MODELYEARINDEX

Which Buick Lacrosse years to avoid

Across 8 scored model years, the 2012, 2011 and 2010 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Buick Lacrosse Full report
D
Grade 2010–2017
2012 vs model median 1.8×
Model median3× median
Electrical 20
Engine 18
Drivetrain 15
Avoid

2011 · 2012

Best

2016 · 2017

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.71× 92 D
2011
1.79× 77 D
2012
1.78× 98 D
2013
1.10× 57 C
2014
0.90× 44 C
2015
0.50× 24 B
2016
0.45× 22 B
2017
0.32× 25 A

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2011 D 77 reports · median 8,000 mi

  1. Body & Interior 15

    2011 buick lacrosse. Consumer states problems with keyless push button start feature system the consumer stated the manual described the method to move the transmission lever from park to neutral without starting… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 12

    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… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 9

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

18 crash · 2 fire · 9 injuries

2012 D 98 reports · median 13,827 mi

  1. Electrical 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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 18

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 15

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

6 crash · 1 fire · 3 injuries

The best year for the Lacrosse

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2017 is the best-scoring Lacrosse model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 87 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2017 0.32× 25 A
2016 0.45× 22 B
2015 0.50× 24 B

Recalls

16 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
16V651000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 2014–2016 3,640,162
14V447000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST 2011, 2012 414,333
20V764000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2010–2013 220,006
13V173000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2012, 2013 42,904
17V437000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 2014–2016 40,683
21V633000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2013 32,894
13V097000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2013 26,582
14V317000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2014 14,765
17V267000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2017 11,246
11V149000 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT 2011 10,179
14V240000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC 2014 8,208
21V00F000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2010–2013 4,271

+ 4 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2012 were reported at a median of 13,827 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Buick Lacrosse years should you avoid?
2012, 2011, 2010 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Buick Lacrosse model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Buick Lacrosse?
2017 is the best-scoring Buick Lacrosse model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 87 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Buick Lacrosse have?
16 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Buick Lacrosse model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2012 Lacrosse
Complaints in window
98
Severity-weighted
155.5
Model median (weighted)
88
vs model median
1.78×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
5
Open investigations
0
Score 43.1 D