NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 6 recalls, 62 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2014 Buick Lacrosse.
20–21 mpg combined
11.2–11.8 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Steering complaints dominate what 2014 LaCrosse owners report, with multiple drivers describing a "Service Power Steering" warning appearing while underway, followed by a sudden loss of power steering assist that makes the wheel noticeably harder to turn. This tends to happen at highway speeds or while merging, leaving drivers maneuvering with significantly increased steering effort. Electrical system complaints are the next most common, covering a range of behaviors: doors that won't unlock, windows that won't respond, and vehicles that won't start despite the key being present, essentially a loss of basic electrical function all at once. A smaller cluster of airbag complaints rounds out the top reported systems, though those reports don't describe a single consistent symptom pattern. A few owners also mention transmission hesitation and delayed acceleration, particularly when pulling away from a stop or attempting to reverse.
62
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Buick LaCrosse has 6 recalls, the most serious involving front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners that may fail to deploy in a crash, leaving the driver and front passenger without full restraint protection.
Recalls 2, 3, and 4 all describe the same underlying problem: a software defect in the airbag control module can prevent frontal airbags and seatbelt pretensioners from firing when a collision calls for them. This is treated as a single issue across multiple filings. On the brake side, certain vehicles may have been fitted with a rear brake rotor on the front axle. The rear rotor is thinner and not designed for the higher heat loads at the front, so it wears brake pads far faster than normal, shortening stopping performance over time without obvious warning.
The electrical recalls cover two separate concerns. In some vehicles built during a specific production window, a wiring splice inside the driver's door can corrode and break, silencing the chime that sounds when the door is open with the key still in the ignition. Without that alert, a driver who exits without setting the transmission to park may not realize the car can roll. There is also a compliance concern related to theft protection and power window systems, where certain vehicles may not meet Canadian safety standards governing how the ignition and power-operated windows behave, which can affect rollaway protection under specific conditions.
At a glance
What can fail
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
The air bag control software may not have received a complete update from a previous recall. Under certain driving conditions, this software may run a diagnostic test that disables frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control software. If your vehicle previously deployed air bags, the control module will be replaced instead. Repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The airbag and seatbelt control module has a software flaw that may prevent frontal airbags and seatbelt pretensioners from deploying during a crash when they should.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the control module's software. If the module has recorded a prior deployment, dealers will replace it with a new module containing updated software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Under certain driving conditions, the air bag control module's software may run a self-test that disables the front air bags and seat belt pretensioners, preventing them from deploying in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control module software. If your air bags have previously deployed, the module will be replaced. Repairs are free of charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A corroded or broken wire connection in the driver's door can allow power windows and sunroof to operate even after removing the key, posing injury risk. It may also disable theft warnings.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the door wiring harness and install a new splice connection if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wiring splice in the driver's door can corrode and break, eliminating the chime that alerts you when the door opens with the key in the ignition. The Retained Accessory Power module may also remain active for ten minutes, allowing continued operation of passenger windows, rear windows, and sunroof.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the driver door window motor harness and replace the electrical splice as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some vehicles have a thinner rear brake rotor installed in the front brake assembly instead of the correct front rotor. This causes excessive heat during braking, rapidly wearing brake pads and rotors. As wear increases, the outer brake pad may disengage, reducing braking performance.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect both front brake rotors and replace them with correct rotors and brake pads as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
