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546 • Date of Service Attempt: May 2026 Details of the Issue: The dealership did not follow the proper safety recall repair guidelines as required under federal regulations. Despite the recall requiring specific corrective actions to ensure the vehicle is safe to operate, the dealer either: • failed to perform the full recall procedure, • refused or delayed the repair without a valid reason, or • returned the vehicle without completing required steps to ensure safety (such as proper inspection, adjustment, or alignment). This violates my rights as a vehicle owner, as federal law requires manufacturers and authorized dealers to correct safety-related defects at no cost and in full compliance with recall instructions. I am requesting NHTSA’s assistance in ensuring that the recall is properly completed and that the dealership’s non-compliance is investigated. I am concerned for my safety and the safety of others on the road. Contact Information: • Name: [[XXX]] • Phone: [[XXX]] • Email: [[XXX]] Thank you for your attention to this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11745950

Incident

May 18, 2026

There is a know water leak issues with GM. The below is the tsb, Technical Service Bulletin (TSB #16-NA-073. This is a safety issues because if your not aware it could lead to mold in your car. I noticed my issue about 3 weeks ago when my floor board was flooded. I can tell by how the carpet looks its been leaking for a while. I would like this to be further looked into. This is a know issues and the dealership should be responsible for repairs. This is also going to be a costly repair

NHTSA ID

11745321

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172. The diagnostic tip has the technician inspect the high pressure fuel pump body markings to confirm it is an original manufacture part. If it is not an original manufacture part, they should install one and evaluate the vehicle.

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.