2014 Buick LaCrosse Dash theme problem (some setting reset automatically)

[gorance]

I purchased a new 2014 LaCrosse about a month ago and set the dash to touring theme and enabled speed limit warning, however every once in a while (about every week to 10 days) the dash "resets" itself and goes back to sport mode on the dash and the speed limit warning gets disabled (also the default value goes back to 55 for it).
Has anybody seen this problem? Should I take it back to dealer (it's a bit of a drive for me, so didn't want to go there if I can do something myself).
Thanks for any advice.

 

[fastback4]

After you choose a setting is there a 'confirm setting' choice you can choose? If not try pressing the 'ok' button on the end of the turn signal lever.

 

[gorance]

Thanks for the suggestion. I went into the menu again and I don't see a confirm option. Once I make the choose I click the OK button and it takes the settings. I use the vehicles like that for few days (number of key offs) and then suddenly it defaults back to sports mode and the speed limit warning is disabled. I notice it at start up. It can happen when the car is off over night, or over the day. I am not able to repeat the failure on purpose.

 

[fastback4]

Short of disconnecting the battery and reconnecting I'd say it's dealer time....god bless you

 

[hoosiernick85]

I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're not alone...my 2014 LaCrosse exhibited the same behavior. The bad news is it is a dealer fix. After two separate software upgrades that didn't resolve the issues, they wound up having to install some kind of new wiring harness (like a totally redesigned part) to fix it. I don't have many details yet because mine is still at the dealer...has been since last Tuesday. But, they gave me an Enclave to drive so I can't complain too much! I'm hoping to have it back in the next couple of days, and when I do, I'll try to remember to circle back and post an update based on the service notes.

 

[gorance]

Thank you very much, appreciate it. That will help me out. I called earlier and they weren't aware of the issue or fix for it.

 

[MHT]

The Software update solved the issue for me.

 

[cheflionfoot]

After you choose a setting is there a 'confirm setting' choice you can choose? If not try pressing the 'ok' button on the end of the turn signal lever.

That button no longer exists on the 2014. That button was for the 2010 through 2013 configuration. I have the same issue with it reverting to the sport screen. Guess I will have to get my fix on the first oil change.

 

[MHT]

Ask for the TSB Software Update

 

[Merrill Crosbie]

I also just bought a 2014 LaCrosse. I have my theme set to "Link to drive mode" which I believe makes it go into Touring (digital) mode when in D, and it changes automatically to Sport (analog) when I put it in M/S. It is how it works for me, but the owners manual completely ignores the "Link to drive mode" option. Actually, I have found the owners manual to be in error in several places. It says if you have NAV you should be able to turn on the option for speed limits to be displayed for the road you are on. I don't have that option and I have Nav. The owners manual also says there are other DIC options (another Theme option, but mine says Mode instead...and a fuel tracking screen) that do not come up on my LaCrosse, and I have a Premium II that should have all features except those for the Hybrid. The manual also indicates that a locking fuel door is an option...huh? I have everything and my door doesn't lock. I contacted Buick and they just sent me a blathering response that indicated to me they didn't know how that stuff got in there. I am wondering if it is stuff left over from 2013 that was sloppily left in the manual for 2014. But, so far my settings stay as I set them. I am hoping if there is a TSB or software reflash, they did it before I took delivery on Sept 6.

 

[MHT]

My repair order for the defaulting instrument cluster issue just says, reprogram instrument panel per bulletin.
There is quite a bit of misinformation in the manuals, no locking fuel door, you can not individually set tone settings and more.
It took severals calls to Buick Customer service to convince them that my 2012 had the locking fuel door feature and that the manual needed to be corrected to state that it did. In 2013 they stated that the car at the locking fuel door feature, they stated the same for the 2014 but the 2014 did not have the locking fuel door. A call to Buick Customer Service confirmed that the feature was dropped from the 2014 with no explanation, they also confirmed that tone settings could not be individually set.

 

[Merrill Crosbie]

Thanks MHT. All I could get from Buick when I questioned them on the misinformation in the manual was kind of a desperate double-talk. They wouldn't admit the manual was wrong, but they couldn't or would't explain why it says what it says.

