2011 Lacrosse Trunk Mysteriously Opens

[MHT]

I am sorry to say it probably will until Buick seriously addresses the issue. Right now I do not think they have a clue. This is the first issue that I have had that has not been resolved. Altough a little bit annoying I can deal with it as I have been fortunate and this has only happen while the car was at home in the garage.

 

[MHT]

As there is no need to continue to whip a dead horse, this will be my last post in reference to this matter. To those of you who might be interested after speaking with Buick Customer Service the end results was an offer of $100.00 dollars towards any service with in a year and we are sorry as there is no more that we can do.
They stated that my complaint will be added to the other complaints and maybe Buick engineers will come up with something.

 

[Buick Customer Service]

Welcome to the forum, drader20! If you should ever wish for us to check into anything for you on your new LaCrosse, we can be reached here via private message (include your name, contact information, and the last 8 digits of your VIN in your inquiry).

Sarah (Assisting Tricia), Buick Customer Service

 

[gsiguess]

Hi Tricia,

I also have this problem. The last 8 of my VIN are C9189835. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you! Don Fritz fritzd@frontiernet.net

I would be happy to look into this for you with the last eight of your VIN. Please feel free to contact me privately as well. Thank you.

Tricia, GM Customer Service.

 

[MHT]

I did some research and found that this issue was reported by some 2010 owners. Service Bulletin PI-0185-A was issued on 12/01/2011, dealers were saying that they could not duplicate the problem.
I do not know if the trunk release pad and wire harness replacement are being done under service bulletin PI-0185-A, but for me after the repair my trunk still opens on it own. I have now asked that my case number not be closed.

 

[mmadden2]

Sorry you guys are having to go thru this. Doesn't seem like a new problem for GM 🙄

 

[MHT]

That was good, sometimes all you can do is laugh about some situations.

 

[SteakNEggs]

It is the fob, I don't know why anyone would suggest it is the pad on the trunk.

If you press and hold the trunk option, it opens within less than a second and I believe because it is in the middle of the fob it has less friction to contend with. Lock/unlock/panic all have multiple edges, trunk and remote start have one edge. However, remote start requires you to press lock before it will remote start, even then the time it requires you to hold the remote start button is a lot longer then the trunk.

I am on my fifth trunks open, pull over and close it. I can contribute each time to one of three things.

1) My pockets are over stuffed.
2) I laid on my pocket.
3) I have a few small lock box keys and my wifes ford key (no house key). If I don't fold it into my pocket with the back of MY fob against the back wifes key, my trunk will open.

Most of the time an early warning sign that has saved me once or twice has been if I felt that my key was extended I knew things got depressed and have been able to close my trunk before leaving.

The only thing I could foresee Buick doing outside of completely redoing the fob is different pattern, such as press + press and hold (press and press within 2 seconds, then hold for 2 seconds). Or a lock or unlock then trunk release (within 2 seconds) pattern. With the current fob and pattern it is way to sensitive and easy to open.

I thought about ordering a new fob that has less sensitivity, but I know what the problem is and how to avoid it, so it hasn't been that big of a deal (ie, it hasn't rained in my trunk yet hehehe)...

 

[MHT]

It is the fob, I don't know why anyone would suggest it is the pad on the trunk.

If you press and hold the trunk option, it opens within less than a second and I believe because it is in the middle of the fob it has less friction to contend with. Lock/unlock/panic all have multiple edges, trunk and remote start have one edge. However, remote start requires you to press lock before it will remote start, even then the time it requires you to hold the remote start button is a lot longer then the trunk.

I am on my fifth trunks open, pull over and close it. I can contribute each time to one of three things.

1) My pockets are over stuffed.
2) I laid on my pocket.
3) I have a few small lock box keys and my wifes ford key (no house key). If I don't fold it into my pocket with the back of MY fob against the back wifes key, my trunk will open.

Most of the time an early warning sign that has saved me once or twice has been if I felt that my key was extended I knew things got depressed and have been able to close my trunk before leaving.

The only thing I could foresee Buick doing outside of completely redoing the fob is different pattern, such as press + press and hold (press and press within 2 seconds, then hold for 2 seconds). Or a lock or unlock then trunk release (within 2 seconds) pattern. With the current fob and pattern it is way to sensitive and easy to open.

I thought about ordering a new fob that has less sensitivity, but I know what the problem is and how to avoid it, so it hasn't been that big of a deal (ie, it hasn't rained in my trunk yet hehehe)...

It is just not the fob as mine randomly opens and both fobs are in the house,
Others have reported the same, Buick is aware of this.

 

[GolfingDuo]

It is the fob, ...

I originally though the same but there are too many instances of that and like some said it opens even though the FOB is in the house unattended. It is hard to understand what could be causing that but its there. Since I have a push button start I never take my keys out of my pocket. Usually it is in my pants pockets and that would usually mean that I would be susceptible to that and it has not happened. There certainly is something else going on.

 

[SteakNEggs]

That is interesting but the only way I could test that theory would be to go check the trunk since when it unlatches it doesn't just popup on it's own. Then carefully take the FOB inside, lay it down without touching any buttons, then carefully take it back to the car and drive away. My guess is it will never be open under that scenario.

If I walked inside the house, took my fob out of my pocket and set it on the counter, between the time of walking in and setting it on the counter it could have unlatched and not popped up. Maybe a gentle breeze 20 minutes later persuades it to open, or maybe I get in and drive away and it pops up. Maybe leaving throwing it back in my coat, or pants pocket, or maybe I brush the trunk button just enough grabbing it from inside the house.

