2012 Buick LaCrosse Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Buick LaCrosse has a complaint index of 71, ranking 5th worst out of 15 model years, with a Caution verdict. Owners filed 206 complaints and 5 recalls, led by electrical system issues (31% of complaints).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 71/100
- #5 of 15 LaCrosse years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 206
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 17 city / 27 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2012 Buick LaCrosse problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System64 (31%)
- Engine62 (30%)
- Brakes41 (20%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires36 (17%)
- Steering24 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain24 (12%)
- Other22 (11%)
- Structure & Body15 (7%)
- Fuel System8 (4%)
- Airbags4 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Accelerator pedal reportedly broke off while driving, causing loss of control and a collision.
- Vehicle allegedly surged from a slow speed to around 100 mph while parking, ending in a crash.
- Wide A-pillar design blocks visibility, which owners say led to tires popping while turning.
- Tilt steering wheel unlocked itself while underway, sending the car off the road.
- Vehicle lost power suddenly at 45 mph with no warning light, forcing the driver to stop by hitting a curb.
- Lower control arm reportedly broke on the highway, triggering a stability control warning and hard braking.
2012 Buick LaCrosse recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V00F000Dec 22, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires4,271 vehicles
Suspension:rear
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.
- NHTSA 20V764000Dec 21, 2020Suspension, Wheels & Tires220,006 vehicles
Suspension:rear
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.
- NHTSA 14V447000Jul 23, 2014Structure & Body414,333 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:power adjust
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
Risk: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
2012 Buick LaCrosse fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Gasoline or E85
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other LaCrosse years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Buick LaCrosse reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2012 LaCrosse a complaint index of 71, the 5th worst of 15 model years tracked, earning a Caution verdict relative to other LaCrosse years.
- What are the most common problems on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse?
- Electrical system issues lead with 64 complaints (31% share), followed by engine problems with 62 complaints (30%) and brakes with 41 complaints (20%).
- Does the 2012 Buick LaCrosse have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 LaCrosse, covering suspension toe links, a power seat height adjuster bolt, an electrical generator control module, and an electronic brake control module reprogram. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2012 LaCrosse compare to other years?
- The 2012 model's complaint index of 71 is worse than 2013 (43), 2014 (36), and 2015-2019, which all score much lower and reach Good or Best verdicts, making 2012 one of the higher-complaint years for this model.
- At what mileage do 2012 LaCrosse problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure varies by area: electrical system issues appear around 66,000 miles, engine problems around 52,894 miles, and brake problems around 75,000 miles.