2012 Buick Lacrosse acceleration problems

Filed Nov 5, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · MS · crash

during a regular drive the check stabiltrack system message popped up on the dash in the middle circle and then the little car with the squiggly lines behind it popped up and the check engine light came on and started blinking. Immediately I noticed lack of steering control, the car's speed was accelerating and decelerating on its own, jerking and stalling also was observed. As of now the car sits in my driveway because I don't trust the safety of it. I literally feared my life was in danger driving it because of the lack of handling and the acceleration shifts that were so random. So I returned home, as I pulled into the yard the vehicle jerked hard while I was attempting turn into the driveway causing me to hit my mailbox and damaged the side fender and front bumper. no one was injured but the car was damaged as stated before and I'm scared to drive it anywhere. The unpredictable behavior displayed in the vehicle puts other drivers at risk as well because I can't control the vehicle properly. so I'm guessing all in all its a malfunction somewhere in the electrical system. I have read about recalls in my type of vehicle involving the ESC and it appears to be what is happening with mine. As of now it sits in my driveway I need a remedy and fast because that was my only source of transportation and I'm a single mother of four with a lot to take of and no way to do it.

Filed Apr 3, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · AL

Improperly calibrated Stabilitrak ESC system. Accelerator pedal position sensors 1-2 5v reference 3 circuit Heated oxygen 2 sensor Car is losing power and esc light is on along with check engine light

Filed Feb 15, 2024 · Acceleration, Brakes · KS

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.

Filed Jun 30, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · NE

I have been dealing with this problem for over 7 months now. My Buick Lacrosse '12, while driving it (doesn't matter the speed) all of the suddent it starts locking and unlocking, immediately after the speed drops and the car comes to a complete stop. I have little children that ride with me in the car- while driving on the interstate this is a HUGE LIFE HAZARD, because I can't control when the car stops. I have taken it to multiple shops, non a single one of them can find anything wrong. No codes come up when they check for it. This is beyond frustrating. I see other Buicks have been recalled due to this issues. PLEASE HELP!! I am seriously concerned that me and my family could have a fatal accident because my car stops on the interstate with out warning. My name is [XXX], my husband is [XXX]- contact cell [XXX]. Address: [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Jul 23, 2021 · Acceleration, Suspension · 54,456 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2012 Buick LaCrosse. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle decelerated inadvertently almost to a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and another dealer Wilkins Buick-GMC (6913 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD 21061) but there were no codes on the code reader. The dealers were unable to duplicate the failure after test driving the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at Buick-GMC (6913 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD 21061). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 54,456.

Filed May 3, 2019 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 158,000 miles · NC

Takata recall. As I was driving on the highway my vehicle slowed down on its own in the midst of 70 MPH traffic and as I pushed on brakes my vehicle jerked. When I tried to speed back up my car slowly accelerated. I was terrified when it slowed down because the car behind me almost hit me. My car is now give me a warning sign 'stabilize track assist' but I had my breaks check and they were fine. Now I start to smell a burning smell sometimes when I'm driving

Filed Jul 17, 2017 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 60,000 miles · VA

Vehicle shuts down while in motion on highway, streets, etc . Cannot break , steer , etc. Check engine light comes on. Sometimes will start right back up with a jump but will shut down again as driving. Brand new battery . Very unsafe !!! Taken to gmc dealership but still not fixed.

Filed Mar 20, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 600 miles · PA

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.

Filed Aug 22, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 4,700 miles · MS

I have had multiple issues with my 2012 buick lacrosse, it started sooner than this with my air deflector falling off at 75 MPH and almost flipping my car. This time on july 30th my vehicle went completely out from the memory loss, the transmission just stopped working and I was stalled in one of the busiest intersections in my city. As I was trying to get my vehicle to move again the light turned red and an 18 wheeler almost broadsided me. I found out that back in may a safety recall was sent down on my vehicle. The ones with easiest the battery in the back can catch fire and cause problems. I did not even get my notice until I had picked my vehicle up and gm said they weren't going to send notices until they "had a problem" well parts on national back order due to the problem seems like a huge problem. Gm keeps giving me excuse after excuse and does not want to help me in all the problems I have had. My air deflector falling off they said could not happen, I said it did and it is gone, can't reproduce something with nothing there. In front of my neighborhood a cadillac escalade dropped his air deflector too, same side dropped, same side twisted off, nothing in the road to cause the problem and I have the proof yet gm doesn't care and still says it doesn't happen. My mechanic said if it is not installed properly they will just fall off, the air deflectors on gm products are held on by only 2 bolts, the other spots have never been bolted on, now I have a damaged vehicle and gm says it doesn't happen. I have almost been killed three times and my daughter once in this vehicle, how normal is that? Please help!!

Filed Jun 13, 2013 · Acceleration, Body · 3,650 miles · MO

After starting engine and placing gear in drive, the car accelerated on its own so fast that it left tire marks on the pavement from where the acceleration started. The car passed through the parking lot lane, over two curbs, slightly scraping a small post in the parking lot causing the damage to the right side of the car. After trying to stop the car by applying the brakes and shifting to neutral and the car running over two curbs and steered into bales of hay which helped bring the car to a stop, shut the engine off and got out of the car. The car was towed to the buick dealer and buick div. Was informed and the following is the number assigned to the case by buick: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).