Buick Vehicle Line Executive: No Wiring Problems With Production Buick LaCrosse

TTAC recently published a Wild Ass Rumor about Buick LaCrosse wiring problems. Jim Federico breached the GM – TTAC wall to quash the suggestion that production vehicles suffered from electrical gremlins. “I can confirm there is NO truth to this RUMOR,” the LaCrosse Vehicle Line Executive/Chief Engineer wrote. So I called the man responsible for “any car on the GM Global Mid-Size platform until I retire or get fired, whatever comes first.” [Note: GM no longer uses Greek names for its platforms. Literally. Federico flat-out refused to identify the Buick’s platform as an “Epsilon.”] Federico told me GM has delivered roughly a thousand LaCrosse to dealers; only one has been marked return to sender. “It was a car with a burned-out starter,” he revealed. “We identified the problem as a defective component and contacted the supplier to rectify the situation.” Now, as for that wiring rumor . . .

Federico repeated his categorical denial. There are not now nor have there been any wiring/electrical/computer issues with the LaCrosse. That said . . .

The LaCrosse is the first North American vehicle where assembly workers burn/download the software into the BCM (Body Control Module) and ECM (Engine Control Module) on the factory floor. As such, there were some electrical issues with the LaCrosse PPVs (Pre-Production Vehicles). “It’s nothing more than we expected in the normal development process,” Federico claimed. “About 70 percent good, 30 percent bad.” He said these problems were resolved before customer cars came off the line.

Federico was anxious for me to sample his handiwork firsthand. His GM PR handler (listening in as always) promised to arrange a press car for a TTAC review.

As Federico is in charge of all the American automaker’s Voldemorts—I mean, future Global Mid-Size Platform vehicles, I asked him if he saw any problems sharing the platform across GM’s four remaining brands. Federico rattled off a laundry list (so to speak) of all the ways the Epsilons would differ: fuel economy, handling dynamics, sheet metal, interior, etc. “We are not badge engineering,” he insisted.

We shall see.