NHTSA — Steering Problems

3.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,897 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2013 Buick LaCrosse Owner Comments

problem #18

Jun 302023

LaCrosse

  • miles

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

Driveing on Hwy at 68 mph sudenly lost power stearing and all power to everything could not use windows or open doors cause could not unlock could not even turn hasard lights on very danerous

- Republic , MO, USA

problem #17

Oct 172022

LaCrosse

  • miles
The first time this happened the power steering service warning light came on after I started the car. I was unable to move or steer the car. After about an hour, I started the car and the light did not come on and the car could be driven. About 2 days later, the same thing happened but the light stayed on. The car was towed to the dealership and after an evaluation it was determined that the steering gear/rack and pinion assembly had to be replaced. (See the uploaded invoice from Thompson Automotive Group and photos of the parts that were replaced.) The car is a 2013 that I purchased in August 2020. The original mileage at that time was 600 miles. When the incident occurred with the power steering, the car had been driven 44,571 miles. The car was purchased from a private owner so there was no warranty, but even without a warranty this type of failure should not have occurred when the car had been driven less than 50,000 miles.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #16

Jun 052021

LaCrosse

  • miles
Our family was returning home after a trip out of town and as we were pulling into the driveway going less than 5mph the power steering goes out. However, indicator power steering light was already on from a similar issue reported previously where I was traveling in the city limits going 55-60 mph which was fixed by a non gmc dealer about a year ago. Current mileage 100,000 and first initial incident occurred at 77,000 miles. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Additionally, my engine check light came on last month and my vehicle service codes eluded to a short in the electrical system causing vehicle to intermittently lose power. The service check light comes off and on at will depending on the day which is a hazard because it can pose a risk to safety at any time coupled with the steering issue equals danger danger. The electrical system service codes were diagnosed by a non gmc dealer.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #15

Jun 292020

LaCrosse

  • miles

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

I was driving and service power steering message came on and all of a sudden my steering wheel got so hard i couldn't even turn my wheel it was so hard to pull over i put my hazard lights on so i could let traffic know im having trouble with my car it happened 3times the first time 2020 second time 2021 and 2022

- Rialto, CA, USA

problem #14

Aug 062020

LaCrosse

  • 64,941 miles
On 8-6-2020, (about 11 am) while driving (about 70mph) North on I43 in eastern Wisconsin, at a point North of sheboygan, the message 'service power steering' appeared on the dash. When I started to drive off to a rest stop, I realized the steering was very stiff and required extra effort to guide the car, the 'electric power steering' (eps) had completely failed. How could this happen when the car was only 7 years old with 64941 miles, less than 10K mi/yr!!! I carefully drove the car to bergstrom Buick GMC in green bay wis. The diagnosis was the entire eps gear box had to be replaced with a cost near $2500. I was stunned. I complained to the service manager that because of the cars age & elapsed miles, this should not have happened! I further stated that I could understand that something like this might happen after 10 years & 100K miles, but not before!! he replied the car was out of warranty and that failures like this can happen. Eventually the car was satisfactorily repaired, copy of the bill attached. My contention is that this is not only a reliability issue, but more importantly a safety issue. When my wife & I purchased the car, we were both retired and did not have the daily grind of driving to/from work in all kinds of weather. In fact the car was driven minimally in adverse conditions. When this failure occurred, I had the composure to safely steer/guide the car, had my wife been driving, the incident could have had a catastrophic result. I now have 'much pause' about the reliability/safety of eps vs hydraulic ps (HPS), if & when this will happen again! a similar complaint was filed with Buick GMC customer service.

- Mequon, WI, USA

problem #13

Aug 172020

LaCrosse

  • 100,000 miles
My car cuts off and gives warning of battery charging system failure when I slow to stop at red lights or turn in my driveway.. I've changed the belt and it's still doing it. I bought this car in 2017 and I am concerned that maybe the recall wasnt changed for eassist components. I have a 2 year old. I cant stearns my car because it's too hard when engine kills. It its very dangerous and something major is wrong.

