2011 Buick Lacrosse

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.

The contact owns a 2011 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the engine misfired while driving at various speeds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that there was a defective valve in the engine which caused the misfire. The contact was informed that the failure was related to a manufacturer defect. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Car been smelling like gas for awhile engine light pop on and off. My car will not start I have replace the fuel pump car still won’t get gas . Replaced battery numerous of times battery keep won’t stay charge . I have a recall on my car I believe the suspension is under recall as well. I also had to replace my windshield wiper motor a few times slapped against my windshield and cracked windshield.

I noticed today as I was stopped at a red light with my foot on brake the vehicle was kinda jumping like it was trying to go while foot was on brake. I drove a little further and the service stabilitrak light came on followed by the reduced engine power. The car proceeded to die in the middle of a busy street. After a few minutes it did restart and I was able to get it home. This seems to be a common problem with 2011 buick lacrosse. Ihave seen several complaints about this same issue.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KYLE EDWARDS BUICK GMC LOCATED AT (1600 N MAIN ST, MUSKOGEE, OK 74401) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CEASED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

OUR FAMILY'S 2011 BUICK LACROSSE ONLY HAS 57K MILES ON IT, AND THE ENGINE ALREADY HAS PERMANENT IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE FROM A MANUFACTURER OVERSIGHT IN WHICH THE TIMING CHAIN "SKIPS TIME." WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR UNPREDICTABLY LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. I QUICKLY MUSCLED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, BUT THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR OUR FAMILY AS WE WERE FORCED TO CROSS TRAFFIC, AT SPEED, TO REACH THE ROAD SHOULDER. A DAY PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WENT INTO "REDUCED POWER" MODE WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL, CUTTING SPEED FROM 55MPH TO 35MPH, BACKING UP TRAFFIC. CARS WERE PASSING AND HONKING IN A DOUBLE YELLOW-LINED STRETCH OF ROAD. WE SUBSEQUENTLY SHOULDERED THE CAR, SHUT OFF ITS POWER AND IT SEEMED TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY UNTIL OUR DESTINATION, BUT WE ONLY HAD 3 MILES LEFT TO TRAVEL. THE TIMING GEAR IS PRESSED-ON INSTEAD OF KEYED-ON. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN TO "SKIP TIME," DAMAGING THE ENGINE AND CAUSING ERRATIC ENGINE BEHAVIOR. OUR MECHANIC HAS SEEN OUR EXACT ENGINE ISSUE WITH THE 3.6L 6-CYL ENGINES IN VARIOUS OTHER GM VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE ENGINE REBUILD COMPANIES TO KEY-ON THE TIMING GEAR, INSTEAD OF GM'S TYPICAL PRESS-ON PROCESS. OUR MECHANIC ADVISES THAT KEYING-ON THE TIMING GEAR IS KNOWN TO FIX THE ORIGINAL ISSUE OF THE TIMING CHAIN DANGEROUSLY "SKIPPING TIME." ONE SUCH COMPANY, RECOMMENDED BY OUR MECHANIC, IS JASPERENGINES.COM. I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA CAN INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND HOLD GM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DANGEROUS OVERSIGHT FOR WHICH GM FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR ADDRESS. MY COMPLAINT IS ON RECORD AT GM'S CORP SERVICE CENTER WITH PHONE NUMBER 866-790-5600 - TICKET #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE CAR WAS JUST PURCHASED ON 112619 AND THE DAY I BOUGHT I GOT WARNING LIGHT ON DASH NEXT DAY CAR IS IN REDUCED POWER MODE, TOOK BACK TO CARMAX TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED THEY CLEANED TPS ADV IT WAS DIRTY POOR CONTACT. TWO DAYS LATER THE LIGHT IS BACK ON THIS TIME THE CAR IS SENT TO BUICK DEALERSHIP IN GILBERT THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND I WAS TOLD ISSUE IS FIXED 24 HOURS LATER CAR IS BACK IN REDUCED POWER MODE

MY CAR STATED THAT MY TRAKSTABILTY SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE SERVICED THEN REDUCED ENGINE POWER LITE UP. CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT AND WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED OVER TWENTY MILES PER HOUR. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN MY CAR OFF LEAVE IT PARKED UNTIL I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER 2011 LACROSSES AND THEIR IS A SPECIAL SERVICE BULLETIN WITH FREE REPAIR BUT FOR SOME REASON NOT IN MINE. I HAD TO PAY 500 DOLLAR TO REPLACE THIS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 74000 MILES ON IT AND I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF I WASN'T IN A PLACE WHERE I COULD TURN MY VEHICLE OFF SAFELY.

I WAS GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION AND STABILITRAK CAME ON AND THEN STATED REDUCED ENGINE POWER. AT WHICH TIME I LOST ALL POWER TO GET THROUGH INTERSECTION. ALMOST GOT HIT BY 3 DIRECTIONS TRYING TO GET MY CAR OUT OF THE ROAD. I FINALLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON DROVE FOR ANOTHER MILE BEFORE IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I AM NOW STUCK AT WORK I DO NOT DARE TO DRIVE IT.