2011 Buick LACROSSE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Buick LACROSSE has 243 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (14% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 buick lacrosse. the contact stated that the vehicle would stall while driving at various speeds. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was not notified. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mile. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 14 crash reports 3 injuries

243

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

35 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE FAILURE HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK INTO GEAR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE
• THE 2011 BUICK LACROSSE WITH A 3.6 HAD POPPING SOUND UPON STARTING WHEN CAR WAS 5 DAYS OLD; BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS ASKED IF I WAS SURE IT WAS MY CAR. THEY CHECKED VEHICLE AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT POPPED UPON STARTING 8-9 MORE TIMES IN 3 WEEKS. UPON LEA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

31 complaints

13%

• 2011 BUICK LA CROSSE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ARE REFLECTED THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OUT ONTO THE SIDE MIRROR WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT *TGW
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A PUSH BUTTON START ENGINE AND WHEN HE PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD START WHILE HE WAS WALKING AWAY. THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON FOR TEN MINUTES DURING THE LAST TWO TIMES THE FAILURE OCCURRED;
• THIS VEHICLE HAS THE PUSH BUTTON KEYLESS START. PAGE 10-89 OF THE OWNER MANUAL DESCRIBES THE METHOD TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOWING THE VEHICLE OR MOVING IT WITHOUT STARTING THE ENGINE (IF THE CAR BATTERY IS DEAD OR THE ENGIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“2011 BUICK LA CROSSE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ARE REFLECTED THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OUT ONTO THE SIDE MIRROR WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT *TGW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

27 complaints

11%

• WE BOUGHT A NEW 2011 BUICK LACROSSE CXS 11-15-10, DROVE IT 200 MILES AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED IN COSTCO PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH AND NO IMPACT. THE RIM POPPED OPEN AT THE CENTER SEAM CREATING A BIG OVAL OPENING THAT LOCKED UP ON THE BRAKE CALIPER, STOPPING THE WHEEL WHICH SNAPPED THE TIE ROD END
• I WAS DRIVING OUR BUICK LACROSSE WITH 3036 MILES ON IT, AT 58 MPH, WHEN THE WHEEL BEGAN TO JERK BACK & FORTH VIOLENTLY. I WAS SKIDDING DOWN THE ROAD UNABLE TO STEER. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. THE RIGHT REAR TIE ROD BOLT HAD BROKEN. WHEN THIS HAPP
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE SUSPENSION LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,810.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“WE BOUGHT A NEW 2011 BUICK LACROSSE CXS 11-15-10, DROVE IT 200 MILES AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED IN COSTCO PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH AND NO IMPACT. THE RIM POPPED OPEN AT THE CENTER SEAM CREATING A BIG OVAL OPENING THAT LOCKED UP ON THE BRAKE CALIPER, STOPPING THE WHEEL WHICH SNAPPED THE TIE ROD END”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

23 complaints

• MOONROOF FRONT GLASS OF MY 2011 BUICK LACROSSE EXPLODED OUTWARD WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN GOING OFF. CLIMATE CONTROL WAS ON "AUTO". *TR
• BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM (BSWS) INOPERATIVE QUE ON VEHICLE MULTI FUNCTION INFORMATION DISPLAY (MFID), LOCATED BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL IN A 3"X4" AREA IS INADEQUATE. THE BSWS ON THIS VEHICLE IS VERY SUSTAINABLE TO ROAD SPRAY DURING RAIN EVENTS THAT RENDERS THIS SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. THE ISSUE IS I
• DEFROSTER,HEAT,A/C,FAN SPEED,RECIRC, HEAT/COOL SEATS FUNCTIONS FAILED (STOPPED WORKING COMPLETLY) WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM ON JANUARY 12, 2016 ON HIGHWAY US 131 TO TRAVERSE CITY, MI. FOUND RECALL INFORMATION NHTSA # 11V149000. BROUGHT TO DEALER. DEALER SAID NOT COVERRED UNDER RECAL DUE TO VIN #

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MOONROOF FRONT GLASS OF MY 2011 BUICK LACROSSE EXPLODED OUTWARD WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN GOING OFF. CLIMATE CONTROL WAS ON "AUTO". *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

19 complaints

• UPON LEAVING DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASE OF NEW CAR, TURNED RIGHT TO EXIT AND TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL, ALMOST REAR-ENDED. THOUGHT I MAY HAVE HIT SHIFTER. ANOTHER TURN FROM STOP AND TRANS JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL DURING TURN WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC. JUST MISSED BEING HIT AND PERHAPS KILLED. MANUALLY
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY REVERSED INTO THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR AND CONTINUED TO ROLL, CRASHING INTO A CURB WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND FOUR RIMS WE
• SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION DURING A LOW SPEED (<5 MPH) TIGHT LEFT HAND TURN. FIRST INCIDENT RESULTED IN CRASH AGAINST HOUSE WALL, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE REPAIRED BELOW INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE, NO DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE. SECOND INCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT, ON OR ABOUT MAY 16, 2012, ABLE TO STO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“UPON LEAVING DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASE OF NEW CAR, TURNED RIGHT TO EXIT AND TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL, ALMOST REAR-ENDED. THOUGHT I MAY HAVE HIT SHIFTER. ANOTHER TURN FROM STOP AND TRANS JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL DURING TURN WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC. JUST MISSED BEING HIT AND PERHAPS KILLED. MANUALLY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 243 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 2011 BUICK LA CROSSE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ARE REFLECTED THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OUT ONTO THE SIDE MIRROR WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT *TGW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: WE BOUGHT A NEW 2011 BUICK LACROSSE CXS 11-15-10, DROVE IT 200 MILES AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED IN COSTCO PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH AND NO IMPACT. THE RIM POPPED OPEN AT THE CENTER SEAM CREATING A BIG OVAL OPENING THAT LOCKED UP ON THE BRAKE CALIPER, STOPPING THE WHEEL WHICH SNAPPED THE TIE ROD END
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: MOONROOF FRONT GLASS OF MY 2011 BUICK LACROSSE EXPLODED OUTWARD WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN GOING OFF. CLIMATE CONTROL WAS ON "AUTO". *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)