Car stalled out twice, lost power steering. I was backing out of a parking lot space; restarted and then stalled while pulling onto street. Fear is it stalling in traffic and getting rear-ended. I took to garner Buick where had purchased new. When car was relatively new and still on warranty had had similar issue, but dealer never found problem. Now occurs again. They found two sensors that…
2012 Buick LaCrosse steering problems
severe 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
3crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 24 steering complaints filed for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple 2012 LaCrosse owners report sudden loss of engine power, steering, and brakes while driving at highway and city speeds—some vehicles still lose power after dealer recalls were performed. Several independent failures and difficulty getting factory support make this vehicle unsafe until the root electrical/control system issue is positively identified and fixed.
Owners of 2012 Buick LaCrosse models describe a critical pattern of complete loss of engine power, power steering, and brakes during normal driving, often without warning. The incidents recur multiple times per vehicle—some owners report eight or more instances. When it happens, the steering wheel locks or becomes extremely stiff, the brake pedal goes hard and unresponsive, the engine shuts off, and all electrical systems flicker or fail. The car coasts to a stop while the driver fights to steer it manually, a terrifying experience at highway speeds.
The StabiliTrak electronic stability control system also fails incorrectly—it activates when it shouldn't, causes sudden hard braking and loss of handling, or fails to warn the driver when sensors malfunction. Owners cite two existing recalls (Campaigns 11V404000 for improperly calibrated ESC and 13V173000 for electrical system issues) but report Buick refuses to apply them to their specific vehicles despite the symptoms matching exactly.
Dealerships run diagnostics and often find no fault codes, leaving owners stranded with broken cars and no repair path. One owner had to pay out of pocket for additional rental car days after GM's promised coverage ran out. Several owners report being injured in accidents—hitting mailboxes, nearly spinning out—directly caused by steering and brake loss. No owner disputes the danger these failures create.
Same Buick LaCrosse steering reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stall with complete loss of steering, brakes, and electrical power
Vehicle engine shuts down completely while driving, disabling power steering and power brakes simultaneously. Steering wheel locks or becomes extremely difficult to turn. Brake pedal becomes stiff and unresponsive. All electrical systems including lights, radio, and dashboard display flicker or go dark. Vehicle must coast to a stop while driver fights steering. Condition happens without warning at highway and city speeds.
When: Multiple occurrences reported at 25,000 to 130,000 miles; some owners report 8 or more incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off completely while driving; Power steering fails or wheel locks; Brake pedal becomes stiff or unresponsive; All lights flicker or electrical system goes dark; Check engine light illuminates; Vehicle coasts to stop requiring manual steering effort; Engine restarts after 15 minutes to 1 hour or with repeated ignition cycling
Codes mentioned: P0016 (camshaft position sensor failure - reported in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer replaced solenoid and engine mount for excessive wear. Another owner had camshaft intake position sensor replaced. Many owners report dealers cannot locate fault codes or find no problem, leaving vehicle unrepaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 13V173000 (electrical system recall) performed on at least one vehicle but did not prevent recurrence. Some owners report GM/Buick acknowledge awareness of the problem but state no recall applies to their vehicle.
StabiliTrak/ESC system malfunction with false activation
StabiliTrak electronic stability control system activates incorrectly or fails to detect sensor malfunction. System warning light illuminates on dashboard. Vehicle experiences sudden unexpected braking, deceleration, and loss of handling at highway speeds. Some owners report system is improperly calibrated and does not illuminate warning light when sensor fails, masking the problem.
When: Reported across ownership; owners cite mileage from new car to 121,460 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Service StabiliTrak warning light comes on; Sudden hard braking or aggressive deceleration; Engine speed and RPM gauges fluctuate erratically; Loss of vehicle handling control; Vehicle surges and loses power during acceleration; Jerking or stalling behavior; Steering becomes difficult to control
Codes mentioned: Campaign 11V404000 (improperly calibrated ESC - referenced by owners)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer ran diagnostics but could not recreate codes and acknowledged a problem but repair did not resolve it. Mechanics unable to find fault codes in multiple cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 11V404000 for improperly calibrated faulty electric StabiliTrak ESC exists. Some owners report Buick/GM refuse to apply recall to their specific vehicle VIN or claim no recall exists despite NHTSA listing.
