YearToAvoid

2019 Buick LaCrosse Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#10 most-complained of 10 LaCrosse years

The 2019 Buick LaCrosse has 6 complaints and 2 recalls on file with NHTSA, giving it a complaint index of 0 and the best rank among 10 model years (rank 10 of 10, worst-first).

Complaints
6
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
20 city / 30 hwy

Top 2019 Buick LaCrosse problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine3 (50%)
  2. Other3 (50%)
  3. Electrical System1 (17%)
  4. Fuel System1 (17%)

What owners report

  • Owners report a water-sloshing sound under the dashboard near the engine, sometimes at startup and sometimes after driving several miles, even though coolant level checks out fine.
  • One owner reported the engine cooling fan failing to shut off after the car was turned off, continuing to run even after highway driving at 60-70 MPH.
  • Another owner described a hesitation or dead spot when accelerating onto the highway, where pressing the pedal produced no response until pumping it repeatedly, with the dealer reporting no fix available.
  • These engine-related reports account for half of all complaints filed for this model year.
2019 Buick LaCrosse complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2020Dec 2020Oct 2022Feb 2024Jul 2025May 2026
8 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2020 to May 2026; peak Feb 2024 (2).

2019 Buick LaCrosse recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V668000Oct 29, 2020Transmission & Powertrain194,105 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

    Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

  2. NHTSA 18V576000Aug 30, 2018Brakes210,628 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

    Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

2019 Buick LaCrosse fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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.

2019 compared with other LaCrosse years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Best2234224
2018Best1112324
2019Best06224

All Buick LaCrosse years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Buick LaCrosse reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2019 LaCrosse a complaint index of 0, the lowest among all 10 model years covered, and it ranks as the best year in the lineup.
What problems does the 2019 Buick LaCrosse have?
NHTSA lists 6 complaints for the 2019 LaCrosse, with the Engine as the top problem area at 50% of complaints, followed by Electrical System and Fuel System at 17% each.
Does the 2019 Buick LaCrosse have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for the transmission and powertrain start-stop accumulator, and one for a brake system bleed issue. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
What is the median mileage for engine complaints on the 2019 LaCrosse?
The median mileage at failure for Engine complaints is 28,100 miles, according to NHTSA data.

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.