2012 Buick LACROSSE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Buick LACROSSE has 300 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: i recently purchased a 2012 buick lacrosse with easiest. i had it less than 48 hours and had to take it to the dealer due to check engine light coming on. they stated the generator was faulty and needed replaced and there were 7 codes that showed up. after about a week they were finally able to have. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 9 crash reports 3 injuries

300

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

60 complaints

20%

• I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE WITH EASIEST. I HAD IT LESS THAN 48 HOURS AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THEY STATED THE GENERATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACED AND THERE WERE 7 CODES THAT SHOWED UP. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO HAVE
• CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE FOR 10 HOURS. FOUND WITH ALL LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT FLASHING. REMOTE ENTRY DIDN'T WORK. CAR WOULDN'T START. KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. OVERHEAD LIGHT AND WIPERS TURNED ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN AND WERE MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. TRUNK POPPED OPEN ON ITS OWN, THEN WHEN SHUT WOULDN'T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE RADIO/NAVIGATION CONSOLE SCREEN BECAME BLACK. THE ON STAR BUTTON AND THE EMERGENCY BUTTONS WERE ALSO DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE RADIO WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE FAILUR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE WITH EASIEST. I HAD IT LESS THAN 48 HOURS AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THEY STATED THE GENERATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACED AND THERE WERE 7 CODES THAT SHOWED UP. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO HAVE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

50 complaints

17%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE F
• 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, T
• WE WERE ON I 35 TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THE MOTOR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. AFTER ABOUT 30 TO 45 SECONDS SOME POWER SEEMED TO COME BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SERVICE ROAD. EXTERNAL TEMP. WAS 93 AND BUT THERE WAS NO WORKING AIR CON INSIDE THE CAR. I CALLED ONSTAR. THEY RAN A DIAGN

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

30 complaints

10%

• AFTER STARTING ENGINE AND PLACING GEAR IN DRIVE, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN SO FAST THAT IT LEFT TIRE MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT FROM WHERE THE ACCELERATION STARTED. THE CAR PASSED THROUGH THE PARKING LOT LANE, OVER TWO CURBS, SLIGHTLY SCRAPING A SMALL POST IN THE PARKING LOT CAUSING THE DAMAGE TO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH, THE FRONT SWAY BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFA
• STABILITY TRACKING LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO KICK AND JURK COMES TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC . ELECTRONIC BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON , TELLING TO HAVE SERVICED. TOLD DEALER ABOUT PROBLEM .TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM RESET COMPUTER. DEALER CODE WAS. PROGRAMED IN AND CONTINUES TO ACT UP OV

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

“AFTER STARTING ENGINE AND PLACING GEAR IN DRIVE, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN SO FAST THAT IT LEFT TIRE MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT FROM WHERE THE ACCELERATION STARTED. THE CAR PASSED THROUGH THE PARKING LOT LANE, OVER TWO CURBS, SLIGHTLY SCRAPING A SMALL POST IN THE PARKING LOT CAUSING THE DAMAGE TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

25 complaints

• 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 WARNIN
• SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR IT'S BEEN VERY HARD TO DRIVE ON THE HWY ONCE I HIT A CERTAIN SPEED IT LOSES CONTROL VERY EASY ALSO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE KEEPS FAILING LOSS OF BATTERY ALL THE TIME I SMELL A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR EVERY SO OFTEN AND THE FRONT SEAT LOCKS UP
• BOUGHT MY 2012 BUICK LACROSSE USED LAST JUNE. FISHTAILING PRESENTED IN THE FIRST MONTH. HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES (INCLUDING WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE) TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. FISHTAILING OCCURS IN ALL CONDITIONS AND ON CITY S

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

“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 WARNIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

24 complaints

• I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN PARKING BAY AT A GAS STATION AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS IN THERE APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND A GENTLEMAN GAME INTO THE BUILDING AND ASKED DID ANYONE IN THERE OWN A BUICK LACROSSE. I SAID IT WAS MINE, HE TOLD ME IT HAD ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING BAY TOWARDS HIS MERCEDES, HE HAD STO
• 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
• I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2012 BUICK LACROSSE, IT STARTED SOONER THAN THIS WITH MY AIR DEFLECTOR FALLING OFF AT 75 MPH AND ALMOST FLIPPING MY CAR. THIS TIME ON JULY 30TH MY VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT FROM THE MEMORY LOSS, THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS STALLED IN ONE OF T

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

“I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN PARKING BAY AT A GAS STATION AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS IN THERE APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND A GENTLEMAN GAME INTO THE BUILDING AND ASKED DID ANYONE IN THERE OWN A BUICK LACROSSE. I SAID IT WAS MINE, HE TOLD ME IT HAD ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING BAY TOWARDS HIS MERCEDES, HE HAD STO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~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 300 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE WITH EASIEST. I HAD IT LESS THAN 48 HOURS AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THEY STATED THE GENERATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACED AND THERE WERE 7 CODES THAT SHOWED UP. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO HAVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: AFTER STARTING ENGINE AND PLACING GEAR IN DRIVE, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN SO FAST THAT IT LEFT TIRE MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT FROM WHERE THE ACCELERATION STARTED. THE CAR PASSED THROUGH THE PARKING LOT LANE, OVER TWO CURBS, SLIGHTLY SCRAPING A SMALL POST IN THE PARKING LOT CAUSING THE DAMAGE TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: 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 WARNIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)