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.
2013CAREFULSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and suspension Extended coverage
101 serious complaints of 129, the most about engine (30) and suspension (27); per car on the road, 1.4× this model's usual year. 5 recalls. NHTSA investigation RQ13003: generator control module fires.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2013 buick lacrosse. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and the battery and check engine warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the power steering failed. After the contact powered off the engine and restarted the vehicle, he was able to drive normally.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Feb 2018
“The contact owns a 2013 Buick Lacrosse. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the suspension, Oct 2021
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage On some vehicles, equipped with e85 flex fuel capability (fhs), the flexible fuel sensor may become inoperative during normal operation due to an electrical failure caused by road salt and other environmental contaminants. 14289 - special coverage. (G-199041, Aug 2014)
- 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 13125 - Customer Satisfaction Program - There may be an interference condition between the outside door handle and the door handle bracket assembly. Dealers will inspect and modify the front and rear outside door handles. (G-166827, May 2013)
- 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.
129 owner complaints · 5 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 20–29 mpg · NHTSA: 5 of 5 stars · 2013 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
2013 Lacrosse trims
| Base | Convenience | Leather | Premium I | Premium II | Premium III | 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.