And, I spoke too soon. Today my car's phantom showed up and changed my theme from "Link to drive mode" to "Sport", and I checked and it had also disabled my max speed, and reset it to 55 mph (Ha! Like I am ever going to drive less than 55 mph! Must be the Buick default for the grannies that they are suppose to be building these for!) So, I don't know if I want to get into reflashing memory or, GASP! getting a new wiring harness. I have such bad luck with service people. I take it in with one problem and get it back with 10 more. I may just live with this until I can't stand it and then trade it off. But, I want so desperately to love this car. The last American car I had that was dependable was a 1989 Buick Electra T-Type that was rock solid. Like a fool I traded it off for a Cadillac Eldo/Northstar that lived most of it's life in the service dept. Dumped it for an Olds Bravada (crap!), then swore off GM and bought a Chrysler 300M (crap, crap, crap!!). That lead me to start buying Japanese and I drove Acura for 10 years, then Kia for 4 years and neither ever saw the service department for anything but fluids. I was negotiating on a Kia Cadenza when I bought this LeCrosse on a whim. I really want it to be as good as the foreign cars I have had. But, I am starting to see the same problems that are documented in this forum. The first time the trunk opens by the phantom, it is going to the Kia dealership.

 

[MHT]

Thanks MHT. All I could get from Buick when I questioned them on the misinformation in the manual was kind of a desperate double-talk. They wouldn't admit the manual was wrong, but they couldn't or would't explain why it says what it says.

And, I spoke too soon. Today my car's phantom showed up and changed my theme from "Link to drive mode" to "Sport", and I checked and it had also disabled my max speed, and reset it to 55 mph (Ha! Like I am ever going to drive less than 55 mph! Must be the Buick default for the grannies that they are suppose to be building these for!) So, I don't know if I want to get into reflashing memory or, GASP! getting a new wiring harness. I have such bad luck with service people. I take it in with one problem and get it back with 10 more. I may just live with this until I can't stand it and then trade it off. But, I want so desperately to love this car. The last American car I had that was dependable was a 1989 Buick Electra T-Type that was rock solid. Like a fool I traded it off for a Cadillac Eldo/Northstar that lived most of it's life in the service dept. Dumped it for an Olds Bravada (crap!), then swore off GM and bought a Chrysler 300M (crap, crap, crap!!). That lead me to start buying Japanese and I drove Acura for 10 years, then Kia for 4 years and neither ever saw the service department for anything but fluids. I was negotiating on a Kia Cadenza when I bought this LeCrosse on a whim. I really want it to be as good as the foreign cars I have had. But, I am starting to see the same problems that are documented in this forum. The first time the trunk opens by the phantom, it is going to the Kia dealership.

The owner who reported the replacing of the wire harness is a first for me, most have reported that the reprograming of the software of the Instrument Cluster Display corrected the issue. As far as the mysterious trunk opening GM does not hold the patent on this as I did some research and owners of other brands both Foreign and Domestic have reported the same.
I too looked at the Kia Cadenza but the jarring ride on rough surfaces and wind noise was the deal breaker for me. I have had good service from both my dealership and Buick Customer Service and that is where the rubber meats the road for me.
Your car is under warranty, get those issues fixed. If you do not care for your dealers service department try another. Todays cars are very complicated and complexed, to not have an issue with any brand Foreign or Domestic, IMO is very unusual.
I traded a 2010 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse because the Audio/Nav kept failing and Hyundai Customer Service said they did not have a fix. I traded the 2012 LaCrosse for the 2014 because I liked the changes that were made to the 2014.
It has been a long time since I have stayed with the same brand and model and I am thinking that I will probably be around for the 2016 LaCrosse.
Good Luck to you and give that LaCrosse a fighting chance and remember,"the grass is not always greener on the other side".

 

[Merrill Crosbie]

The owner who reported the replacing of the wire harness is a first for me, most have reported that the reprograming of the software of the Instrument Cluster Display corrected the issue. As far as the mysterious trunk opening GM does not hold the patent on this as I did some research and owners of other brands both Foreign and Domestic have reported the same.
I too looked at the Kia Cadenza but the jarring ride on rough surfaces and wind noise was the deal breaker for me. I have had good service from both my dealership and Buick Customer Service and that is where the rubber meats the road for me.
Your car is under warranty, get those issues fixed. If you do not care for your dealers service department try another. Todays cars are very complicated and complexed, to not have an issue with any brand Foreign or Domestic, IMO is very unusual.
I traded a 2010 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse because the Audio/Nav kept failing and Hyundai Customer Service said they did not have a fix. I traded the 2012 LaCrosse for the 2014 because I liked the changes that were made to the 2014.
It has been a long time since I have stayed with the same brand and model and I am thinking that I will probably be around for the 2016 LaCrosse.
Good Luck to you and give that LaCrosse a fighting chance and remember,"the grass is not always greener on the other side".

