This Preliminary information communicates a GM part number for reflective high temperature heat or insulating tape when repairing wiring harnesses.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Buick LaCrosse electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse have filed 43 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 63,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
43
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 LaCrosse | 79 |
| 2007 LaCrosse | 69 |
| 2008 LaCrosse | 73 |
| 2009 LaCrosse | 30 |
| 2010 LaCrosse (this page) | 43 |
| 2011 LaCrosse | 30 |
| 2012 LaCrosse | 45 |
| 2013 LaCrosse | 35 |
| 2014 LaCrosse | 12 |
1crash
6fires
When does it fail?
Of the 43 electrical complaints filed for the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 43 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Electrical accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 11 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on the requirements for 12V battery testing and warranty replacements.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse report a pattern of electrical failures that often occur without warning and persist despite repeated dealer visits. The most dangerous complaint is unplanned engine shutdown while driving at highway speeds—vehicles simply lose all power, warning lights flood the dash, and owners lose power steering and brakes. Some cars restart moments later; others die multiple times per trip. One owner was stranded on a busy expressway after the car locked itself in Park, with hazard lights that wouldn't work.
A second major failure cluster involves the stability control, ABS, and park assist systems lighting up and flashing erratically together, causing the car to jerk and lose power. Owners describe warning bells dinging, speedometer and RPM gauges spinning wildly, and the accelerator becoming unresponsive—forcing emergency pulloffs on highways. One owner replaced the accelerator pedal sensor, throttle body, and MAP sensor without fixing it. Dealers either dismiss the complaints or offer only temporary lubricating of ECM connectors.
Other electrical troubles include battery drain despite short ownership, heated seats failing repeatedly, and connector corrosion causing fires under the hood. Instrument clusters reboot while driving. Defrosters and heated mirrors don't work in winter. A few owners reported complete engine fires while parked. Dealers frequently cannot duplicate the faults and perform six or more service attempts without success. GM acknowledges the issues in letters to some owners but has not issued a broad recall or permanent fix.
Same Buick LaCrosse electrical reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent engine shutdown and stalling
Engine shuts down without warning while driving at various speeds, sometimes while stationary. Vehicle loses all electrical power, requiring restart. May recur intermittently over weeks or months. Some owners report the issue persists even after starter replacement or dealer visits.
When: Varies; some at 1,000–85,000 miles; one owner reported ongoing issues starting June 2011 after May 2010 purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts off during highway driving, city driving, or while stopped; Complete loss of electrical power; Vehicle will not restart immediately; may restart after minutes; Check Engine light comes on after stall; Service Stabilitrak warning light illuminates
Codes mentioned: P2138 (Accelerator Pedal Position sensor issues), ECM/TCM lost communication, PCM malfunction, Internal mode switch short
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer applied lubricant to ECM connectors in one case; owner also reported replacement of starter ($500+), fuel injector diagnostics, and mention of potential ECM replacement (~$1,000); upper engine flushes recommended by independent shop did not resolve check engine light in another case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM acknowledged similar incidents in LaCrosse; recommended lubricating ECM connectors; issued letter to some owners regarding throttle sensor problem and reduced power; covered some repairs under warranty or extended warranty
Instrument cluster malfunction and gauge erratic behavior
Dashboard gauges, speedometer, tachometer, and temperature gauges fluctuate or spin erratically; warning lights flash on and off without corresponding vehicle faults; instrument panel may reboot itself while driving.
When: 1,006–85,000 miles; some owners report ongoing issues over years
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer and tachometer needles rotate up and down erratically; Temperature gauge fluctuates unpredictably; Fuel gauge reads incorrectly; Dashboard lights flash in sequence (like a startup reboot); Information window displays random messages (e.g., 'THREE KEYS PROGRAMMED', 'TIRE MONITOR ON')
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer made six repair attempts in one case but could not resolve; no successful repairs documented in narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer acknowledged awareness in at least one case; no recalls or service bulletins cited by owners
Stability Track, ABS, and Park Assist system erratic activation
Service Stabilitrak, ABS, and Park Assist warning lights activate and flash without reason; car jerks and loses engine power in response; RPM and speedometer gauges go haywire simultaneously. Typically occurs while highway driving, sometimes unpredictably recurring over months to years. Disables accelerator, forcing driver to pull off road.
When: Recurring intermittently; one owner reported 20+ occurrences over one year; another reported 3–4 times in a few months; onset varies from 1,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Service Stabilitrak warning light flashes on and off; ABS light illuminates; Park Assist light comes on; Warning bells/dinging sounds; Car jerks and loses power; cannot accelerate beyond 20 mph; Check Engine light illuminates; RPM, speedometer, temperature gauges fluctuate wildly
Codes mentioned: Reduced Engine Power code, P2138 (Accelerator Pedal Position), ECM/TCM communication loss
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced accelerator pedal position sensor, throttle body assembly, and MAP sensor without resolution; dealer fuel injector replacement did not help; GM Technical Service Document 070604019F mentions wire and connector issues as potential fix; one owner cited need to replace wiring and seal/replace connector
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM sent letter to some owners about throttle sensor issues and reduced power; letter stated repair would be at no cost; dealer in one case dismissed owner's concerns, claiming fuel injector issue instead
Battery drain and charging system failure
Battery goes dead prematurely or fails to charge despite alternator operation. One owner reported battery leaked acid. Recurring dead battery despite no excessive electrical load. Dealer attributed to insufficient driving time in one case; another case showed 21 low-voltage hits during troubleshooting.
When: Early in ownership; one case reported August 2011 (1+ year after May 2010 purchase); another at ~50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dead after short periods of non-use; Vehicle will not start; Battery acid leak over wires and other components; Multiple low-voltage electrical hits detected during diagnostics
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced under warranty; dealer suggested trickle charger to maintain charge; one owner purchased solar-powered battery charger for regular maintenance
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered battery replacement under warranty; provided no root cause fix; solution was trickle charging
Heated seat element failure
Heated seat elements fail prematurely and repeatedly. Driver-side seat heat repaired multiple times but continues to malfunction. Same component fails again within months of repair.
When: Starting June 2011 (one year after May 2010 purchase); last repair January 2012; malfunction recurred afterward
Symptoms owners cite: Heated seat no longer warms; Driver-side seat heater non-functional
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired three times, including January 2012; estimated cost $300+ for future repairs; one owner reported heater control switch/fan failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered repairs under warranty for at least first occurrences
Engine fire and underhood electrical fire
Vehicle caught fire under the hood while parked or immediately after shutdown. Fire involved wiring harness and/or connector melting. One case resulted in complete loss of vehicle.
When: One case at 90,000 miles; another while owner was exiting vehicle after shutdown
Symptoms owners cite: Dark rolls of smoke from passenger side under hood; Flames shoot out when hood is opened; Obnoxious fumes; Vehicle will not start after fire; Wiring harness melted from fire
Repairs/costs cited: Neither vehicle was repaired by owner; both cases went to insurance and/or fire department
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Buick issued claim numbers and awaited further contact; no repair or root-cause solution documented
Electrical connector/wiring corrosion and short
Connectors corrode or burn prematurely, creating shorts in lighting circuits and other electrical systems. Inner connectors burn and fail. Problem recurs even after dealer repair.
When: First failure by August 2014; failure recurred after repair; another case at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side headlamp assembly fails; Connectors corrode or burn inside; Lighting fixture short circuits
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced connector in August 2014; failure recurred; no permanent fix applied
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no manufacturer recall available; manufacturer notified but provided no immediate solution
Defrosting and heated mirror system malfunction
Rear window defogger and heated side-view mirrors fail to function despite button indicating they are on. System may work intermittently or only after vehicle is fully warmed. Dealer reprogrammed system but issue persists.
When: Onset varies; one case at unknown mileage; another defrosting issue at 84,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear window will not defrost in winter conditions; Heated mirrors do not melt snow/ice; Button indicates defroster is on but nothing happens; System works only after prolonged warmup or not at all
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reprogrammed rear defogger and heated mirrors (tied to same button); cost not specified; reprogramming did not permanently resolve issue; one case also reported heater control knob failure and instrument panel continuously illuminated
Backup/park assist sensor system failure
Parking assist system fails to detect or warns incorrectly of obstacles while reversing. System is factory-set with no user adjustment available. Provides false sense of security.
When: At or near 2,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Backup sensor does not detect objects 10 inches high or larger; Parking assist light flashes erratically during highway driving (separate issue in other complaints); False indication that path behind vehicle is clear
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated could not adjust sensor because it was factory-set
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated vehicle was operating according to design; no recall issued
Door lock malfunction and anti-theft lockdown
Door locks operate erratically, locking and unlocking without command. In one case, vehicle entered anti-theft lockdown mode after electrical malfunction, preventing shift out of Park. Vehicle could not be moved and hazard lights would not function.
When: Occurs sporadically during electrical malfunctions
Symptoms owners cite: Door locks lock and unlock rapidly without driver input; Vehicle enters anti-theft lockdown mode; Shift remains stuck in Park; Hazard/safety flasher lights do not operate; Trunk cannot be opened; Key in ignition vibrates and buzzes at high frequency
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed in documented cases; vehicle required towing; one owner stuck on busy road for extended time waiting for tow truck
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: OnStar called in one case but was not helpful; no mechanical remedy offered
Push-to-start ignition switch unintended shutoff
Push-to-start button can be inadvertently activated by contact with hanging keys or slight knee pressure while driving, causing immediate engine shutdown and loss of power. Dealer insists driver must intentionally shut off vehicle.
When: Occurred at 12,000 miles and at 66 mph on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts down while vehicle is in motion; Complete loss of electrical power; No power brakes or power steering; Shift to Park warning message appears; Vehicle cannot be restarted until shifted to Park; Requires multiple restart attempts
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed; dealer claimed driver was responsible
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated owner must have shut off ignition intentionally; owner disputes feasibility
Alternator and water pump premature failure
Alternator fails, preventing vehicle from starting on first attempt. Water pump also fails, causing thermostat to fail and vehicle to emit smoke.
When: At 50,076 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start on first attempt; Thermostat failure causes smoke emission from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced at dealer; water pump replaced at dealer; thermostat replaced at dealer
Steering column and tilt lever failure
Steering column fails completely due to tilt lever malfunction. Prevents steering adjustment and may have caused power loss issues.
When: Unknown mileage; owner purchased certified used in May 2011 with 16,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column non-functional; Tilt lever malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column replaced under warranty
Rear wheel hub bearing failure
Rear wheel hub bearings fail, affecting wheel integrity and handling.
When: Unknown mileage; same owner as steering column failure
Symptoms owners cite: Rear wheel hubs non-functional
Repairs/costs cited: Rear wheel hubs replaced under warranty
AC compressor failure
Air conditioning compressor fails during summer months.
When: Summer 2013; owner purchased certified used May 2011 with 16,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: AC no longer cools
Repairs/costs cited: AC compressor replaced under extended warranty owner had purchased
Heater control system failure
Heater control switch or heater fan fails, eliminating cabin heating. Also reported as instrument panel continuously illuminated in another case.
When: Summer 2013 (in one case with multiple prior failures); another case at 84,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Heater fan stops working; No heat from heater despite controls being adjusted; Instrument panel continuously illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reported anticipated cost of ~$300 for heater control switch repair; no successful repairs documented
Trunk lid opens unintentionally
Trunk pops open on its own without user activation via remote or button.
When: Unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk opens without pressing remote or button
Exterior and interior lighting malfunction
Exterior and interior lights flicker or illuminate intermittently without cause. May indicate broader electrical system instability.
When: At 2,800 miles; current mileage 8,250
Symptoms owners cite: Exterior lights illuminate and turn off intermittently while driving; Interior lights flicker on and off
Door handle malfunction
Door handle fails and requires replacement.
When: June 2011 or later (early in ownership starting June 2011)
Symptoms owners cite: Door handle no longer functions
Repairs/costs cited: Door handle replaced
Moonroof visor malfunction
Visor mechanism for moonroof malfunctions and requires repair.
When: Between June and August 2011
Symptoms owners cite: Moonroof visor does not operate correctly
Repairs/costs cited: Visor repaired by dealership
Synthesized from 43 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
2010 Buick lucerne rear fuse block malfunctioned and caught fire *cn
I purchased a vehicle August 2, 2024 from Kingdom auto sales. The car was inspected July 2024 in which it passed shortly after the car wouldn’t go over 40 mph. It would say it’s an over speed. The car runs hot and the parking assist light won’t go off May 25, 2025 I was driving on the highway in the car lost power and the speed was reduced after getting off the highway lost control of the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Buick lacrosse. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start on the first attempt. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator and the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated that the thermostat failed causing the vehicle to emit smoke. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was…
Had electrical trouble with your 2010 Buick LaCrosse?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse?
It's a meaningful issue. 43 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 30 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 12,000 and 89,000 miles, with the median around 63,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,000; a quarter make it past 89,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Buick/LaCrosse.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.