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2011 Buick Lacrosse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Buick Lacrosse do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

125 reports with mileage · 44 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

169 reports
49,600 miles · Jun 15, 2018
Suspension

SUSPENSION NEEDS SERVICE, WARNING CAME ON

NHTSA ODI #11102183

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2018
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

WHEN IN MOTION A/C DOESN'T REALLY WORK, IT RARELY COOLS OFF AND DOESN'T WORK WHEN CAR IS STOPPED. DEFROSTER FOGS UP WINDOWS TO WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. A/C BLOWS OUT HOT AIR BUT IT'S CHARGED.

NHTSA ODI #11101731

73,704 miles · May 26, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

TWICE AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS, MY CAR WAS OILS NOT START AT THE PUMP. EACH TIME I HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD ACTUALLY START. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAITED, IT STARTED THEN IMMEDIATELY QUIT AGAIN. THERE IS A VERY HARD START WHEN IT ATTEMPTS TO START AS WELL. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN IMMEDIATELY WEN…

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TWICE AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS, MY CAR WAS OILS NOT START AT THE PUMP. EACH TIME I HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD ACTUALLY START. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAITED, IT STARTED THEN IMMEDIATELY QUIT AGAIN. THERE IS A VERY HARD START WHEN IT ATTEMPTS TO START AS WELL. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN IMMEDIATELY WENT OFF. I TOOK THE CAR DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAD TO REMAIN RUNNING UNTIL THEY COULD GET IT IN. THIS WAS 540P ON FRIDAY, MAY 25TH BEFORE A HOLIDAY.

NHTSA ODI #11098066

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2018
Engine

POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE IT HAS EXCESS PLAY IN THE CANSHAFT.

NHTSA ODI #11091162

85,000 miles · Apr 30, 2018
Visibility/wiper

SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD GOING 70MPH ON INTERSTATE. NO CARS AROUND ME NO BIRDS OR OTHER THINGS. ROAD PERFECTLY SMOOTH STRAIGHT DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. NO BAD WEATHER AND ALL WINDOWS RAISED AT THE TIME. SCARED ME TO DEATH. EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL UP UNTIL THE TIME IT EXPLODED. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BULLET AT FIRST.

NHTSA ODI #11091005

89,000 miles · Apr 15, 2018
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION,WITH APPROX 89,000 MILES BURNED UP WHILE I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP. I WAS 9 HOURS FROM MY HOME AND ALONE WITH A FULL CAR OF VACATION EQUIPMENT. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 24 IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE. I PULLED OFF AND A SERVICE STATION CHECKED WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE CODES SHOWED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I SHO…

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THE TRANSMISSION,WITH APPROX 89,000 MILES BURNED UP WHILE I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP. I WAS 9 HOURS FROM MY HOME AND ALONE WITH A FULL CAR OF VACATION EQUIPMENT. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 24 IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE. I PULLED OFF AND A SERVICE STATION CHECKED WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE CODES SHOWED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I SHOULD TRY TO GET TO THE NEAREST BUICK DEALER, IN CLARKSVILLE TENNESSEE. THEY SAID IT WOULD MAKE IT. I WAS ALONE. THANK GOODNESS FOR ONSTAR. I HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN CLARKSVILLE BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AND IT WAS GETTING DARK. THE CAR WAS BARELY MOVING BY NOW. IT WAS FRIGHTENING. I STAYED THE NIGHT AT A BAYMONT IN CLARKSVILLE AND WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT 6 30 AM. WAS PRAYING IT COULD BE FIXED AND I COULD CONTINUE ON MY WAS TO MILWAUKEE WITH MY BEAUTIFUL CAR, WHICH I HAD PUT SO MUCH EFFORT IN KEEPING IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. JUST BEFORE MY TRIP, I HAD REPLACED MY TIRES WITH BEAUTIFUL MICHELINS, AND SICK MY CAR HAD GONE INTO LIMP MODE TWICE, REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. EVERYTHING READY FOR A ROAD TRIP TO AMELIA ISLAND FROM MILWAUKEE. WYATT JOHNSON DEALERSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT. 4500.00 TO FIX, AND WOULD TAKE A WEEK. I WAS STUCK. I HAD TO GET HOME 9 HOURS AWAY. I WOULD NEED A RENTAL TO DRIVE HOME, THEN DRIVE BACK THEN DRIVE HOME IF I WOULD HAVE THE NEW TRANSMISSION. I GAVE MY BEAUTIFUL CAR TO THEM FOR 1500.00. I BOUGHT ANOTHER 2015 LACROSSE. I HAD TO UNLOAD A FULL CAR INTO THE NEW ONE. EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING SITUATION. I NOW HAVE A 2015 BUICK LACROSSE WHICH I BOUGHT FOR 19,800. JUST SO SHOCKING THAT AN AMERICAN MADE TRANSMISSION WOULD BURN UP AT 89,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, BUT IN SLOW TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN NASHVILLE WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN. I WILL SEND COPIES OF ALL DOCUMENTS.

