GM Forum - Buick, Cadillac, Olds, GMC & Pontiac chat - 2012 Buick LaCrosse recalled over improperly calibrated ESC

https://www.gmforum.com/attachment.p...ine=1313162837

The very first 2012 Buick LaCrosse models began rolling off the line in June, but a new recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will have these cars going right back to the dealerships from which they came. NHTSA states that 4,077 LaCrosse sedans are affected by this recall, covering vehicles built between June 9 and July 2 of this year.

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:

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.

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.

Quote:

Vehicle Make / Model: BUICK / LACROSSE
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.