The second generation Buick LaCrosse has been in the market for quite some time now. Although it received a noticeable facelift and tech upgrade last year, the sales number does show a falling trend. It’s not like this sedan has a bad reputation when it comes to its dependability quotient because JD Power rates it at the top of its class when it comes to quality and reliability for the current model year. One should know that this is a segment where sedans like the Ford Taurus, the Kia Cadenza, and even the loved Chrysler 300 compete for likes. The recall number for the LaCrosse this year hits 3 as of now while the complaint figures are in the lower two digits. So with sedans losing appeal each passing day should you even bother buying the LaCrosse for a base price of $31,050? Would it get you in any sort of trouble? Well, this article will help you with that.
2015 Buick LaCrosse User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Complaints
- Transmission- Hard shifts and occasional jerks are some issues that many 2015 Buick LaCrosse owners complain of. Though the unit works flawlessly for the most part the occasional jerks between shifts have raised concerns about the unit's longevity. Although the dealer updated the TCM software and flushed the transmission fluid, the issue persists. Although reports of transmission failure are pretty rare for this model year, this one issue is something to look out for.
- Service brake issues- Wheel speed sensor failure and ABS module failure are something to look out for on 2015 Buick LaCrosse. Owners have reported brake failure while driving with a complete loss of pedal resistance. Not a widespread issue, but has a high possibility of occurrence in high mileage examples.
Electric System complaints
- Starting issues- Battery and alternator issues are quite common on the 2015 Buick LaCrosse as mileages increase. Faults with the alternator cause the battery to discharge leaving owners started with a car that doesn’t want to crank. Battery replacements in done initially and if the problem persists, alternator reconditioning/replacement is advised.
- Infotainment issues- Buicks IntelliLink system is not the smoothest infotainment UIs around and is subject to occasional glitches. Bluetooth issues, Pandora service issues, and blank screen/ random restarts are some common issues reported. Even though updates have been made available, the issue still reappears for some owners.
Structural complaints
- Steering problems- sudden loss of power assistance or lock up combined with a “Service power steering” warning has been an issue that has been lately popping up on 2015 Buick LaCrosse sedans. Faulty wiring to power steering control modules due to oxidation is the cause of this failure. Problems were noticed in cars with mileages as low as 29,000-miles.
Safety Complaints
- Airbags issues- Service airbag warning lights and failure to deploy in the event of a crash are issues recorded by the NHTSA against the Buick LaCrosse. The automaker is well aware of these issues and problems with the occupancy sensor and inflators have been traced as the root cause. Multiple recalls (IDs-17V437000, 16V651000, and 15V666000) have been initiated in the following years to rectify all the complaints. Crashes with multiple counts of injuries have been recorded in this case.
2015 Buick LaCrosse Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
10th July 2017 |
17V437000 |
The frontal airbag may not deploy. |
While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the airbag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal airbags and the seat belt pre-tensioners would not occur in the event of a crash, which could increase the risk of an injury. |
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. |
|
2 |
8th September 2016 |
16V651000 |
The frontal airbag may not deploy. |
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the airbag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal airbags and the seat belt pre-tensioners would not occur in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. |
|
3 |
16th October 2015 |
15V666000 |
The side-impact airbag module may rupture. |
The front seat-mounted side-impact airbags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment causing sharp metal fragments to hit the occupant and cause serious injury. |
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact airbag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. |
Should you buy a used 2015 Buick LaCrosse?
If you love sedans, chances are that you would love the Buick LaCrosse as well. Although a bit dated, it comes out as one of the best-rounded packages with the best-in-class predicted reliability ratings. Occasional hiccups are inevitable but mostly are seen on high mileage cars. The consumer complaint and recall numbers are pretty low for its class which is only bettered by the Kia Cadenza which can directly be attributed to the dismal sales figure of the latter. Apart from the fact that a completely new iteration is expected anytime, the Buick LaCrosse comes out as a decent premium sedan on an accessible budget.