NHTSA ODI #11085144

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2018
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE A/C IT DOES IT'S OWN THING AT TIMES. THE A/C FAN NEVER HAS BLOWN STRONG. IT'S LIKE THE DUCK WORK IS OBSTRUCTED SOME HOW. SITTING STILL AT TIMES THE A/C DOES NOT BLOW COLD AT ALL UNTIL YOU MOVE THEN IT STARTS TO BLOW COOL. AT TIMES A SMALL PART OF THE COOL AT TIMES SMALL AMOUNTS OF AIR SEEPS THROUGH THE DE…

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I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE A/C IT DOES IT'S OWN THING AT TIMES. THE A/C FAN NEVER HAS BLOWN STRONG. IT'S LIKE THE DUCK WORK IS OBSTRUCTED SOME HOW. SITTING STILL AT TIMES THE A/C DOES NOT BLOW COLD AT ALL UNTIL YOU MOVE THEN IT STARTS TO BLOW COOL. AT TIMES A SMALL PART OF THE COOL AT TIMES SMALL AMOUNTS OF AIR SEEPS THROUGH THE DEFROSTER AND FOGS UP THE WINDSHIELD ESPECIALLY AT NIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #11072653

80,000 miles · Feb 5, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL IN THE WINTER, WENT TO TURN INTO NEIGHBORHOOD AT TOP OF HILL, JUST AS TURNING THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE DIED. EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING. ENGINE SHUT OFF, BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, LIGHTS WENT OFF, THEN WOULDN'T START. THEN THE VEHICLE INSTRUCTED TO ROLL DRIVER WINDOW DOWN THEN UP, ROLL RIGHT W…

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WHILE DRIVING UPHILL IN THE WINTER, WENT TO TURN INTO NEIGHBORHOOD AT TOP OF HILL, JUST AS TURNING THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE DIED. EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING. ENGINE SHUT OFF, BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, LIGHTS WENT OFF, THEN WOULDN'T START. THEN THE VEHICLE INSTRUCTED TO ROLL DRIVER WINDOW DOWN THEN UP, ROLL RIGHT WINDOW DOWN THEN UP. ALMOST LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO REBOOT. BUT THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. AFTER TRYING A THIRD TIME TO START, IT STARTED. ALL INFORMATION WAS GONE, NO MILEAGE, OIL LIFE GONE, TRIPOMETER GONE. DROVE VEHICLE HOME, JUST A BLOCK AWAY AND BEEN TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11066972

95,000 miles · Jan 11, 2018
Engine

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, PISTON AND PISTON RINGS. BURNING 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 2000 OR LESS MILES. AFTER CHECKING I FIND OUT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MAKE AT A SPECIFIC PLANT. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 95,550 MILES. I THOUGHT BUICKS WERE GOOD CARS AND STOOD BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THIS IS QUIET EXPENSI…

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EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, PISTON AND PISTON RINGS. BURNING 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 2000 OR LESS MILES. AFTER CHECKING I FIND OUT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MAKE AT A SPECIFIC PLANT. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 95,550 MILES. I THOUGHT BUICKS WERE GOOD CARS AND STOOD BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THIS IS QUIET EXPENSIVE, CAN YOU HELP? THE OIL LIGHT DOESN'T EVEN COME ON WHEN IT GOT THAT LOW. IT STARTED ACTING FUNNY AND WHEN CHECKED, LOW OIL, NO . I HAVE KEPT MY VEHICLE VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AROUND 10/16/17 AND AFTER LOOKED AT AGAIN 1/8/18 DRIPS OR LEAKS

NHTSA ODI #11062143

112,000 miles · Jan 6, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, DROPPED SUDDENLY TO 30 MPH. HAD TO PULL ONTO SHOULDER FROM PASSING LANE, ALMOST REAR ENDED BY TRACTOR TRAILER DUE TO SUDDEN POWER LOSS, COULD NOT ACCELERATE. STABILITRAK LIGHT TURNED ON STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, WENT AWAY. CAME BACK ON…

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LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, DROPPED SUDDENLY TO 30 MPH. HAD TO PULL ONTO SHOULDER FROM PASSING LANE, ALMOST REAR ENDED BY TRACTOR TRAILER DUE TO SUDDEN POWER LOSS, COULD NOT ACCELERATE. STABILITRAK LIGHT TURNED ON STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, WENT AWAY. CAME BACK ON AGAIN 3 X'S WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME ON HIGHWAY, HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY PULL OVER AND RESTART ENGINE TO CLEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11060889

Official recalls

4

21V00F000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 22, 2021

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 & remedy

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.

20V764000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 21, 2020

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 & remedy

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.

14V447000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 23, 2014

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 & remedy

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.

11V149000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:windshield:electrical Heating Element

Mar 4, 2011

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.