Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Buick Lacrosse owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
The car continues to have serious engine issues. I keep getting a service Stability track and Engine Power Reduced warning. It has happened to me on the expressway and the car will not accelerate past 20 miles per hour. I had the car repaired on October of last year (3 months ago) and the issue persists. I decided to research online and this seems to be a major issue going on with Buicks. It sounds like GM has done nothing to remedy the malfunction. Many people state that even the dealers can seem to fix the issues and have no clue as to why this happens. This is a serious and life threatening mechanical failure that needs to be addressed.
While driving, the engine shuts down and restarts. At the same time, all four door locks unlock and lock. In most cases, the issue happens once and does not reappear for that trip. The worst can have it do this at least three times. Once, I did notice an alert message appears on my console that disappeared as soon as it happened. This instances appear not to be as bad, since I had the battery replaced (Shortly after this issue appeared, the battery went from being a "good" battery, to a dead one. Nevertheless, these issues do happen on a periodic basis.
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
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Buick Lacrosse. While driving 60 MPH, the engine caught fire without warning. The fire department was notified, but the vehicle was no longer on fire when they arrived. The vehicle was towed to an independent facility. The contact stated that the wiring harness under the hood was melted from the fire. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 12/30/15
I moved my car out of the driveway so my neighbor could plow. He said he smelled something while I was in my car across from our driveway. I put the vehicle in park, pushed shut off/turn off button, vehicle instantaneously filled with dark rolls of smoke coming from the passenger side from the front of the vehicle under the hood. I grabbed the door handle jumped out. My neighbor came running telling me to disengage the hood, I complied. Flames shot up and out from under the hood as it was being released. He threw a lot of snow on the fire extinguishing it. We inhaled the most obnoxious fumes from any automobile I have had the displeasure of having in my company. Car will not start. After this, my husband came out to see what all the yelling was about. My neighbor explained it to him and he unhooked the battery. The car is still parked at the scene of the fire. …
I was getting on the on ramp for the interstate and gradually attempting to gaining speed to but my vehicle would not pick up speed.I pressed the gas pedal to the floor with no pick up. Then all of a sudden my vehicle began to pick up speed. When the vehicle got up to approximately 60 MPH it began to do the same thing again I had the accelerater pedal to the floor. I could here the vehicle idling and after some time had passed it began to pick up speed again. I've had my vehicle for four years and have kept up with the maintenance at the dealer ship. I have paid for diagnostics several times at the dealership to no avail. I took it to the dealer but they found nothing wrong with it. I have taken it more than 5 times in an attempt to rectify the problem with no success. …
As im traveling to my mothers house on August 27 2017 my engine just completely shuts down and wouldn't start back up. The same week it was having problems starting or wouldn't turn over to start. My daughter drove my car to o'realiys auto part store to get something for her car, get in to leave and it wouldn't start. A mechanic from the store hooked it to the diagnostic machine and it read a delay in the start up. He start moving a couple of wires on the starter to see if that would help and it did. He told my daughter don't cut it off until you get home because he May do it again and suggested I put a new starter on it. I took his advice and bought one and had it installed the same day. When done it started with no problems and the next day while driving is when the engine shuts down while driving. …
Could not press on steering box on left above. Engine shut off while taking a right turn driving a few days after we bought the car. Steering and brakes went. Car shut off in middle of the road on a busy street. Car did restart and drive home about one mile. Drove the car 2 more times with no problem. Then on day 10 drive car couple miles to store on very busy street; car shut off while driving taking right turn and steering and breaks did not work; almost ran into an oncoming vehicle as car would not steer into store parking lot. Turned car in automatic ignition and it started; waived oncoming car; apologized; and car was parked. Drove home without incident. Going to call Honda dealer that sold me this car, there is recall on 2000-2009 I just researched, but unsure if recall extends to this behicle 2010 model. Please contact me if any action or remedy in law I May have. …
GM 3.6 l vvt timing chain issue I was driving our '10 Buick Lacrosse (with 65,340 mi) one evening and the car's front end began to shake and the engine started to power down, and did so for about 5-10 seconds. It then ran normal for about 75 yards and the display showed low engine power message with the exclamation point. I pulled off on a side street and shut the vehicle off. I tried to restart it, but it would not fire. I had it towed to a local dealership and was told the next day that I needed a new motor that would run $6800. I had the vehicle towed back home and while calling around to different dealerships for engine quotes, I found a dealership that asked me if they could take a look at it. I told them what happened and thy right away said it did not sound like my engine needed to be replaced. …
Engine complaints in other Lacrosse years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2010 Buick Lacrosse?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2010 Buick Lacrosse, 27% of the model year's 189 complaints. The component named most often is engine (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Buick Lacrosse engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2010 Buick Lacrosse, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Buick Lacrosse engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 6 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.