NHTSA Complaint #10819435 — 2012 BUICK LACROSSE

I NOTICED A FEW WET SPOTS UNDER THE VEHICLE, BUT I COULDN'T ESTABLISH WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. ON 25/NOV/2015 WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY WENT UP, FOLLOWED BY "ENGINE OVERHEAT" MESSAGE AND ALARM. I WAS ON A LONG BRIDGE IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA, AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP ON THE SIDE IN A VERY DANGEROUS LOCATION. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO COOLANT REMAINING. THE SHOP MECHANIC ADDED MORE COOLANT WITH A DYE AND LET IT RUN IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHERE IT WAS LEAKING FROM. THERE WAS NO LEAK AT ALL. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE HOME AND COME BACK THE NEXT DAY FOR A CHECK. I WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY, AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF LEAKAGE. AFTER ABOUT 1 WEEK I STARTED NOTICING THE WET SPOTS ON THE THE GROUND AGAIN. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO THE BUICK DEALER, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY SIGN OF LEAKING COOLANT. I CHECKED ON THE WEB AND REALIZED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BUICKS. MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH COOLANT LEAKS WHOSE COURSE COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT COULD LITERALLY GO UP IN FLAMES ANY MOMMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL DESIGN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED.