2014 Buick Lacrosse Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Buick LaCrosse most often describe a sudden loss of power steering, usually accompanied by a "Service Power Steering" or StabiliTrak warning on the instrument panel, and a smaller but steady group report dashboard displays going blank, gauge flicker, or the car briefly shutting down while driving. Reports are spread across low and higher mileage, with electrical complaints tending to appear early and steering complaints often showing up past 50,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Sudden power steering loss with warnings

   • 11 complaints (17%)
   • median 58,531 mi at 7.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2025

   Complaints describe the steering assist dropping out without warning, sometimes at highway speeds, with the wheel becoming very hard to turn and a "Service Power Steering" message appearing seconds before or at the same time. In several cases the StabiliTrak, ABS and traction control lights also come on. Owners report dealers diagnosing a failed electronic power steering rack or gear and replacing it; some had the module reprogrammed first, with the symptom returning after. Reported from roughly 42,000 to 130,000 miles in the sample, often during highway driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the steering rack or steering control module has been replaced or reprogrammed, and have a pre-purchase scan done for stored steering and StabiliTrak codes. Note that a service bulletin describes a flush and bleed procedure for power steering noise or leaks in cold weather, which is a different symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife was driving our 2014 Buick Lacrosse on the interstate at ~65 MPH when the electrical power steering suddenly quit working- almost causing her to crash. A service power steering and service stabilitrak message is now displayed in the information center. A ABS and traction control light is also now on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10979820, filed 2017-04, 130,000 miles

   “While driving to work going approximately 55mph in my 2014 Buick Lacrosse I lost all power steering. The stabilatrac indicator came along with a service ABS brake light. I was not able to set cruise control as well. I was able to make it to work and had to have the vehicle towed for safety reasons.”

   NHTSA complaint #11324923, filed 2020-05, 110,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Dashboard blanking, gauge flicker and brief power loss

   • 15 complaints (24%)
   • median 26,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the instrument panel going blank for several seconds, gauges flickering, and in some cases the engine cutting out and restarting while the car is moving. A few report push-button start not responding when the brake is pressed, even after the key fob battery was replaced, and dealers were unable to reproduce the problem. Others report residual power staying on after shutdown, with windows, radio, dash or sunroof remaining active, and one owner was told a driver's door window switch was faulty. Mostly reported between roughly 5,000 and 73,000 miles, though some reports come at higher mileage.

   Recall 14V3170003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the driver's door wiring recall (14V317000) was completed for the VIN, and ask whether the battery, window switch or door harness has been serviced. Watch for chimes, dome light and retained accessory power working normally after the key is removed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I was driving to work on 8/15/16 that morning after hanging up handsfree call with wife immediately afterwards all dashboard gauges went blank and car stalls while driving on frwy. After several seconds all warning lights come back up. Then able to restart car. Extremely dangerous since I was driving on frwy. Luckily traffic was moving slow at the time. I've heard of similar complaints concerning same car yr model and make..... Very concerning !”

   NHTSA complaint #10896782, filed 2016-08, 21,200 miles

   “The instrument panel went blank for at least 10 seconds before resetting as though the car restarted, while driving on i95 at a speed of 65-70 MPH. The car did not stall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10650585, filed 2014-10, 8,008 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a crash

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 30,915 mi at 2.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2019

   Complaints describe frontal or side impacts at low to moderate speed where the airbags did not deploy, and in one report the bags reportedly fired without deploying. Several owners say they informed the manufacturer, and several mention injuries requiring medical attention. The complaint sampled here does not describe a dealer diagnosis in most cases. Reported from roughly 4,000 to 22,000 miles, generally in the first years of ownership.

   What to check: Have a shop confirm the airbag warning lamp behaves normally on startup and that no airbag-related codes or open recalls remain for the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On the way home from a celebration in our town, I hit a deer. I immediately heard a loud couple of bangs, not just from the impact and smoke was coming out from the steering column and glovebox. Onstar called immediately and said that my airbags had deployed and they asked if I needed help. The concern is that the airbags fired but did not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10746634, filed 2015-08, 39,830 miles

   “Was in a accident 2/16 speed limit 40 driving on city street. Car in front of me stopped in middle of the rd and started backing up tried to avoid collision and still had impact. The airbags did not deploy and the car engine seemed to accelerate instead of slow down. I had this happen one time before while breaking but then it switched back and drove normal called dealership and they said no recalls. My car was a total loss front impact no airbags deployed”

   NHTSA complaint #11189957, filed 2019-03, 72,000 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Wheels and tires losing air

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2022

   Owners describe chrome peeling from factory wheels and air leaking at the tire bead, sometimes needing air added weekly, with shops attributing it to corrosion or pitting at the rim edge. One report describes a hairline crack in the bead seat area of an aluminum wheel, and another describes dealer quotes for replacement wheels. A separate report describes tire pressure monitors flagging a low tire repeatedly after refills. Reported between roughly 28,000 and 112,000 miles in the sample.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the inside and outside bead edges of each wheel for peeling chrome or pitting, and ask whether the wheels hold pressure over a week or two.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle has 112,000 miles, attempted to replace the tires & was told that the wheels are no good, the chrome is peeling, therefore when the old tires were removed, the chrome fell off, therefor wheels won't hold air! Dealer inspected & told me it's out of warranty & the cost would be 4600,00. I'm told this is very common with these wheels! Dealer is jim curley, lakewood, nj. Had a second tire shop look at the wheels & they confirmed this problem exists with these wheels!”

   NHTSA complaint #11397959, filed 2021-02, 112,000 miles

   “Malfunction of a cooper CS5 Ultra Touring tire 245/4519. I noticed that the PSI of front drivers tire was low. Put air in tire, one week later the PSI was low again. I was vacationing in the mountains, so I started down the mountain to go to the nears gas station for air. I had driving apex. 2 miles when I heard the sound of a flat tire. I had to pull over on the side of this narrow road and wait for road side assistance. This was very hazardous since my car was in a blind spot to on coming traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11493053, filed 2022-11
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Headlight output and housing problems

   Mentioned in 4 of 58 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe low-beam headlights that owners feel provide poor visibility at night, with dealers adjusting them without resolving the concern and the manufacturer reportedly saying the design could not be changed. Other reports describe a headlight going out because a ballast inside the assembly failed, and internal trim coming loose and reducing illumination, with a headlamp assembly replacement recommended. Reported from about 3,000 to 44,000 miles in the sample.

   What to check: Check both headlights and high beams at night before buying, look inside the housings for loose trim or moisture, and ask whether any lamp assembly or ballast has been replaced.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2014 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the low beam head lamps produced poor visibility while driving in the evenings. The contact had the low beam headlights adjusted twice by the dealer, but they were not able to remedy the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 4,000. ...updated 05/17/17”

   NHTSA complaint #10788073, filed 2015-11, 4,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase scan for steering, StabiliTrak and body-control codes plus a check that open recalls were completed gives the clearest picture on this model year. Since steering-assist and dashboard power-loss reports appear at both low and higher mileage, a test drive on the highway and a look at service records for rack, module or door-wiring work are worth the time.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 58 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.