- Greensburg, LA, USA

problem #12

Apr 092020

LaCrosse

  • 121,000 miles

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

While driving at 75mph, there was a sudden loss of power steering. I barely managed to get off the highway. The next day I started the vehicle and the steering returned. The steering has been intermittently going out since I parked it at home. I start the car frequently to keep the battery charged and each time the steering may or may not work.

- Gold Bar, WA, USA

problem #11

Nov 212019

LaCrosse 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Buick Lacrosse. While starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was difficult to turn and the service power steering message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that an electrical failure occurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: [xxx]. the contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign numbers: 13V173000 (electrical system) and 13V097000 (power train, electrical system). The failure mileage was 70,000. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Fenton, MI, USA

problem #10

Sep 192019

LaCrosse

  • 160,000 miles
2013 Buick Lacrosse - power steering stopped working while my 19-year-old daughter was driving at approximately 35 mph! steering wheel completely locked up. Potentially hazardous condition. GM must address this issue with the power steering mechanism on these vehicles! very expensive repair ($2,600) and it took 3 weeks to find the part due to GM being on strike.

- Hazlet, NJ, USA

problem #9

Aug 282019

LaCrosse

  • 65,000 miles
Radio and dash components cut out and go black. Then when they come.back on a service battery message comes on the display but goes away withing a second or two. And the power steering will stop while all this is happening if turning

- Alma, MI, USA

problem #8

Feb 212018

LaCrosse

  • 43,111 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Buick Lacrosse. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and the battery and check engine warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the power steering failed. After the contact powered off the engine and restarted the vehicle, he was able to drive normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer informed the contact that the recall had expired and did not offer further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 43,111.

- London, KY, USA

problem #7

Dec 272017

LaCrosse

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Buick Lacrosse. While driving 30 mph, the power steering warning indicator illuminated and the power steering failed. The contact stated that the vehicle became very difficult to operate. The vehicle was taken to wright Buick GMC (1703 S 1st St, lufkin, tx 75901, (936) 465-9023) where it was diagnosed that the electronic power steering motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

- Lufkin, TX, 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

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

Nov 212016

LaCrosse

  • miles
The power steering went out and the electrical no power 3 times since November 2016

- Austell, GA, USA

problem #3

Apr 112016

LaCrosse

  • 48,000 miles
65 year old wife driving 70mph on I75 in Michigan when the power steering stopped working. Service power steering message came on. I had to help her steer car to a stop. I did not know it had electric power steering. It was 9pm at night. Looked for low fluid level. Decided to drive home. When car was re started the power steering worked. Wife does not trust car now.

- Gladwin, MI, USA

problem #2

Apr 012014

LaCrosse 6-cyl

  • 13,000 miles
Near the Florida-Georgia on North interstate 75 I stopped at a rest area.when I started the auto again, I found it difficult to back out of the parking lane and to straighten the cars wheels to exit the area.I realized then I lost power steering.slowly and on the right lane I drove the auto to valdosta, ga.I stopped at a motel and called the local Buick dealer.the next day (April 2) I was able to bring the auto to the local Buick dealer.fortunately, the dealer was just a few miles from my motel. I stayed overnight at a local motel.the dealer arranged for me to rent a auto. The next day, the mechanics at the dealership informed me that they would have to replace parts but did not know how long it would take to receive the parts and how long it would take to fix the auto.thus, they removed my luggage and books from my auto and placed them in my rental car. Then I proceeded to drive to my home in Illinois. On April 27, my repaired Buick la crosse was delivered to my home in Illinois.

- Champaign, IL, USA

problem #1

Feb 252013

LaCrosse 4-cyl

  • 4,000 miles
Vehicle engine light (malfunction indicator lamp) came on; 5 minutes later charging system light came on with warning that "charging system not working". shortly thereafter, power steering went out and then ABS light came on and then car shut down completely. After reading complaints about 2012 Buick Lacrosse looked in engine compartment and found that the serpentine belt was shredded. Vehicle being towed to dealer in morning.

- El Dorado Hills, CA, USA

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