I still would suggest it is the FOB, unless someone specifically has witnessed the lights flashing and trunk unlatching (or popping open) with the FOBs being some where else not on a person or in a bag or coat.

 

[MHT]

That is interesting but the only way I could test that theory would be to go check the trunk since when it unlatches it doesn't just popup on it's own. Then carefully take the FOB inside, lay it down without touching any buttons, then carefully take it back to the car and drive away. My guess is it will never be open under that scenario.

If I walked inside the house, took my fob out of my pocket and set it on the counter, between the time of walking in and setting it on the counter it could have unlatched and not popped up. Maybe a gentle breeze 20 minutes later persuades it to open, or maybe I get in and drive away and it pops up. Maybe leaving throwing it back in my coat, or pants pocket, or maybe I brush the trunk button just enough grabbing it from inside the house.

I still would suggest it is the FOB, unless someone specifically has witnessed the lights flashing and trunk unlatching (or popping open) with the FOBs being some where else not on a person or in a bag or coat.

You may want to share your thought with Buick as they are the ones who released the bulletin for the trunk pad release and wire harness replacement for the random trunk opening which has nothing to do with the key fob. Buick thinks it has something to do with corrosion at the connections of the wire harness but that repair has not stopped my trunk nor some others from opening.
I know for a fact my trunk is opening on its own, you can suggest what you want.

 

[SteakNEggs]

I wouldn't mind helping get to the bottom of what is happening as it is annoying to be driving down the road with your trunk open, having to pull over (when safe) in order to close it. Luckily, it seems only have happened when parked so I never get really far before I notice the alert in the display.

However, I don't want to argue who is right or who is wrong. I posted I thought it was the FOB based on my observations in how I interact with the FOB prior to finding my trunk open.

If your telling me you had service work done to correct this problem and it didn't help, wouldn't you want to look at all options or just remain on the one that didn't fix the issue?

 

[HMTJ6821]

I want to remind everyone that it is very apparent that there are at least three potential causes of the unwanted trunk opening. One most certainly is the key fob design. In my case, the unwanted trunk openings have entirely ceased since I added a second small ring between the FOB eyelet and the larger ring on which my keys reside. This takes away the leverage that the key has when the head of the key contacts the trunk release button on the key fob.

Another reason for some occurrences of unwanted trunk openings is the corrosion on the connector to the trunk latch button. Where this corrosion is found, there is a bulletin to replace and clean the connector and switch.

A third reason is a software upgrade that is sometimes needed for earlier versions of the trunk release controller. I believe, if I remember correctly, that the controller itself has to be replaced for this fix.

Saying that everyone's problems are caused the my problem is not productive.

I wonder how the new Cadillac knock-off of the LaCrosse has fared with its key fob and unwanted trunk releases?

 

[deanmarc]

Same mystery here. I have emailed the following to Buick:

My trunk opens frequently without me knowing it. People at work will tell me: "hey Marc, your trunk is open". My neighbors will come over and tell me:"hey Marc your trunk is open". This is not acceptable and there needs to be a fix. I could be robbed, the trunk could get soaked with rain, a thief can access the inside of the car etc...
I have seen this complaint online by many individuals. When are you going to fix this. I paid almost 40,000$ for this car. Is my request reasonable ?
When will there be a fix ?????


We'll see what happens if and when they get back to me.


If not satisfied, I will email all the C, V and D level executives including the GM legal department. I will copy this forum.


What I find particularly annoying and frankly insulting on this thread are the repeated canned responses by the so called GM customer service people asking US to let them know if WE find a fix.

 

[mmadden2]

What's your dealer say? At the very least you should be able to get them to replace some of the stuff discussed in this thread.

 

[deanmarc]

Yeah, I'll take a day off, rent a car and roll the dice in case the dealer cares and/or is knowledgeable enough to try to fix it.

Or I could buy a lottery ticket, win and buy another brand of vehicle. Looking at these posts, I'm not sure which has the most chances of success.

The point is there should be a fix, perhaps even a recall.

It would be nice if Buick would even give the appearance of caring. I'll dig up their mission statement but I'll bet it doesn't say "we strive to satisfy our customers sometimes"

 

[HMTJ6821]

Are you just hoping that they can download the fix to your car while on the move. Come on! You have to play your part in letting the dealer have the vehicle to at least attempt the corrective actions defined by General Motors for this problem.

 

[deanmarc]

Of course I will bring it to the dealership. I will be armed with all the information collected in this forum for which I am grateful.

I will report back but let's not lose sight of the basic seller - buyer contract.

GM promises to provide me with a vehicle that operates the way they say it will and I promise to pay them. If there is a problem, they should fix it especially if it is acknowledged and reported by many unrelated customers.

If they don't, it is my right to escalate as legally creatively as I can.

If they don't, they are in breach. It is also my right to take the legal route.

This is a safety and security issue. Will it take someone killing someone else while backing up as the trunk opens or a kid locking himself in ???

I feel for the frustrated posters on this forum and I'm going to make sure that I do everything I can to get this problem investigated and fixed.

If I fail, it will not be for lack of effort. Perhaps as our efforts accumulate, we will get the time of day...

 

[misterfixit]

What I find particularly annoying and frankly insulting on this thread are the repeated canned responses by the so called GM customer service people asking US to let them know if WE find a fix.

and the responses from the dealer and Buick customer service (phone). GM needs tp improve on customer relations. My 2011 Lacrosse will most likely be the last GM vehicle I will own due to the problems that I have with it.