Research · Midsize Cars

2012 Buick LacrosseRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 206 owner complaints for the 2012 Buick Lacrosse. Most complaints involve electrical system (62) and engine (46). The EPA rates it 20–21 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
20–21mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Dec 2021
Owner complaints
206
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported Dec 22, 2021NHTSA 21V00F000

Suspension: rear

Remedy pending

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.

SuspensionReported Dec 22, 2020NHTSA 20V764000

Seats: power adjust

Remedy pending

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.

SeatsReported Jul 23, 2014NHTSA 14V447000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

206 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2011 – Sep 2026
  1. Electrical system62
  2. Engine46
  3. Suspension31
  4. Electronic stability control (esc)25
  5. Steering24
  6. Power train24
  7. Service brakes16
  8. Vehicle speed control12
  9. Fuel/propulsion system8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Lacrosse model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2009106
2011169
2012206
2013130
201463
201544
201648
201736
201812
20197
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
5
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

62 reports2 crashes1 fire
“**Subject:** Formal Safety Defect Complaint: Premature Failure of Completed Recall Remedy (NHTSA Campaign 13V173000 / GM Recall 13136) Resulting in Sudden Loss of Power Steering **VEHICLE INFORMATION** * **Year/Make/Model:** 2012 Buick LaCrosse Hybrid (eAssist) * **VIN:** [XXX] * **Current Mileage:** [Insert Current Mileage] **DESCRIPTION OF SAFETY DEFECT & INCIDENT** This vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign 13V173000 to resolve an inherent defect in the Generator Control Module (GCM) that presents a severe stalling and trunk fire risk. On 9-9-26, under normal driving conditions in ambient temperatures of approximately 95°F and after covering a distance of 10 miles, the manufacturer-installed remedy component suffered a premature, catastrophic thermal failure. The replacement GCM ceased regulating and delivering power to the vehicle’s 12-volt system. The resulting critical voltage drop forced the vehicle into an emergency load-shedding protocol, abruptly disabling the air conditioning system. Shortly thereafter, the severe drop in operating voltage caused a total, sudden failure of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) while the vehicle was…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2026Electrical systemODI 11765050

Engine

46 reports1 fire
“2012 Buick LaCrosse V6 (Fairfax Plant). The vehicle suffered a sudden, complete loss of engine power and forward propulsion while traveling at highway speed, cutting off mid-drive with no warning. This occurred alongside a persistent StabiliTrak malfunction; the dash showed repeated "Service StabiliTrak" warnings before the failure, then turned bright orange with multiple warning lights and a message instructing me to activate my turn signal and pull over before RPMs dropped to zero. Because power cut out instantly, my [XXX] son (passenger) and I were trapped in the center lane of a dense, multi-lane highway. I was forced to dodge high-speed traffic and coast the dead vehicle across multiple active lanes to reach the shoulder, creating an imminent collision risk to us and other drivers. We were then stranded on the narrow shoulder awaiting a tow, with traffic passing within feet at highway speed. Both my son and I have CMT2A (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), a neuromuscular disability limiting mobility; we were incapable of quickly evacuating the vehicle or reaching safety up the embankment, leaving us trapped in a highly dangerous position. No official inspection…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2026Service brakes, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11749557

Suspension

31 reports2 crashes
“Subject: Complaint Regarding Improper Handling of Safety Recall Repair Hello, I would like to file an official complaint regarding a dealership that failed to properly follow required procedures for a federally mandated safety recall repair on my vehicle. Vehicle Information: • Year/Make/Model: 2012 Buick Lacrosse • VIN: [XXX] • Recall Number (if known): Dealership Information: • Dealership Name: Castle Buick • Location: 7400 Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546 • Date of Service Attempt: May 2026 Details of the Issue: The dealership did not follow the proper safety recall repair guidelines as required under federal regulations. Despite the recall requiring specific corrective actions to ensure the vehicle is safe to operate, the dealer either: • failed to perform the full recall procedure, • refused or delayed the repair without a valid reason, or • returned the vehicle without completing required steps to ensure safety (such as proper inspection, adjustment, or alignment). This violates my rights as a vehicle owner, as federal law requires manufacturers and authorized dealers to correct safety-related defects at no cost and in full compliance with recall…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2026SuspensionODI 11745950
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
LaCrosse
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV · Front-Wheel Drive
172721$2,950423
LaCrosse
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV; Sport Transmission · Front-Wheel Drive
172721$2,950423
LaCrosse AWD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L · All-Wheel Drive
162620$3,100444
  • LaCrosse
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV
    17 city · 27 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • LaCrosse
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L, SIDI; FFV; Sport Transmission
    17 city · 27 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • LaCrosse AWD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L
    16 city · 26 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Buick Lacrosse 4 DR AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
11.8%
Overall
5 / 5
Buick Lacrosse 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
11.8%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 9, 2026Vehicle 6702Vehicle 6504
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2012 Lacrosse questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Buick Lacrosse have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2012 Buick Lacrosse problems?

Owners filed 206 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (62), engine (46), suspension (31). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2012 Buick Lacrosse get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Buick Lacrosse at 20–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2012 Buick Lacrosse?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2012 Buick Lacrosse 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 9, 2026