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Buick LaCrosse: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Buick LaCrosse problems by model year, from 902 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2010 (41%, 68 drivetrain complaints), 2012 (37%, 73 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (36%, 12 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 8 Buick LaCrosse years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2015 (15%), 2014 (16%) and 2016 (32%). 2015 and 2016 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2013 (33%) to 2014 (16%), down 17 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (73 of 271 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Buick LaCrosse year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 LaCrosse | high | 41% | 68 | 189 | 1/8 | 2 |
| 2011 LaCrosse | no elevated signal | 32% | 51 | 169 | 5/8 | 4 |
| 2012 LaCrosse | elevated | 37% | 73 | 206 | 2/8 | 5 |
| 2013 LaCrosse | elevated | 33% | 41 | 129 | 4/8 | 5 |
| 2014 LaCrosse | no elevated signal | 16% | 8 | 63 | 7/8 | 5 |
| 2015 LaCrosse | no elevated signal | 15% | 5 | 44 | 8/8 | 3 |
| 2016 LaCrosse | no elevated signal | 32% | 13 | 48 | 6/8 | 2 |
| 2017 LaCrosse | elevated | 36% | 12 | 36 | 3/8 | 2 |
| 2018 LaCrosse | too few to score | – | 7 | 12 | – | 3 |
| 2019 LaCrosse | too few to score | – | 3 | 6 | – | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Buick LaCrosse years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Buick LaCrosse transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Buick LaCrosse involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2013 | 13V097000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2013 |
| Feb 2014 | 14V092000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014 |
14 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2011 | 11V149000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element | 2011 |
| Aug 2011 | 11V404000 | electronic stability control (esc) | 2012 |
| May 2013 | 13V173000 | electrical system | 2012–2013 |
| May 2014 | 14V240000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc | 2014 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V317000 | electrical system | 2014 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V447000 | seats: front assembly: power adjust | 2011–2012 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V666000 | air bags: side/window | 2015 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V651000 | air bags: frontal | 2014–2016 |
| Feb 2017 | 17V116000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2017 |
| Apr 2017 | 17V267000 | suspension: rear | 2017 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V437000 | air bags: frontal | 2014–2016 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V764000 | suspension: rear | 2010–2013 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V633000 | suspension: rear | 2013 |
| Dec 2021 | 21V00F000 | suspension: rear | 2010–2013 |
What the free pages leave out on the Buick LaCrosse
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Buick LaCrosse
What are the worst years for the Buick LaCrosse?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Buick LaCrosse years are the 2010 (41% of relevant complaints, high), the 2012 (37% of relevant complaints, elevated) and the 2017 (36% of relevant complaints, elevated). 4 of 8 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Buick LaCrosse?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Buick LaCrosse years are the 2015 (15%), the 2014 (16%) and the 2016 (32%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Buick LaCrosse have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 8 scored years, 271 of 815 relevant NHTSA complaints (33%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2017.
Is the Buick LaCrosse reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 8 Buick LaCrosse years we score have an elevated complaint share and 4 do not. Pooled across those years, 33% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Buick LaCrosse?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Buick LaCrosse years we track, out of 16 in total: 13V097000 (Mar 2013, 2013), 14V092000 (Feb 2014, 2014). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.