Thanks for the pep talk, MHT. Since my last post, I have had another more significant event that frightened me. While driving on the freeway using the adaptive cruise control my dash went completely black, and the analog gauges dropped to zero. The car was slowing to a stop. It really frightened me. I thought the car had somehow turned off. Then I get a message in the DIC to "Service Front Camera" and the dash reilluminated. All of my settings went back to default. None of the driver nannies were working. I was convinced it was terminally broken, but I discovered I still had power. I was near a Buick dealership, so I immediately drove there. I explained the problem and they pulled the codes which were P1553 and P15F6. I have looked them up and they are related to a communication error in the adaptive cruise control. They said these codes were transient and they were instructed to ignore them unless it occurs repeatedly. I asked them to check on any TSBs for Software Updates and I showed them this thread. It seemed to anger them. They argued that there were no TSBs for Software Updates and all they could do for me was keep the car and drive it themselves for a few days to try and recreate the problem. It was almost like they were punishing me for asking them to check for a TSB. I asked them what they expected to get from that since it would just reset the same codes. They said they could see if there was a power anomaly when the codes are set, and they could also tear apart (their exact words) the front camera and check it. I refused to let them keep the car because it didn't seem there was a real plan there to diagnose the car. So, they just handed me the keys back without any documentation. I insisted on a work order that identified what they did and what the codes were. They resisted, but I stood there getting increasingly loud in front of other customers until they wrote a work order that said they had pulled these codes and I refused to let them to do the work. I have brought the car home and I haven't driven it since. But, it drove fine on the way home. I have less than 1800 miles on this 4 week old car. Trading it would really bite me in the shorts financially. But, the dealership I bought this car from also has Kia. The dealership I took it to for this service isn't where I bought it. I don't know if I could somehow negotiate a swap for a Kia, but I now wish I could. This isn't my only disappointment. I told you previously about my disappointment in not having features that are documented in the user manual, but I have also been trying to use the on-board GPS/Intellilink and I find it to be a miserable system. I dunno. I am just kinda sick about this. I am newly retired and this was suppose to be my last splurge in life, a retirement car. I also made a mistake in getting the Premium II package with the 20 inch wheels. I test drove a car with 18 inch wheels and loved the smooth ride (yup, better than the Cadenza). But, I liked the look of the 20 inch wheels and the extra options on this car. I did drive it, but not as extensively as the lesser model. These wheels really do impact the ride and quiteness of this car, even though this car has the HiperStrut suspension that the smaller wheels doesn't get (the ride is not as good as the Cadenza, IMHO). I think this car, with these wheels especially, is beautiful. Much richer/better looking that the Cadenza. I get your comment about the complexity of cars these days, but I don't necessarily agree that problems should be expected. The Acura's and Kia I have had never went back to a dealer for anything but maintenance. I have had this Buick back into service 3 times in 4 weeks (I had some trim fall off that had to be repaired earlier). I am suffering tremendous buyer remorse right now.

 

[MHT]

Thanks for the pep talk, MHT. Since my last post, I have had another more significant event that frightened me. While driving on the freeway using the adaptive cruise control my dash went completely black, and the analog gauges dropped to zero. The car was slowing to a stop. It really frightened me. I thought the car had somehow turned off. Then I get a message in the DIC to "Service Front Camera" and the dash reilluminated. All of my settings went back to default. None of the driver nannies were working. I was convinced it was terminally broken, but I discovered I still had power. I was near a Buick dealership, so I immediately drove there. I explained the problem and they pulled the codes which were P1553 and P15F6. I have looked them up and they are related to a communication error in the adaptive cruise control. They said these codes were transient and they were instructed to ignore them unless it occurs repeatedly. I asked them to check on any TSBs for Software Updates and I showed them this thread. It seemed to anger them. They argued that there were no TSBs for Software Updates and all they could do for me was keep the car and drive it themselves for a few days to try and recreate the problem. It was almost like they were punishing me for asking them to check for a TSB. I asked them what they expected to get from that since it would just reset the same codes. They said they could see if there was a power anomaly when the codes are set, and they could also tear apart (their exact words) the front camera and check it. I refused to let them keep the car because it didn't seem there was a real plan there to diagnose the car. So, they just handed me the keys back without any documentation. I insisted on a work order that identified what they did and what the codes were. They resisted, but I stood there getting increasingly loud in front of other customers until they wrote a work order that said they had pulled these codes and I refused to let them to do the work. I have brought the car home and I haven't driven it since. But, it drove fine on the way home. I have less than 1800 miles on this 4 week old car. Trading it would really bite me in the shorts financially. But, the dealership I bought this car from also has Kia. The dealership I took it to for this service isn't where I bought it. I don't know if I could somehow negotiate a swap for a Kia, but I now wish I could. This isn't my only disappointment. I told you previously about my disappointment in not having features that are documented in the user manual, but I have also been trying to use the on-board GPS/Intellilink and I find it to be a miserable system. I dunno. I am just kinda sick about this. I am newly retired and this was suppose to be my last splurge in life, a retirement car. I also made a mistake in getting the Premium II package with the 20 inch wheels. I test drove a car with 18 inch wheels and loved the smooth ride (yup, better than the Cadenza). But, I liked the look of the 20 inch wheels and the extra options on this car. I did drive it, but not as extensively as the lesser model. These wheels really do impact the ride and quiteness of this car, even though this car has the HiperStrut suspension that the smaller wheels doesn't get (the ride is not as good as the Cadenza, IMHO). I think this car, with these wheels especially, is beautiful. Much richer/better looking that the Cadenza. I get your comment about the complexity of cars these days, but I don't necessarily agree that problems should be expected. The Acura's and Kia I have had never went back to a dealer for anything but maintenance. I have had this Buick back into service 3 times in 4 weeks (I had some trim fall off that had to be repaired earlier). I am suffering tremendous buyer remorse right now.

