Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2012CAREFULSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly engine and suspension Extended coverage
154 serious complaints of 206, the most about engine (46) and suspension (31); per car on the road, 1.5× this model's usual year. 5 recalls. NHTSA investigation RQ13003: generator control module fires.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2012 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Nov 2023
“The contact owns a 2012 buick lacrosse. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v764000 (suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the suspension, Apr 2021
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage On some 2008 model year (MY) Saturn Outlook; 2008-2009 MY Buick Allure, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac G8, Pontiac Montana SV6, Pontiac Torrent, and Saturn VUE; 2008-2010 MY Hummer H3 and Pontiac G6; 2008-2011 MY Cadillac CTS, Cadillac SRX, and Chevrolet Impala; 2008, 2011-2012 MY… (GCUS-9-939, Sep 2015)
- Extended coverage Certain vehicles equipped with a 2.4l engine (laf, lea or luk) that have experienced high oil consumption may also experience a frozen and/or plugged pcv (positive crankcase ventilation) system during cold weather operation. 14882 - special coverage. (14882, Mar 2015)
- Repair program This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module. (PIT5236F, Aug 2015)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
206 owner complaints · 5 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 20–28 mpg · NHTSA: 5 of 5 stars · 2012 trims and features
Every Lacrosse year's verdict →
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl; 3.6L 6-cyl · Drive: AWD, FWD
2012 Lacrosse trims
| Base | Convenience | Leather | Premium | Premium 1 | Premium 2 | Premium 3 | Touring |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Buick reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Buick aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2.5L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 23–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 6 | Unknown or other (3) | — |
| 2018 | 2.5L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 23–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 12 | Electrical system (5) | — |
| 2017 | 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 23–25 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 36 | Electrical system (11) | — |
| 2016 | 2.4L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 20–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 48 | Steering (12) | — |
| 2015 | 2.4L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 20–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 44 | Steering (12) | — |
| 2014 | 2.4L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 20–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 5 | 63 | Electrical system (14) | — |
| 2013 | 2.4L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 20–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 5 | 129 | Electrical system (54) | — |
| 2012 | 2.4L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 20–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 5 | 206 | Electrical system (62) | — |
| 2011 | 2.4L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 20–23 mpg | 5 of 5 | 4 | 169 | Electrical system (32) | — |
| 2010 | 2.4L 4-cyl 3.0L 6-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, FWD | 19–23 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 189 | Electrical system (46) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Buick LaCrosse 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 6 |
| 2019 | Buick LaCrosse 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 6 |
| 2019 | Buick LaCrosse Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 5 |
| 2018 | Buick LaCrosse 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 12 |
| 2018 | Buick LaCrosse 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 12 |
| 2018 | Buick LaCrosse Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 10 |
| 2017 | Buick LaCrosse 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 36 |
| 2017 | Buick LaCrosse 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 36 |
| 2016 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 48 |
| 2016 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 48 |
| 2016 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 41 |
| 2016 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 41 |
| 2015 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 44 |
| 2015 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 44 |
| 2015 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 43 |
| 2015 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 43 |
| 2014 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 63 |
| 2014 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 63 |
| 2014 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | No | 5 | 60 |
| 2014 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | No | 5 | 60 |
| 2013 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 5 | 129 |
| 2013 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR AWD | 5 | No | No | 5 | 129 |
| 2013 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR AWD | 5 | No | No | 4 | 124 |
| 2013 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 4 | 124 |
| 2012 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR AWD | 5 | No | No | 5 | 206 |
| 2012 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 5 | 206 |
| 2012 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR AWD | 5 | No | No | 0 | 2 |
| 2012 | Buick Lacrosse eAssist 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 0 | 2 |
| 2011 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR AWD | 5 | No | No | 4 | 169 |
| 2011 | Buick Lacrosse 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 4 | 169 |
| 2010 | Buick Lacrosse 4-DR w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 189 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | LaCrosse | Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 24 |
| 2019 | LaCrosse AWD | Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 23 |
| 2019 | LaCrosse eAssist | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 29 |
| 2018 | LaCrosse | Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 24 |
| 2018 | LaCrosse AWD | Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 23 |
| 2018 | LaCrosse eAssist | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 29 |
| 2017 | LaCrosse | Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 25 |
| 2017 | LaCrosse AWD | Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 23 |
| 2016 | LaCrosse | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI |
21 |
| 2016 | LaCrosse AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2016 | LaCrosse eAssist | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 28 |
| 2015 | LaCrosse | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV |
21 |
| 2015 | LaCrosse AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2015 | LaCrosse eAssist | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 28 |
| 2014 | LaCrosse | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI |
21 |
| 2014 | LaCrosse AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2014 | LaCrosse eAssist | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 28 |
| 2013 | LaCrosse | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV |
21 |
| 2013 | LaCrosse AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2013 | LaCrosse eAssist | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 29 |
| 2012 | LaCrosse | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV; Sport Transmission |
21 |
| 2012 | LaCrosse AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2012 | LaCrosse eAssist | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 28 |
| 2011 | LaCrosse | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
20–23 |
| 2011 | LaCrosse AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L | 20 |
| 2010 | Lacrosse/Allure | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L |
20–23 |
| 2010 | Lacrosse/Allure AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | 19 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.