NHTSA — Power Train Problems

3.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,373 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Buick LaCrosse drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Buick LaCrosse Owner Comments

problem #10

Sep 122023

LaCrosse

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My breaks keep injecting off my 2013 Buick Lacrosse while driving, ruining my break calipers. Have gotten fixed 3 times. Car is currently not able to drive.

- Kingman, AZ, USA

problem #9

Jan 052018

LaCrosse

  • 36,000 miles
When the car had mileage in the mid-upper 30,000 in 2018, we noticed that as the speed coasted down to 30mph, there was a hard downshift. So hard, you thought the engine fell out of the car. At the time we had not realized it only did this when the engine was cold. So, when we took it to the dealer, they could not replicate the issue. In 12/2019, we left it overnite and they "did" replicate the issue the next morning. This is stated on our service bill. They suggested a deep atm flush, even though we had a normal flush 18 months earlier with them. We paid them to do it and the problem persists. Since we slow down every time we approach a stop sign or stoplight, this occurs as we get down to 30mph. Exactly at 30mph!!! once the engine is warm it, we do not notice the issue. But we live in northern Ohio & the nites are cold Oct-April. We drove the car to warm miami fl in 1/2020. It still did it, but only a mild downshift then quickly did not repeat as the temp was warmer there. To reduce the hardness of the downshift, we have reverted to trying to let the car warm up after starting it and applying the brakes as we slow down to 30mph! it is sad that this has to be done, as we have been taking great care of the car & it only has 48,000 miles. And we are not moving to fl!!! we bought the car new from this dealer.

- Hartville, OH, USA

problem #8

Jul 252019

LaCrosse

  • 106,225 miles
Camshaft sensor fails repeatedly, after warranty replacement. This is causing the motor to die at different speed's and loss of vehicle control. The vehicle is unreliable and unstable. It is a liability to operate knowing any minute the csps can fail and render the vehicle useless.

- Beaumont, CA, USA

problem #7

Jul 162018

LaCrosse

  • 66,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Sitting at a red light and released the brake gave the car gas to move but just sit there like transmission wasn't engaged. Secone time car was being slowed down wife gave it some gas to move on up to stop sign she said car wouldn't accerlate she thought it had went out of gear finally engaged and moved up.

- Monterey, TN, USA

problem #6

Jun 032017

LaCrosse

  • 79,102 miles
Transmission shifts down by itself when driving or switches gears. Took to rick hendrix Buick in duluth, ga for service and they said nothing was wrong with it. Power shortly afterwards went out and I had to replace the entire power steering system. Also change car battery but it continues to gradually lose power and gives of a type of burning burning smell

- Norcross, GA, USA

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problem #5

Mar 062017

LaCrosse

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Buick Lacrosse. While reversing, the power steering seized and the power train warning sensor illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

- Knox, IN, USA

problem #4

Jul 232016

LaCrosse

  • 20,700 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At 55 mph the transmission suddenly shifted into neutral and the engine RPM increases. Light breaking applied without operator. Gearshift lever and gas pedal both unresponsive. Continue at 10 mph to get off four lane, turn off engine and restart for normal operation. No warning lights, dealer could not duplicate malfunction, stated no codes were set.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #3

Jul 012014

LaCrosse 6-cyl

  • miles
2013 Buick Lacrosse. Consumer writes in regards to partial/complete blackout of monitor (nav screen) including rear view camera when backing up. The consumer stated when he backed out of the garage, the navigation screen and dashboard lights would go dark, for 25 seconds. Which included the rear view camera which became totally useless for the initial 25 seconds of backing down the driveway. The same blackout of the monitor/dashboard happened when he drove forward out of a covered parking garage. The dealer everything was performing as designed. Jb according to the invoice, when the consumer shifted from reverse to drive, the vehicle shut off and would not go into gear as though the transmission was disconnected. All the gear lights illuminated. After the vehicle shut off, the vehicle rolled backwards while in drive. The key was stuck in the ignition for about 15 minutes, before the consumer was able to remove it. Updated 12/14/16.

- New Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #2

May 092014

LaCrosse

  • 24,000 miles
The oil filter will not stay tight. We have it serviced at a G M service center.but every time they change the oil in about 1000 miles the filter comes lose and leaks.

- King, NC, USA

problem #1

Apr 162013

LaCrosse 6-cyl

  • 1,206 miles
The problem has occurred three times. While driving on the highway at 45 to 50 mph the car suddenly downshifts causing the motor to accelerate while the vehicle slows down and when the accelerator is completely released the speed is quickly reduced like the brake is being applied...to maintain a speed of 25 to 30 mph the motor RPM has to be in the 3500 range. This condition remains until the vehicle is stopped and then it returns back to normal operations. This vehicle was returned to the dealer for correction but they spent two days and never did find the problem. That's why I'm sending this to you.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

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