Believe me I have been in your shoes. The 2014 LaCrosse P1 that I am driving now replaces a previous 2014 LaCrosse P1. The first car had several issues, what caused the car to be replaced was an A/C leak that caused water to get into the car soaking the carpet so bad that the seats had to be removed to get the car dried out. The dash pad in the car was also soaked but they were able to get the pad to dry without pulling the dash. I was so uncomfortable with the car that the dealer had the car replaced. I had only had the car for two months and 1200 miles.
It is obvious that you too are now uncomfortable with your car and part of it hinges on, IMO poor service. To my knowledge the LaCrosse has had one recall and several TSB's, at least two are software updates. Since the dealership that you purchased your car from also sales the Kia and you seem to like the Cadenza, I would see if something could be worked out in a trade were you would not have to be out allot of money.
I would also take the car back to the dealer that you purchased your car from and let service check out those codes pertaining to the last issue that you experience while using the Active Cruise.
My car has 19" wheels . I have test driven cars with 20" wheels and I did not care for them. The ride with the 19" wheels, Hiper Strut Suspension and Real Time Damping is better than the ride of my 2012 with 18" but I can only imagine the ride of 18" wheels with Hiper Strut and Real Time Damping, I am guessing even better.

 

[HMTJ6821]

I doubt seriously that your problem was caused either by software or the front camera. The front camera codes are just "victims" of the underlying problem of intermittent power. There were, early on, multiple reports of intermittent power loss with the instrument cluster and other displays blanking out. For some of us, the problem was traced to the multiple "single point" grounds that can become intermittent and unpredictable.

Under the hood, in several locations including the strut towers and fender liners, you will see short threaded studs to which wires are attached. The wires have crimped on rings with interior "teeth" that make the ground connection to the land surrounding the base of the stud. You will notice that those studs were painted when the car was painted. The connection of the wire to the chassis ground is counting on the "teeth" to pierce the paint. Even if the "teeth" pierce the paint initially, it does not take much corrosion or flow of the paint to cause the ground to become disrupted.

Because the nut that holds the ground ring on the stud has a nylon insert, it cannot provide a ground path to the ring.

In some cases, the repair of this intermittent ground involved the dealer removing the ground wire ring and scraping the paint off the the base of the stud. The trick is to know which stud is involved with the instrument cluster which has its own internal computer processor that communicates to other features such as the front camera. In my case, it was a stud on the driver's side strut tower toward the front of the car.

Even paying an independent mechanic to clean up several of these electrical ground studs would be less expensive than taking a financial loss on the car and foisting the problem off on some other unsuspecting owner.

Good luck with this problem.

