2012 Buick LaCrosse problems and recalls

Owners have filed 205 complaints on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse, and NHTSA has issued 5 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (61 complaints).

205
Complaints
5
Recalls
10
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
5
Injuries
54.1
Severity index

Severity index 54.1 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 54.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 83 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 36% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 61 complaints (29.8%)61 30%EngineEngine: 46 complaints (22.4%)46 22%SuspensionSuspension: 31 complaints (15.1%)31 15%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 25 complaints (12.2%)25 12%SteeringSteering: 24 complaints (11.7%)24 12%Power TrainPower Train: 24 complaints (11.7%)24 12%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 18 complaints (8.8%)18 9%Service BrakesService Brakes: 16 complaints (7.8%)16 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6129.8%
ENGINE4622.4%
SUSPENSION3115.1%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2512.2%
STEERING2411.7%
POWER TRAIN2411.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER188.8%
SERVICE BRAKES167.8%

Complaints filed per year

020392011: 12012: 82013: 122014: 252015: 112016: 82017: 162018: 122019: 212020: 102021: 392022: 132023: 62024: 112025: 42026: 8 (partial year)1112131415161718192021392223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20111
20128
201312
201425
201511
20168
201716
201812
201921
202010
202139
202213
20236
202411
20254
2026 (year to date)8
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.3x those in 2020 to 2022 (21 against 62).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
14V44700023/07/2014SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUSTGeneral 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
13V17300006/05/2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEMGeneral 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 c
11V40400003/08/2011ELECTRONIC 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 STABILIT
20V76400021/12/2020SUSPENSION:REARGeneral 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, Michiga
21V00F00022/12/2021SUSPENSION:REARGeneral 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, Michiga

Other Buick LaCrosse model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 7 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.