What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Buick Lacrosse

Typical pattern

7.2% of complaints about the 2012 Buick Lacrosse came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (61 complaints), typically at 7.6 yr or about 66,000 miles.

Complaints
306
Median age at failure
7.4 yr
Median mileage
55,000 n=214
Crash / fire / tow
10.1% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
61 reports · 66,000 mi
7.6 yr
9.8%
Engine
45 reports · 53,000 mi
6.6 yr
6.7%
Suspension
31 reports · 99,000 mi
9.4 yr
6.5%
Electronic stability control (esc)
25 reports · 84,299 mi
7.7 yr
12%
Steering
24 reports · 51,000 mi
6.9 yr
16.7%
Power train
23 reports · 39,000 mi
3.0 yr
4.3%
Other
18 reports · 107,000 mi
9.3 yr
0%
Service brakes
16 reports · 51,000 mi
7.4 yr
12.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V00F000 2021-12-22
Suspension:rear

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and brea

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

20V764000 2020-12-21
Suspension:rear

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

14V447000 2014-07-23
Seats:front assembly:power adjust

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

13V173000 2013-05-06
Electrical system

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.

If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.

11V404000 2011-08-03
Electronic stability control (esc)

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.

THE IMPROPER DIAGNOSING MAY CAUSE THE ESC TO FALSELY ACTIVATE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING AND DECELERATION, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE'S DESIRED PATH OF TRAVEL AND DESIRED VEHICLE SPEED, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 100 mi 8 mo in service
UN SMOOTH SHIFTING AROUND 30 MPH ,CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK OR BRAKE FEELS LIKE THE ASSIST IS NOT SENSING ,CAUSING THE HAD TO DEALERSHIP NOTHING THEY CAN DO ALL CHECK OUT BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *TR
Electrical system mileage not reported 2.5 yr in service
FIRST I KEPT GETTING WARNINGS TO CHECK HAD NO SPEEDOMETER, NO HEAT , RADIO WENT OUT. COULDN'T TELL HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN THE VEHICLE. SCREEN READ LOST COMMUNICATION WITH TELECOMMATICS CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Electrical system 34,080 mi 2.8 yr in service
VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPORTED TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE NEEDED, TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SERVICE NEEDED AND KEY NOT DETECTED. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO LOOK AT THE TIRES AND ALL WERE GOOD. DROVE CAR TO DEALER AS I ASSUMED IT WOULD NOT IDENTIFY THE KEY FOB AND RESTART. DEALER CONFIRMED WARNING LIGHTS AT TIME OF DROP OFF BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY STORED FAULT CODES. RETURNED CAR WITH NO CORRECTIVE ACTION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TPMS HAS INDICATED A FLAT TIRE, USUALLY DRIVERS SIDE REAR. TPMS FALSE INDICATORS ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Engine mileage not reported 6 mo in service
2012 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER STATES MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE COULD SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND A VERY LOW KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK, THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THERE WAS OIL LEAKING BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED A WARNING LIGHT NEVER APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD TO WARN HIM OF A PROBLEM. *JB

Other Lacrosse model years

201320122011201020092008200720062005

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