2012 Buick Lacrosse: jerking or lurching

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 Sep 27, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 106,000 miles · CA

My 2012 buick lacrosses newest problem is one that actually scares me. I can be driving along at 65 miles an hour and it will kinda jerk a couple of times, then usually it will flash 'service the stability track' then I lose power steering and it dies. I'm lucky if I can make it to the side of the road.I live in a rural area and the highways around here are two lane with minimum shoulders. So when the car does this it is dangerous. It has happened 5 times now. It will restart after about 15-30 minutes and drive just fine. I've taken it to a mechanic and nothing shows up on the computer, everything looks good. But its not, this is by far the worst of the problems I've experienced with this car and there have been quite a few.

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 May 15, 2018 · Engine, Steering · 70,000 miles · TX

The issue I'm reporting has already happened approximately 8 times. First time I'm driving on the highway at 65 MPH, and engine on car completely shuts down, driving wheel locks or power steering gets lost and brake pedal stops working gets very stiff and all this happened on a state highway. All that can be done is let the car come to a complete stop in its own all while using all my force to try my best to steer car away from traffic, because it locks and that time I could barely make it turn slightly due to the stiffness. After that, the car's engine wont start but lights and radio work. After constantly turning it in and off engine finally starts up after approximately an hour, but when placed on drive only moves very slow even when stepping on gas it will move at about 1 MPH. I turn it off and on several time and then when I finally step on the gas it jerks me forward finally when on drive....

Filed Jan 14, 2018 · Driver assistance · 54,086 miles · VA

We purchase a eassist 2012 buick lacrosse in feb.2017 with 46845 miles.we recently started having several issue either when in slow motion backing up out of a parking space or turning on a city street with the car doing a hard jerk, surging forward then loosing complete power! , not being able to see in the dark as all the light shut off, can't steer the car with no power steering, all the while in the line of traffic is definitely a safety issue that has been reported by other people years ago by my research and still no recall?!?! Just the other night the same thing happened and we were about 20 minutes from home at night having to travel through the mountains, feeling the car not wanting to accelerate and feeling the surges was quite scary! We have had the car looked at but they couldn't find what was wrong with it. The check engine light came on a few times over the last month but shut off automatically within the same day. One morning before work I noticed a message on the dic to service stabilitrak. We have had the car in the shop several times but they were unable to detect the issue to fix it or to get the car to do what we are telling them it's doing and the check engine light is no longer on. Again the safety issue with the loss of power while in the line of moving traffic is unacceptable and must be made right with the cars owner!

Filed Jul 7, 2015 · Transmission · 350 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 buick lacrosse. While driving 31 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle violently jerked forward without warning. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 350.

Filed Oct 3, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 42,430 miles · CA

Vehicle was excessively rough in transition between hybrid and engine power and would jerk as if someone had placed the vehicle into park while moving. Vehicle lost electrical power to AC, radio and other accessories. Vehicle shutoff and had to be stopped and placed into park before it would restart. Vehicle lost power steering and the steering would stay locked in position until the vehicle rolled about 10-15 feet or until the vehicle transitioned to engine power. These condition repeated multiple times in a two day span, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for service. The dealer replaced a solenoid and an engine mount stating they had excessive wear. The vehicle now stays running, but I continue to have issues with the rough transition between modes. My concern is that this is the root cause of the excessive wear on the other parts and that the vehicle shutdown and steering loss will occur again. If it does, the damage to property, injury, or loss of life could easily occur given the lack of drivability and loss of control of the vehicle when the condition occurs.

Filed Aug 6, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 2,000 miles · IN

The car was 5 months old. We were going downhill in the mountains of wv. The car seemed to lose power of propulsion and acceleration, so we coasted to a stop on the side of the interstate highway. The car would not go forward or accelerate at all, although the tachometer would move when we accelerated. This was a frightening experience because of the traffic on the highway. We could have easily been hit by a truck. The service people found no defects. For the past two years we have not lost power, but the car's transmission lurches when we stop accelerating and slow to 32 MPH. This gives us a ride that is not smooth, and at times is uncomfortable. Others have reported the same issues online, and we are concerned about safety while driving our car, especially at high speeds and on highways. The gm dealership service department denies there is a defect that can be fixed.

Filed Jul 12, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 12,000 miles · LA

For about 6 months I have been having problems with stalling after slowing and then accelerating. The first 3 times were not as frightening as the one that occurred on 7-7-2014.returning from a trip to new orleans,as I exited the interstate and began to ramp off, the car stalled to the point of no control of the steering. It lurched to regain speed and finally recovered. We took it to the dealer on 7-10-2014 and they did diagnostic check and found no obvious problem which is difficult to do when the problem is intermittent. I am afraid of driving the vehicle until it is repaired. The dealer said to bring it back if the problem occurs again. My question--what if the next time it causes a crash? Can you please help me get resolution as my warranty expires in feb. 2015.

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 May 8, 2013 · Brakes, Electrical · 100 miles · MN

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.