The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 35 of 169 complaints (21%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (8) than those mentioning any other identified area.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 169
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,700–$3,100
- Combined MPG
- 20–23
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | vs. 2011 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,100 | 2,200–3,100 | 2,150–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–23 | 20–28 | 20–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–19 / 26–29 | 16–24 / 26–35 | 17–25 / 25–36 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386–444 | 317–444 | 312–453 | |
| Complaints filed | 169 | 206 | 130 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 15 | 10 | 5 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 4 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 5 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2011 Buick LaCrosse have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2011 Buick LaCrosse?
Engine: 35 of 169 NHTSA complaints (21%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Buick LaCrosse get?
EPA rates it 20–23 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 Buick LaCrosse?
EPA estimates $2,700–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 19 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg | 27 mpg | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 25 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 29 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 18 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
SUSPENSION:REAR
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
SUSPENSION:REAR
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
- Defect
- GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 BUICK LACROSSE AND CADILLAC SRX VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS". ON THESE VEHICLES, THE SOFTWARE IN THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL (ECC) MODULE MAY DISABLE THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM SETTINGS. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE HEATING, COOLING, AND VENTILATION FOR THE VEHICLE.
- Consequence
- IF THIS CONDITION AFFECTS THE DEFROST SYSTEM WHEN IT IS REQUIRED, IT MAY DECREASE THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.