2012 Buick LaCrosse
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 61 of 205 complaints (30%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 169 in 2011 to 205 in 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,100 | 2,250–3,100 | 2,150–3,100 | 2,250–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–23 | 20–28 | 20–29 | 20–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–19 / 26–29 | 16–24 / 26–35 | 17–25 / 25–36 | 17–24 / 26–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386–444 | 317–444 | 312–453 | 312–438 | |
| Complaints filed | 169 | 205 | 129 | 63 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 15 | 10 | 5 | 7 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 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 2012 Buick LaCrosse have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Buick LaCrosse?
Electrical: 61 of 205 NHTSA complaints (30%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Buick LaCrosse get?
EPA rates it 20–28 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Buick LaCrosse?
EPA estimates $2,250–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg | 27 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Midsize Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,250 (low) | 317 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg | 27 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 423 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 51 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 61 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 41 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 24 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 36 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 15 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 22 | 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 (5)
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 21V00F000 · Dec 22, 2021
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 · Campaign 20V764000 · Dec 10, 2020
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 · Campaign 14V447000 · Jul 23, 2014
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · Campaign 13V173000 · May 6, 2013
Defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.
Consequence: If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · Campaign 11V404000 · Aug 11, 2011
Defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BUICK LACROSSE PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 9, 2011, THROUGH JULY 2, 2011, FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 126, "ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS (ESC)." THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM HAS AN INCORRECT CALIBRATION THAT MAY CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO NOT PROPERLY DETECT IF A SENSOR WERE TO MALFUNCTION, AND THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATING WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE, AS REQUIRED IN THE SAFETY STANDARD.
Consequence: THE IMPROPER DIAGNOSING MAY CAUSE THE ESC TO FALSELY ACTIVATE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING AND DECELERATION, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE'S DESIRED PATH OF TRAVEL AND DESIRED VEHICLE SPEED, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.