YearToAvoid

2011 Buick LaCrosse Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 19 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Buick LaCrosse, 11% of all complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 44,450 miles. No related recalls are on file for this area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
19
11% of 169
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
44,450 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a sudden, hard jerk or lunge when transitioning between gas and brake, sometimes described as the car feeling like it's on an oil slick before catching gear.
  • Multiple contacts describe a long delay, up to 5-15 seconds, between shifting from park to reverse or drive before the transmission responds.
  • Some owners report the transmission shifting forward with a noticeable jerk at low speeds, particularly in the 2000-2500 rpm range, that worsened over time.
  • Several complaints describe the vehicle stalling or failing to accelerate while driving, with gears refusing to shift and the car unable to move past low speeds.
  • One owner reported the vehicle stalling at low speed, being towed for a faulty power sensor, then experiencing the same stall recur weeks after repair.
  • A contact reported the vehicle voluntarily coming to a stop and shutting off, followed by reduced engine power and hindered acceleration signaled on the dash.

When 2011 Buick LaCrosse transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 2, 2010, latest Dec 6, 2022.

2011 Buick LaCrosse transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2010Jul 2013Aug 2015Feb 2016Jun 2018Apr 2020
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2010 to Dec 2022; peak Dec 2016 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 Buick LaCrosse

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by LaCrosse model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200519 (6%)
  2. 20067 (2%)
  3. 200710 (4%)
  4. 20085 (2%)
  5. 20093 (3%)
  6. 201017 (9%)
  7. 201119 (11%)
  8. 201224 (12%)
  9. 201311 (9%)
  10. 20144 (6%)
  11. 20152 (5%)
  12. 20167 (15%)
  13. 20178 (24%)
  14. 20183 (25%)
  15. 20190 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2011 Buick LaCrosse have?
NHTSA lists 19 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 LaCrosse, which is 11% of the 169 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2011 Buick LaCrosse?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2011 LaCrosse.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up on the 2011 LaCrosse?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2011 LaCrosse is 44,450 miles.
Did the transmission problems cause any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 2 crashes and 0 fires linked to Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2011 LaCrosse, with no injuries reported.
Is the 2011 LaCrosse worse than other years for transmission issues?
The 2011 LaCrosse had 19 complaints (11% share) in this area, close to 2010's 17 complaints (9%) and lower than 2012's 24 complaints (12%), based on NHTSA data by model year.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.