2012 Buick Lacrosse problems, complaints & recalls

2012 Buick Lacrosse recalls (5)

• Recall 21V00F000Dec 22, 20214,271 vehicles
  SUSPENSION:REAR

  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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 20V764000Dec 21, 2020220,006 vehicles
  SUSPENSION:REAR

  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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 14V447000Jul 23, 2014414,333 vehicles
  SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

  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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 13V173000May 6, 201342,904 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 11V404000Aug 3, 20114,077 vehicles
  ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  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.

  Risk: 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

• AQ14001Opened May 2, 2014Closed May 22, 2016

  Sands Chevrolet/Hybrid System Fire/Stall

  NHTSA opened AQ14-001 to determine whether Sands Chevrolet of Surprise, Arizona complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed (49 U.S.C. ?? 30112(a), 30120(i)).NHTSA issued a…

• RQ13003Opened Jul 5, 2013Closed Jul 22, 2014

  Generator Control Module Fires

  On July 5, 2013 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ13-003 to investigate whether the service procedures utilized in recall bulletins 13136 and 13142 for safety recall 13V-173 were sufficient to identify the safety defect in the subject vehicles.These safety recalls were issue on May 3, 2013 to address the improper function of the Generator Control Module (GCM) in certain model year (MY) 2012-13 Buick LaCrosse and Regal and MY 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco equipped with eAssist.This condition may result in a loss of battery charge, engine stall and/or inability for the …

Recent 2012 Buick Lacrosse complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Sep 17, 2026MOElectrical System

   **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…

   NHTSA complaint #11765050 · source
2. Filed Jul 14, 2026AZOther / Unknown

   I was driving my car the engine turned off by itself everything locked up when i stop i tried to start it again and it just clicked, I thought it was the battery got a new battery started up drove it about a half mile did it again turned off everything locked up

   NHTSA complaint #11750341 · source
3. Filed Jul 14, 2026AZOther / Unknown

   I was driving my car the engine turned off by itself everything locked up when i stop i tried to start it again and it just clicked, I thought it was the battery got a new battery started up drove it about a half mile did it again turned off everything locked up

   NHTSA complaint #11750340 · source
4. Filed Jul 10, 2026OHBrakesEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11749557 · source
5. Filed Jun 23, 2026ILSuspension

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11745950 · source
6. Filed Jun 19, 2026SCOther / Unknown

   There is a know water leak issues with GM. The below is the tsb, Technical Service Bulletin (TSB #16-NA-073. This is a safety issues because if your not aware it could lead to mold in your car. I noticed my issue about 3 weeks ago when my floor board was flooded. I can tell by how the carpet looks its been leaking for a while. I would like this to be further looked into. This is a know issues and the dealership should be responsible for repairs. This is also going to be a…

   NHTSA complaint #11745321 · source
7. Filed Jun 5, 202671,000 miNJTowedEngine

   The contact owns a 2012 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the vehicle shut off in the middle of the roadway and the vehicle failed to restart. A bystander advised the contact to press the alarm button twice to restart the vehicle. The contact followed the advice of the bystander, and the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to Firestone, where an unknown diagnosis was made. The vehicle was towed to the…

   NHTSA complaint #11742307 · source
8. Filed May 5, 2026MDBrakes

   The break pedal sticks down during high temperatures ( generally during summer months especially when park outside in the sun and high humidity) and causes the brakes to drag and the break pedal doesn’t come up by itself! Also the brake lights stay on. It is very dangerous to drive on this condition. I just want theNHTSA to be aware of this and I have seen a lot of complaints on line I contacted gm and no response! It should be a recall for this! Please, help us with problem

   NHTSA complaint #11735921 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology