NHTSA states that these 2012 LaCrosse models "fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 126," concerning electronic stability control systems. The recall notice adds:
If an ESC sensor malfunctions, it could cause the system to falsely activate, resulting in sudden changes to the LaCrosse's driving dynamics. This could result in loss of driver control, and ultimately, a crash.The StabiliTrak system has an incorrect calibration that may cause the system to not properly detect if a sensor were to malfunction, and the warning light indicating that the system is not operating would not illuminate, as required in the safety standard.
The safety recall is expected to kick off sometime later this month, where Buick dealers will reprogram the electronic brake control free of charge. Follow the jump for NHTSA's official release.
Model Year(s): 2012
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Mfr's Report Date: AUG 03, 2011
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V404000
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Potential Number of Units Affected: 4,077
Summary
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BUICK LACROSSE PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 9, 2011, THROUGH JULY 2, 2011, FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 126, "ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS (ESC)." THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM HAS AN INCORRECT CALIBRATION THAT MAY CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO NOT PROPERLY DETECT IF A SENSOR WERE TO MALFUNCTION, AND THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATING WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE, AS REQUIRED IN THE SAFETY STANDARD.
Consequence
A MALFUNCTIONING SENSOR MAY CAUSE THE ESC TO FALSELY ACTIVATE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING AND DECELERATION, WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy
GM DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.
Notes
GM'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 11222. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .