2013 Buick LACROSSE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Buick LACROSSE has 198 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle engine light (malfunction indicator lamp) came on; 5 minutes later charging system light came on with warning that "charging system not working". shortly thereafter, power steering went out and then abs light came on and then car shut down completely. after reading complaints about 2012 . ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 3 crash reports 4 injuries

198

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

52 complaints

26%

• VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) CAME ON; 5 MINUTES LATER CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WITH WARNING THAT "CHARGING SYSTEM NOT WORKING". SHORTLY THEREAFTER, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2012
• 4/6/2013 MY 2013 BUICK LACROSSE 4 CYLINDER MODEL WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. AT 9PM MY HUSBAND WENT OUTSIDE TO GET SOMETHING FROM THE CAR AND SAW THE CAR ON FIRE WITH FLAMES COMING FROM THE BACK END REAR BUMPER. BY THE TIME HE COULD GET A HOSE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE BACK BUMPER, THE REAR SIDE ON THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK UP CAMERA WAS EXTREMELY DIM AND IT WAS DIFFICULT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) CAME ON; 5 MINUTES LATER CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WITH WARNING THAT "CHARGING SYSTEM NOT WORKING". SHORTLY THEREAFTER, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2012 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

31 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CUR
• THE OIL FILTER WILL NOT STAY TIGHT. WE HAVE IT SERVICED AT A G M SERVICE CENTER.BUT EVERY TIME THEY CHANGE THE OIL IN ABOUT 1000 MILES THE FILTER COMES LOSE AND LEAKS. *TR
• THREE LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC MOVING AT 65 MPH AND ENGINE STALLS OUT WITH NO POWER. MAKE IT TO SHOULDER OF ROAD AND AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR, CAR STARTS WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON AND I CONTINUE TO DESTINATION. I HAVE SERVICE REPAIR SPECIALIST CHECK SOURCE OF PROBLEM AND IT IS FAILURE OF

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CUR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

27 complaints

14%

• ON SATURDAY, APRIL 7,2013 MY WIFE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A CONDO IN MARCO IS.FL. SHE WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. KNOWING THAT THE LACROSSE HAS A LOW FRONT END,SHE SLOWS DOWN TO A CRAWL TO AVOID DRAGGING THE FRONT END ON THE PARKING LOT BLOCKS. SHE IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARKING LOT A
• SERVICE STABILITRACK COMES ON AND REDUCES ENGINE POWER. HAPPENED THIS MORNING DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSED A HUGE WRECK BECAUSE I HAD NOWHERE TO GO AND COULDN'T GO THE FREEWAY SPEED.
• ABS TRACK LIGHT ON GOT ALIGNMENT STILL ON NOW HUB BEARING AND STRUT NEED TO BE REPLACED.

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

“ON SATURDAY, APRIL 7,2013 MY WIFE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A CONDO IN MARCO IS.FL. SHE WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. KNOWING THAT THE LACROSSE HAS A LOW FRONT END,SHE SLOWS DOWN TO A CRAWL TO AVOID DRAGGING THE FRONT END ON THE PARKING LOT BLOCKS. SHE IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARKING LOT A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

24 complaints

12%

• VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) CAME ON; 5 MINUTES LATER CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WITH WARNING THAT "CHARGING SYSTEM NOT WORKING". SHORTLY THEREAFTER, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2012
• NEAR THE FLORIDA-GEORGIA ON NORTH INTERSTATE 75 I STOPPED AT A REST AREA.WHEN I STARTED THE AUTO AGAIN,I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING LANE AND TO STRAIGHTEN THE CARS WHEELS TO EXIT THE AREA.I REALIZED THEN I LOST POWER STEERING.SLOWLY AND ON THE RIGHT LANE I DROVE THE AUTO TO VALDOS
• 65 YEAR OLD WIFE DRIVING 70MPH ON I75 IN MICHIGAN WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. SERVICE POWER STEERING MESSAGE CAME ON . I HAD TO HELP HER STEER CAR TO A STOP. I DID NOT KNOW IT HAD ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. IT WAS 9PM AT NIGHT. LOOKED FOR LOW FLUID LEVEL. DECIDED TO DRIVE HOME. WHEN CAR

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

12 complaints

• 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REAR VIEW CAMERA PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE, THE IMAGE ON THE NAVIGATOR SCREEN WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOW A YELLOW GUIDELINE TO ASSIST IN ORIENTING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BEING BACKED UP. THE GUIDELI
• 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REAR VIEW CAMERA PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE, THE IMAGE ON THE NAVIGATOR SCREEN WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOW A YELLOW GUIDELINE TO ASSIST IN ORIENTING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BEING BACKED UP. THE GUIDELI
• 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PARTIAL/COMPLETE BLACKOUT OF MONITOR (NAV SCREEN) INCLUDING REAR VIEW CAMERA WHEN BACKING UP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE NAVIGATION SCREEN AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD GO DARK, FOR 25 SECONDS. WHICH INCLUDED THE

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

“2013 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REAR VIEW CAMERA PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE, THE IMAGE ON THE NAVIGATOR SCREEN WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOW A YELLOW GUIDELINE TO ASSIST IN ORIENTING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BEING BACKED UP. THE GUIDELI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 198 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) CAME ON; 5 MINUTES LATER CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WITH WARNING THAT "CHARGING SYSTEM NOT WORKING". SHORTLY THEREAFTER, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2012
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CUR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: ON SATURDAY, APRIL 7,2013 MY WIFE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A CONDO IN MARCO IS.FL. SHE WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. KNOWING THAT THE LACROSSE HAS A LOW FRONT END,SHE SLOWS DOWN TO A CRAWL TO AVOID DRAGGING THE FRONT END ON THE PARKING LOT BLOCKS. SHE IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARKING LOT A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) CAME ON; 5 MINUTES LATER CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WITH WARNING THAT "CHARGING SYSTEM NOT WORKING". SHORTLY THEREAFTER, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2012
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)