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)
Buick Lacrosse loss of power problems
104 of the 2,127 owner complaints about the Buick Lacrosse describe sudden loss of power, most of them for the 2012 model year.
- owner complaints
- 104
- worst model year
- 2012
- typical repair cost reported
- $933
- typical mileage
- 71,000
By model year
Often reported together
Power steering loss 25Check engine light 24Stalling 12Jerking 9Headlights 5ABS 5Warning lights 3Door locks 3
Trouble codes mentioned
P2138 4P1125 3U1817 1U0293 1U0140 1P2120 1P0C0B 1P0BEE 1P0BE6 1P0AC4 1
What owners say
2013 Buick Lacrosse hybrid, campaign #13136, the federal safety agency 13V173000. Intermittent Battey light illumination Service Charging System warning. battery voltage drops until loss of power. After car setr for a period of time, when started Battery voltage is approximately 14.5 volts until the battery light illuminates Service Charging System warning is indicated then the battery voltage slowly until the voltage drops so low it quits.
**Subject:** Formal Safety Defect Complaint: Premature Failure of Completed Recall Remedy (the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency 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
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 the federal safety agency 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)
I am reporting a serious safety defect involving a 2011 Buick LaCrosse CXL. The vehicle has repeatedly shut off while being driven, creating a dangerous situation. The issue first occurred in January 2026. The vehicle was later towed for repair in February 2026, and I was told the issue had been fixed and picked up the vehicle 3/20/2026 and gave $1600. However, on April 9, 2026, the vehicle shut off again while driving. This issue has occurred multiple times and persists despite repair attempts. When the vehicle shuts off, it creates a loss of power and poses a significant safety risk in traffic. I am concerned that this may be a broader safety issue and am requesting that this defect be documented and investigated.
I purchased a vehicle August 2, 2024 from Kingdom auto sales. The car was inspected July 2024 in which it passed shortly after the car wouldn’t go over 40 mph. It would say it’s an over speed. The car runs hot and the parking assist light won’t go off May 25, 2025 I was driving on the highway in the car lost power and the speed was reduced after getting off the highway lost control of the steering wheel due to the stability and hit a guard rail. no reports was made. I contacted the dealership in which I haven’t been contacted and problem not resolved.
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
The contact owns a 2014 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated that while his wife was driving on the highway at 25 MPH, the “Service Power Steering” message was displayed, and shortly afterward the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that his wife proceeded to make her way onto the side of the highway and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the steering rack had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 79,535.
The contact owns a 2016 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the failure was diagnosed as a glitch, and the Power steering control module (PSCM) software update was performed; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted and advised the contact that the electric power steering assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
#07-06-04-019F: Intermittent Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL} Illuminated, OTC Pl':1.~J with Reduced Engine Power (Repair Instrument Panel (IP) to Body Harness Connector). Lost power on I-84 and had to cross over the right lane because I had no power, barely missing a rear end collision.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Buick Lacrosse loss of power
Which Buick Lacrosse years have sudden loss of power problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2012 (22 complaints), 2010 (19 complaints) and 2011 (16 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix sudden loss of power on the Buick Lacrosse?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $933 (median of 9 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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