2010 Buick Lacrosse Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine shutting off or losing power while driving, and repeated electrical complaints ranging from random warning lights to a battery that goes dead. A second recurring theme is the StabiliTrak/ESC warning light coming on, sometimes with reduced speed. Complaints span very low mileage through well past 100,000 miles, so problems are not confined to high-mileage cars.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine shuts off or loses power while driving

   • 33 complaints (17%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2021

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out without warning at various speeds, sometimes leaving the car unable to accelerate and forcing the driver to coast to the shoulder and restart. Several note the vehicle would not restart immediately or that the problem returned repeatedly. A few mention diagnostic codes pointing to the throttle body or a control module, and owners report that dealers sometimes could not duplicate the failure. Reported from under 2,000 miles to about 112,000 miles, with many between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or engine control hardware has been replaced, and have a pre-purchase scan check for stored codes. A test drive should include steady highway speed and a hard acceleration to look for a stumble.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Reduced engine power-while driving 30mph the vehicle will randomly reduce engine power and caused the vehicle to stall. I had to pull over and restart my vehicle 2 twice to make it home safely. Gm has a service bulletin out to repair 2010-2011 buck Lacrosse only manufactured at specific plants. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10936806, filed 2016-12, 52,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2010 Buick Lacrosse. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the electrical system failed without warning. The vehicle resumed normal operation when it was restarted. The failure occurred twice. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10621693, filed 2014-08, 1,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Battery drain, dead battery and erratic warning lights

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the battery going dead even with normal use, and dealers sometimes attributed it to insufficient driving or recommended a trickle charger. Others report clusters of warning lights flashing, door locks cycling, the radio and headlights cutting out, and occasional no-start or complete loss of power while driving. In some cases the body control module or battery was replaced. Reported from around 1,000 miles upward, with a cluster of cases between 23,000 and 60,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the battery and charging system load-tested and ask whether the battery has been replaced recently. Note whether the car sits for long periods, and look for a history of body control module or wiring repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Everything I turn the car on; its saying AC turned off due to high engine temperature and my car isn't running hot and my AC semi working. Electrical systems isn't working properly because I can't turn my radio or AC on”

   NHTSA complaint #11405430, filed 2021-03, 175,000 miles

   “Driving at nite to er and on way I thought I must have hit ignition button but car just locked up lost all power. I called GM they got back to me said they would be sending someone to see car. I did reck car not to bad but bad enough to take hole front bumper off. I am so mad because I thought I was crazy thinking car would just loos all power and even locked me in car could not open door thank god window was down. But they said they were coming to see me and car but never did”

   NHTSA complaint #11292434, filed 2020-01, 80,000 miles
3. 3
   Electronic stability control

   StabiliTrak/ESC warning and reduced speed

   • 23 complaints (12%)
   • median 61,002 mi at 5.6 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe the Service StabiliTrak message appearing intermittently, often shortly after the wheels are turned, with ABS and traction control switching off. In some reports the car would not exceed a lower speed or the gauges and warning chimes acted erratically. Owners say dealers sometimes told them to restart the car, and repairs such as replacing the StabiliTrak module did not always resolve it. Mostly reported between 50,000 and 90,000 miles, though a few appear earlier.

   What to check: Scan for ABS and ESC codes rather than just checking the dash light, and drive the car through a slow turn to see whether the warning appears. Ask whether the StabiliTrak module or wheel-speed sensors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Service stabilitrak warning comes on as soon as wheels are turned after starting vehicle. This happens both when car is stationary or in motion. This started out happening very occasionally, but now happens every time vehicle is driven. I can drive several blocks straight on without the warning, but as soon as the wheels are turned, the warning message comes on, ABS and traction control are automatically turned off. I purchased the vehicle used at 70k miles, this started about 2 mos after purchase. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11098939, filed 2018-05, 70,000 miles

   “Service stability light comes on. Car made a slight grinding noise when turning right seconds before warning light came on this has happened more than one time. Service stability warning stays on until car is turned off. Talked with service manager at dealership. He says it could be a number of things. I am unsure if it is safe to continue to drive car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10560044, filed 2014-01, 50,008 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and occupant sensor

   • 11 complaints (6%)
   • median 58,750 mi at 7.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2021

   Owners report the air bag warning light or a service air bag message coming on intermittently, sometimes with the passenger air bag indicator failing to show on for a lighter occupant. A few note an air bag module that was found fractured, and others describe the warning appearing together with other cluster lights. In some cases dealers could not reproduce the problem or offered no repair. Reported from around 7,000 miles to over 110,000 miles, with several cases near 20,000 to 50,000 miles.

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm the air bag light comes on at start and then goes out, and have a passenger sit in the front seat to check the on/off indicator. Ask whether the air bag module or occupant sensor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2010 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the service air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the driver's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,986.”

   NHTSA complaint #11408260, filed 2021-04, 112,986 miles

   “The contact owns a 2010 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the driver side air bag warning light intermittently illuminated. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 19,630.”

   NHTSA complaint #10650966, filed 2014-10, 19,630 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, jerking or loss of drive

   • 12 complaints (6%)
   • median 33,710 mi at 2.0 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2025

   Complaints describe forceful jerking at moderate speeds, delayed throttle response, and in more severe cases a transmission that stopped working so the car would only coast. Some owners say a dealer told them the shifting behavior was normal for the design, while others had a transmission replaced and still reported problems. Reported from about 18,000 to 90,000 miles, with many around 40,000 to 60,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at the speeds owners mention, around 30-40 mph, to feel for a shudder or hard shift, and check transmission fluid condition and service history. Ask whether the transmission or any control module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The transmission does forceful jerking while going 30-35 MPH. Also was told that it was normal as GM designed the transmission this way. I find that hard to believe.”

   NHTSA complaint #10588720, filed 2014-05, 61,300 miles

   “The contact owns a 2010 Buick Lacrosse. While the gear shifter stick was in the reverse position and the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to move. A maintenance warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed, but the cause of the failure was not known. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10894389, filed 2016-08, 41,000 miles

Buying note. Have a used one inspected with a full electronic scan before buying, since many of these complaints involve intermittent electrical and drivetrain faults that a short test drive may not show. Ask for service records covering battery, throttle body, transmission and air bag repairs, and confirm that any open safety recall for this model year has been performed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.