Owners describe a 2009 LaCrosse riddled with electrical failures spanning the entire vehicle. The most severe: fuse box fires originating at the HDM relay (position #35), with smoke reported while driving and discovered in parking lots, melting wiring harnesses and causing an estimated $4,000 in damage. One fire required a firefighter to use an extinguisher.
Headlight failures dominate complaints. Low-beam headlights cut out repeatedly without warning—especially at night on highways at 35–70 mph—while high beams work fine. Lights return after restart or 20–30 minute waits. Owners report multiple instances over months, making night driving unsafe. Recall N140291 (issued 11/25/14) targets this but remedy was unavailable as of early 2016.
Dashboard and interior lighting fail unpredictably: speedometer, mileage, all gauges go dark mid-drive or fade in and out with no trigger. Some cars go completely black inside, making it impossible to see speed or read directions safely.
Automatic door locks fail progressively, starting with one door and spreading to others. Locks may jam in either position—locked while driving, unlocked while parked—at $250–300 per failed actuator. One owner spent $1,000 on genuine GM parts with ongoing instability.
Airbag warning lights blink, stay on, or vanish randomly, including passenger indicators that read off when passengers are seated. ABS, traction control, and stability warnings appear with loss of power steering and braking while the vehicle is moving. Reduced engine power messages trigger limp mode repeatedly.
Voltage fluctuates erratically (12.6–14.4 volts), disabling speed control, air conditioning, and headlights at low readings. Ignition switches stall vehicles mid-drive with partially disengaged keys. One fuel pump relay burned twice in quick succession.
Dealers have told owners GM is aware but has no fix, and that recall parts remain unavailable, delaying repairs indefinitely.
Failure modes owners describe
HDM relay/fuse box fire
Headlight drive module relay at fuse block position #35 overheats and catches fire, melting wiring harnesses and destroying the fuse box. Smoke and flames reported from under the hood. Incidents occur while driving or parked.
When: Between 43,000–94,000 miles; one incident mid-drive, one discovered in parking lot
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke coming from fuse box; Burned smell at destination; Windshield wipers activating on their own before fire; Dashboard warning messages ('OPEN HOOD', 'SYSTEM FAILURE'); Wipers continuing to move after engine shut off and keys removed
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported $4,000 estimated in parts and labor for fuse box replacement and wiring harness repair; HDM module replacement ordered online by another owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall N140291 (Loss of Low Beam HDM, issued 11/25/14) acknowledged but no remedy plan available as of 1/6/16 per owner reports
Low-beam headlight failure
Low-beam (regular) headlights cut out without warning while driving, either completely or intermittently. High beams continue to work. Lights return on after restart or waiting 20–30 minutes. Occurs multiple times over vehicle ownership, particularly at night on highways.
When: Throughout ownership; instances from Sept 2014 through summer 2015; also reported at 53,000–55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights shut off while driving at highway speeds (35–70 mph); Low beams completely non-functional; High beams operational when low beams fail; Lights return after engine restart or time delay; Intermittent low-beam failures requiring manual switching between high and low beams
Repairs/costs cited: One owner self-ordered headlight module/relay replacement online; dealer repairs ineffective in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall N140291 (Loss of Low Beam HDM, 11/25/14) issued; remedy delayed or unavailable; one dealer refused to repair citing lack of recall guidelines; another dealer claimed no fix available at time of complaint
Complete electrical loss while driving
All electrical power cuts out while vehicle is in motion—engine stops, lights go dark, gauges go black. Incident occurs at stop lights or while driving. Vehicle may restart immediately or after time delay. Restart sometimes requires keyless fob sequence rather than key ignition.
When: Early morning drive (6 AM); highway driving; at traffic light; occurred after 13.5-mile drive; one incident at 55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts down without warning; All lights extinguish; All gauges go dark; Vehicle will not restart via key ignition initially; Battery connections tight but non-functional
Repairs/costs cited: Manual restart via keyless fob entry sequence restored function in one case; no permanent repair reported
Intermittent headlights and dashboard lights
Dashboard illumination and headlights fade in and out unpredictably while driving. Sometimes only speedometer is visible, sometimes mileage only, sometimes complete darkness inside vehicle. No apparent trigger. Problem worsens at night or in poor visibility; affects ability to read speed and directions safely.
When: Ongoing throughout ownership; daytime and nighttime
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lights fade in and out; Speedometer goes dark then returns; Mileage indicator intermittent; Complete interior darkness (no lights of any type); Onstar display disappears; Manual headlight control does not resolve issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM and dealer claimed unaware of issue or refused to acknowledge problem exists
Intermittent voltage regulation fault
On-car digital readout shows unstable voltage ranging from 12.6 volts (very low) to 14.4 volts (normal). Voltage fluctuation is unpredictable and may persist for hours or drop and climb repeatedly. Low voltage disables multiple vehicle systems.
When: After battery replacement; ongoing electrical issues
Symptoms owners cite: Voltage reads 12.6–14.4 volts erratically; Speed control non-functional at low voltage; Air conditioning non-functional at low voltage; Low-beam headlights non-functional at low voltage, operational after manual high-beam switch; Radio stations change on their own; Passenger seat indicator reads false while traveling; Airbag and seatbelt indicators malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Battery was replaced initially; voltage problem persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall noticed received for low-beam issue but voltage regulation not addressed
Door lock actuator failure
Automatic door lock actuators fail progressively, beginning with one door and spreading. Locks may not engage or disengage; doors lock while driving or unlock while parked. Manual key operation also becomes unreliable. Each failed actuator costs $250–300 to replace.
When: Progressive failure: first at 80,000 miles (driver front), 90,000 miles (passenger front), 96,000 miles (passenger rear)
Symptoms owners cite: Remote lock does not control specific doors; Automatic lock spreads from one door to multiple doors; Door remains locked when trying to exit; Door unlocks while driving; Door unlocks while parked, making vehicle accessible; Manual key lock becomes unreliable
Repairs/costs cited: $250–300 per actuator repair; approximately $1,000 spent on genuine GM parts with ongoing instability reported
Ignition switch stall/key disengagement
Key partially disengages from ignition switch while driving, causing engine to stall without warning. Vehicle may roll and then restart. Also reported as hesitation or pausing in ignition turn-over before engine starts.
When: At 43,000 miles; at 64,000 miles; one incident at approximately 35 mph on an incline
Symptoms owners cite: Key partially disengages from ignition; Engine stalls while driving; Vehicle rolls after stall; Ignition pauses before turning over
Repairs/costs cited: Parts unavailable to perform recall repair in multiple cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000 (Electrical System) issued; parts shortage prevented repair completion; manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair timeframe
Reduced engine power and traction control warnings
Check engine light or 'Reduced Engine Power' message appears while driving, causing immediate engine drag and loss of power. Vehicle enters limp mode. 'Traction Control Off' or similar warning follows. Owner must turn off engine, wait, and restart to clear codes and resume normal operation. Happens repeatedly over time.
When: Recurring multiple times; diagnosed at 53,000 miles and later; problem worsens in frequency over time
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; 'Reduced Engine Power' message appears; Engine drag and power loss within 30 seconds to 1 minute; Traction Control Off warning; Need to restart engine to clear codes; Check engine light stays on after restart until multiple stop-and-start cycles
Codes mentioned: P1125 (Fuel & Air Metering), P2138 (Throttle/Pedal Position)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership worked on X101 connector without success; subsequent trips still exhibit same problem after 20-minute drive; emission control item replaced initially
Airbag warning light malfunction
Airbag indicator light illuminates intermittently, blinks, stays constantly on, or goes off entirely—without warning and under all driving conditions including when stationary. Also reported as passenger airbag indicator being off 50% of the time when passenger is seated, contradicting actual occupancy.
When: Multiple instances throughout ownership; 65,000 miles; reported on 2009 model
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light blinks intermittently; Airbag light constantly on; Airbag light not illuminated at all; Passenger airbag indicator off when passenger seated; Passenger airbag indicator on and off intermittently when occupied
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer quoted $1,300 for passenger presence module replacement; GM has no solution per one recall notice
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V355000 mentioned in some cases but VIN not included on recall list; no fix available in others
ABS, traction control, and stability system warnings
Service traction system, service theft system, and ABS warning lights illuminate. Vehicle may stall. When active, owner loses power steering and braking power while vehicle is still moving, creating imminent safety hazard. Problem recurs after multiple repair attempts (wheel hub replacement, ignition module, ECBM).
When: Three instances within 2-month window; another occurrence after pedal recall performed
Symptoms owners cite: Service Traction System warning light; Service Theft System warning light; ABS System warning light; Vehicle stalls; Loss of power steering while moving; Loss of brake power while moving; Vehicle continues moving without power assistance
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel bearing replaced; electrical and tire work performed; ECBM ($700) replaced; pedal recall performed—none resolved issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM performed pedal recall thinking it would resolve the issue; it did not
Fuel pump relay overheating
Fuel pump relay overheats and burns out while driving. Vehicle stalls. Relay is replaced and stalls again within 2 miles on next drive. Happens only when vehicle is being driven, not when parked.
When: Two occurrences within short driving interval
Symptoms owners cite: Burnt fuel pump relay; Vehicle stalls while driving; Relay failure recurs on next short drive
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump relay replaced; failed again within 2 miles
Synthesized from 30 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.