Power steering loss or lockup during normal driving
Power steering function ceases abruptly during driving, leaving steering wheel locked or extremely difficult to turn. Occurs during turns and straightaway driving. May happen independently or in conjunction with engine stall. When occurring without engine shutdown, steering wheel becomes very stiff but vehicle remains running.
When: Reported at 9,700 miles (new car), 25,000 miles, and higher mileage; multiple incidents per owner common
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering completely loses function; Steering wheel locks in position; Steering becomes extremely stiff and hard to turn; Loss occurs without warning during turns or straight driving; Steering returns to normal after vehicle restarts or transitions power modes; Loud knock heard from steering wheel in sharp turns (one case)
Codes mentioned: P0016 (camshaft intake position sensor failure - one owner)
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer replaced entire steering column assembly under warranty at no charge. Repair resolved issue. Another owner reports failed camshaft intake position sensor was diagnosed and replaced. Many cases leave steering wheel unrepaired or undiagnosed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner had steering column assembly replaced under new car warranty. Most cases receive no manufacturer remedy; some dealers state vehicle is operating as designed.
Tilt steering column lock failure
Steering wheel tilt lock mechanism fails to hold steering column in locked position. Steering wheel unlocks suddenly during driving without driver input, causing immediate loss of steering control and vehicle veering off road.
When: Occurred on new car (under 18,000 miles reported at resolution)
Symptoms owners cite: Tilt steering wheel unlocks without warning; Sudden loss of steering control; Vehicle veers off road (ditch reported); No warning lights or indicators
Repairs/costs cited: Entire steering column assembly replaced under new car warranty at no charge.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Replacement steering column assembly covered under new car warranty.
Service brake assist and power brake failure
Power brake assist system fails, causing brake pedal to become extremely stiff and unresponsive. Brakes may stop working entirely or lose responsiveness during highway driving. Service brake assist warning light illuminates.
When: Multiple reports across mileage ranges
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes very stiff; Brakes become unresponsive or fail entirely; Service brake assist warning light illuminates; Automatic brakes stop working; Loss of braking power during highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners report GM refused assistance or stated no recall applies.
Electrical system failure with instrument panel flickering
Complete or partial electrical system failure causing loss of power to critical systems including steering and brakes. Battery warning light illuminates. Instrument panel lights flicker. Vehicle loses charging capacity.
When: Reported at 45,000 miles and highway driving; occurred after engine light repair attempt
Symptoms owners cite: All lights on instrument panel flicker; Battery warning light illuminates; Loss of charging function; Vehicle stalls with electrical symptoms; Interior lights and screen dim or fail
Codes mentioned: Campaign 13V173000 (electrical system recall)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports electrical system recall (Campaign 13V173000) was performed but did not prevent recurrence.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 13V173000 (electrical system recall) available but did not prevent repeat failure in at least one case.
Rough hybrid power mode transitions with jerking and stalling
Vehicle with hybrid system experiences extremely rough and violent transitions between hybrid battery power and engine power. Transitions feel like sudden application of parking brake while vehicle moving. Vehicle jerks violently, loses electrical power to accessories, engine shuts off.
When: Multiple incidents over two-day span reported
Symptoms owners cite: Violent jerking during power mode transitions; Vehicle feels like it was put into park while moving; Loss of electrical power to AC, radio, and accessories; Engine shuts off during transitions; Steering locks until vehicle transitions to engine power and rolls 10-15 feet; Loss of power steering during transitions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced solenoid and engine mount citing excessive wear. Owner reports rough transitions continue and believes these are symptoms of root cause, not the cause itself.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Shortly after purchasing this vehicle I found that while rounding a corner the power dies and I lost control of the vehicle since I had not power steering or brakes. I was able to steer the car to the berm and waited until power was restored. This has occurred many times. Upon checking with the dealer I was told Buick is aware of the problem, but there is no recall. Then I began having…
during a regular drive the check stabiltrack system message popped up on the dash in the middle circle and then the little car with the squiggly lines behind it popped up and the check engine light came on and started blinking. Immediately I noticed lack of steering control, the car's speed was accelerating and decelerating on its own, jerking and stalling also was observed. As of now the car…
Had steering trouble with your 2012 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 steering problem on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 29,975 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 51,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 29,975; a quarter make it past 100,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2012/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.