2012 Buick Lacrosse Brakes Problems

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

The break pedal sticks down during high temperatures ( generally during summer months especially when park outside in the sun and high humidity) and causes the brakes to drag and the break pedal doesn’t come up by itself! Also the brake lights stay on. It is very dangerous to drive on this condition. I just want theNHTSA to be aware of this and I have seen a lot of complaints on line I contacted gm and no response! It should be a recall for this! Please, help us with problem

NHTSA ID

11735921

Incident

May 5, 2026

THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM HAS AN INCORRECT CALIBRATION THAT MAY CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO NOT PROPERLY DETECT IF A SENSOR WERE TO MALFUNCTION, AND THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATING WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE, AS REQUIRED IN THE SAFETY STANDARD. THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM FALSELY ACTIVATES RESULTING IN SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING AND DECELERATION, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE'S DESIRED PATH OF TRAVEL AND DESIRED VEHICLE SPEED, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ID

11572128

Incident

Jan 18, 2024

Brake lights may stay on when the car is parked and the engine is off. This is due to the brake pedal may become sticky intermittently as per GM's Service Bulletin: SB-10045319-1529. At times, while pressing the gas pedal, the car may not move at all and it can become a safety hazard for the driver and drivers behind you. However, as of 5-8-23, GM does not have an open recall for this safety issue and may lead to an fatal accident. Please investigate this issue and possibly open a recall notice as this could cause a serious safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11520979

Incident

May 7, 2023

We're purchasing this vehicle from superior Auto, and we seen a recall back in 2011/12 from stabiltrak and deterrent auto theft, since this $21, 240 car we've had issues causing the car to shut off and lock up without warning, no power steering or brakes, and stabiltrak and auto deterrent theft warning pop up, and had it to 2 mechanics that are baffled and it produces no codes, I've almost gotten in 3 accidents causing this, and now I'm too scared to drive this car, the recall had same issues for improperly calibrated ESC defective sensors not showing codes, nobody will fix the issue without codes and I don't need to hurt or kill anyone. Superior Auto is not caring about taking this car back or trading it in, please help me figure this out, there was no accidents, but this car is unsafe for the road

NHTSA ID

11518978

Incident

Apr 25, 2023

The brake pedal sticks down during interior high temperatures (generally during the summer months when parked in the sun) and causes the brakes to drag. It appears this is a known defect (nhtsa# 10141352) gm technical service bulletin#PIC 5692D. I just want the NHTSA to be aware of another vehicle exhibiting this condition. I will be repairing the vehicle myself.

NHTSA ID

11494758

Incident

May 30, 2017

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO MY HOUSE AN MY CAR STARTED ACTING FUNNY. WHILE DRIVING RANDOMLY 2 LIGHTS CAME ON SAYING SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST AND SERVICE STABILI TRACK. IT BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKES STOPPED WORKING AND IT CUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I CUT IT BACK ON IT HAD THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS; SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST, SERVICE STABILI TRACK. I ALMOST DIED AND MY GIRL HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TRUCK FOR ME TO GET HOME AND I WAS RIGHT UP THE STREET. I FEEL LIKE IT DANGEROUS AND WHEN I TOLD GMC THEY SAID ITS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. IT IS SEVERAL RECALLS WITH VEHICLES JUST LIKE MINE THAT ARE THE SAME YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. MY CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET ALL THE THINGS FIXED THAT WERE RECALLS. I AM IMMOBILE AND IT IS CAUSING HARM TO ME FINANCIALLY. I TRUSTED GMC AND I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD DO RIGHT BY CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ID

11407161

Incident

Apr 6, 2021

Mileage

100,000 mi

AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, THE PEDAL DOES NOT RETURN TO THE HOME POSITION. IT REMAINS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES WILL ONLY DISENGAGE AFTER I MANUALLY LIFT THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM OUT AND OCCURS IN ALL STAGES OF DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS (STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ETC).

NHTSA ID

11205280

Incident

May 2, 2019

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON CITY STREET DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY VEHICLE COMPLETED SHUT DOWN NO WARNING, ENGINE LIGHT POPPED ON, THE WHEEL BECAME STIFF THE BRAKES BECAME STIFF. I PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED THE IGNITION OFFEND STARTED IT UP AGAIN, IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I CONTINUED DRIVING FOR ANOTHER 4 MILES ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. PULLED INTO PARKING SHUT IF OFF AND STARTED IT BACK UP BUT ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON, DROVE 4 MILES HOME, AS TURNING ONTO STREET SHUT OFF AGAIN WHEEL LOCKED, BRAKES STIFF, REPEAT FIRST STEPS, DROVE 50 FT, SHUT OFF, DROVE ANOTHER 50 FT SHUT OFF, BUT THEN DIDN'T START BACK UP RIGHT AWAY. WAIT A MINUTE STARTED UP BUT WAS HESITATING. NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN, 130K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11179946

Incident

Feb 13, 2019

Mileage

130,031 mi

THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND I WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND ON MY WAY BACK THE CHARGING LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70 MILES AN HOUR IN A CURVE WHEN ALL SYSTEMS WENT DOWN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP AND I LOST BRAKING, STEERING AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS. AND I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE WRECKED THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

NHTSA ID

11115703

Incident

Aug 2, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR ON DECLINING GRADES THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT WILL APPEAR AND THE CAR'S FRONT BRAKES WILL AUTOMATICALLY SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THIS HAPPENED ON 1/21/2018 MOST RECENTLY AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE PERSON BEHIND ME WASN'T READY FOR MY CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.

NHTSA ID

11064186

Incident

Jan 21, 2018

Mileage

112,000 mi

ALL POWER FEATURES SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON STREET. LOSS PARTIAL CONTROL OF STEERING, BRAKING POWER WAS REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY AND ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ID

10980218

Incident

Apr 20, 2017

Mileage

51,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM ANOTHER CAR DEALER IN EARLY JULY 2014 WITH 19,000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE SLUGGISH ON ACCELERATION. I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE NOT RELEASING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND ANOTHER CASE WHERE SOME ELSE HAD THEIR CAR IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE BRAKE PEDAL BUSHING NOT ALLOWING THE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE THE BRAKES ONCE THEY WERE APPLIED. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM IT WAS UNSAFE. BY THE TIME MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR IN THE BRAKES WERE ABOUT TO CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RELEASING. THEY REPLACED THE BUSHING AND TURNED THE ROTORS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I AM TAKING IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WARRED ROTOR WOULD BE MY BEST GUESS; THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD WAITING TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO FIRE BUT IF SHE WOULD HAVE DRIVEN ANOTHER 10 MILES THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN ON FIRE. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP TWENTY MINUTES AFTER MY WIFE AND THE BRAKES WERE VERY HOT AND SMELLED THE SAME. I CHECKED YES ON FIRE BECAUSE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE SHORTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694992

Incident

Jul 28, 2014

Mileage

20,008 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE ASSIST WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND BRAKE SENSOR. THEY ALSO REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,019 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,200.

NHTSA ID

10575122

Incident

May 2, 2013

Mileage

15,019 mi

THIS IS A 4CYL CAR WITH EASIEST. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION - THE CAR WHILE GOING DOWNHILL OR SOMETIMES UPHILL, ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AFTER RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR ONCE BECAUSE OF THIS. JERKING - THE CAR WHILE DECELERATING FROM 50-40 MPH TO 30-20 MPH JERKS AFTER RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL (WITH AN INTENTION OF DECELERATING) OR WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING REGULARLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCT 2012. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573797

Incident

Oct 15, 2012

Mileage

600 mi

UN SMOOTH SHIFTING AROUND 30 MPH ,CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK OR BRAKE FEELS LIKE THE ASSIST IS NOT SENSING ,CAUSING THE HAD TO DEALERSHIP NOTHING THEY CAN DO ALL CHECK OUT BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511084

Incident

May 31, 2012

Mileage

100 mi