 

[Merrill Crosbie]

Believe me I have been in your shoes. The 2014 LaCrosse P1 that I am driving now replaces a previous 2014 LaCrosse P1. The first car had several issue, what caused the car to be replaced was and A/C leak that caused water to get into the car soaking the carpet so bad that the seats had to be removed to get the car dried out. The dash pad in the car was also soaked but they were able to get the pad to dry without pulling the dash. I was so uncomfortable with the car that the dealer had the car replaced. I had only had the car for two months and 1200 miles.
It is obvious that you too are now uncomfortable with your car and part of it hinges on, IMO poor service. To my knowledge the LaCrosse has had one recall and several TSB's, at least two our software updates. Since the dealership that you purchased your car from also sales the Kia and you seem to like the Cadenza, I would see if something could be worked out in a trade were you would not have to be out allot of money.
I would also take the car back to the dealer that you purchased your car from and let service check out those codes pertaining to the last issue that you experience while using the Active Cruise.
My car has 19" wheels . I have test driven cars with 20" wheels and I did not care for them. The ride with the 19" wheels, Hiper Strut Suspension and Real Time Damping is better than the ride of my 2012 with 18" but I can only imagine the ride of 18" wheels with Hiper Strut and Real Time Damping, I am guessing even better.

Wow, I am surprised that you would be considering sticking with Buick in 2016. I think it is accurate to say I am done with Buick, and probably any American car.

I bought this Riviera convertible new 31 years ago and while it hasn't been a stellar car in terms of reliabilty, it has been a really fun car because it is rare and beautiful, so it gets a lot of attention...and has a much smoother ride than this new LaCrosse. I have had my share of mechanical issues with it over the years, but it does seem to have been built with superior materials. The leather has never wrinkled or cracked, the paint still looks new, the chrome still shines. There aren't any plastic chrome bits that the chewing gum foil wrappers have peeled off of like other GM cars I have owned.

I have taken many road trips in it and the only memories I really have of the trips are where we broke down and what it took to get back on the road. It was always an adventure. But, I am not willing to give another car that kind of slack. I haven't had a troublesome new car since the turn of the century. I am not about to start again now.

My salesman turned out to be like every salesman. Before the ink is dry on the contract they have moved on and are not at all interested in me or my crap car.

I have some serious pondering to do.

 

[Merrill Crosbie]

I purchased a new 2014 LaCrosse about a month ago and set the dash to touring theme and enabled speed limit warning, however every once in a while (about every week to 10 days) the dash "resets" itself and goes back to sport mode on the dash and the speed limit warning gets disabled (also the default value goes back to 55 for it).
Has anybody seen this problem? Should I take it back to dealer (it's a bit of a drive for me, so didn't want to go there if I can do something myself).
Thanks for any advice.

Okay, getting back to the original intent of this thread, I have now had this exact issue happen about 10 times since I bought the car 6 weeks ago. But, I have noticed something. I downloaded the Onstar App to my cell phone, so I can get information from my car like tire pressure and fuel levels, and do remote starts and locking, etc. I have noticed that sometimes I get a 'server error' when I use this app and consistently when I next start the car it has reset the theme to SPORT and disabled my max speed and changed it back to 55. I am wondering if using the App is causing the software glitch in the car. Have any of you used the Onstar App on your phones and noticed a 'server error' when you get the software reset? I don't know if the app is causing the problem, or if the 'server error' is just telling me that the software glitch has occurred. Ideas?

 

[MHT]

Okay, getting back to the original intent of this thread, I have now had this exact issue happen about 10 times since I bought the car 6 weeks ago. But, I have noticed something. I downloaded the Onstar App to my cell phone, so I can get information from my car like tire pressure and fuel levels, and do remote starts and locking, etc. I have noticed that sometimes I get a 'server error' when I use this app and consistently when I next start the car it has reset the theme to SPORT and disabled my max speed and changed it back to 55. I am wondering if using the App is causing the software glitch in the car. Have any of you used the Onstar App on your phones and noticed a 'server error' when you get the software reset? I don't know if the app is causing the problem, or if the 'server error' is just telling me that the software glitch has occurred. Ideas?

I do not think that using the OnStar App is the cause of the problem. The problem is with the software for the Instrument Cluster Display, you need to have it updated. It is hard to explain but until you get the software update to correct this issue, anything that you do wether it is using the OnStar App, savings radio stations or just making any kind of adjustment to any App on the Infotainment Center can cause the Instrument Cluster Display Settings to default and they will also default on their own until you get that software update.
I am telling you what I know because I was the one who opened the thread on this issue when I had my 2012 and probably one of the first on this forum who got the software update for the repair. I had the same issue with my 2014 and had the software update applied and I have had no problems since. I too have the OnStar App loaded on my Iphone.
I have never seen the server error message. I suggest that you find a Buick dealership with a good service department and let them have a look. Good luck, and keep me posted as I will try and help you in any way that I can.

 

[Merrill Crosbie]

Is there an identifier for this update like a version number or a TSB? I previously had the car in for service with a software glitch and the dealer denies there is a software update available.