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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Buick LACROSSE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

205 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

54,728 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 138 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 60 of 205 complaints (29.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation4321.0%
Electrical and battery issues3517.1%
Steering behavior3316.1%
Braking behavior3014.6%
Transmission and shifting136.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
60
Engine
46
Suspension
29
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
24
Steering
24
Power Train
23
Unknown Or Other
18
Service Brakes
16
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System60
Engine46
Suspension29
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)24
Steering24
Power Train23
Unknown Or Other18
Service Brakes16

Electrical System: 60; Engine: 46; Suspension: 29; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 24; Steering: 24; Power Train: 23; Unknown Or Other: 18; Service Brakes: 16

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
39
25,000 to 49,999
21
50,000 to 74,999
29
75,000 to 99,999
19
100,000 to 149,999
20
150,000 and above
10
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00039
25,000 to 49,99921
50,000 to 74,99929
75,000 to 99,99919
100,000 to 149,99920
150,000 and above10

Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 10

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011
1
2012
8
2013
12
2014
25
2015
11
2016
8
2017
16
2018
12
2019
21
2020
10
2021
39
2022
13
2023
6
2024
11
2025
4
2026
8
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20111
20128
201312
201425
201511
20168
201716
201812
201921
202010
202139
202213
20236
202411
20254
20268

2011: 1; 2012: 8; 2013: 12; 2014: 25; 2015: 11; 2016: 8; 2017: 16; 2018: 12; 2019: 21; 2020: 10; 2021: 39; 2022: 13; 2023: 6; 2024: 11; 2025: 4; 2026: 8

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 43 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 35 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10455480 · 2012-04-17 (April 17, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE FAILURE FOR OVER TEN DAYS, AS WELL AS PERFORM SEVERAL TEST DRIVES BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455480 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10478483 · 2012-10-03 (October 3, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE AND CHECK SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN LOST POWER AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,750 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,805. ....UPDATED 12/20/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED DURING THE SE…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478483 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10497797 · 2013-02-11 (February 11, 2013)

CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE FOR 10 HOURS. FOUND WITH ALL LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT FLASHING. REMOTE ENTRY DIDN'T WORK. CAR WOULDN'T START. KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. OVERHEAD LIGHT AND WIPERS TURNED ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN AND WERE MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. TRUNK POPPED OPEN ON ITS OWN, THEN WHEN SHUT WOULDN'T OPEN AGAIN WITH THE LATCH OVER LICENSE HOLDER. ONSTAR DIDN'T WORK AND WHEN CALLED THEY COULDN'T "FIND" MY VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSTICS. CALLED FOR A JUMP START- JUMPED WITH BATTERY PACK, STARTED EASILY AND RAN 5 MINUTES THEN WENT COMPLETELY DEAD AS SOON A…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10497797 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10536689 · 2013-08-22 (August 22, 2013)

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2012 BUICK LACROSSE, IT STARTED SOONER THAN THIS WITH MY AIR DEFLECTOR FALLING OFF AT 75 MPH AND ALMOST FLIPPING MY CAR. THIS TIME ON JULY 30TH MY VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT FROM THE MEMORY LOSS, THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS STALLED IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS IN MY CITY. AS I WAS TRYING TO GET MY VEHICLE TO MOVE AGAIN THE LIGHT TURNED RED AND AN 18 WHEELER ALMOST BROADSIDED ME. I FOUND OUT THAT BACK IN MAY A SAFETY RECALL WAS SENT DOWN ON MY VEHICLE. THE ONES WITH EASIEST THE B…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536689 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10465699 · 2012-07-15 (July 15, 2012)

I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN PARKING BAY AT A GAS STATION AND WENT INSIDE. I WAS IN THERE APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND A GENTLEMAN GAME INTO THE BUILDING AND ASKED DID ANYONE IN THERE OWN A BUICK LACROSSE. I SAID IT WAS MINE, HE TOLD ME IT HAD ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING BAY TOWARDS HIS MERCEDES, HE HAD STOPPED MY VEHICLE. I SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND I HAD TURNED THE ENGINE OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE SO THERE WAS NO BRAKING EFFECT. WHERE I HAD PARKED THE PAVEMENT WAS A VERY GENTLE SLOPE SO I DID NOT NOTICE ANY MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN I ALIGHTE…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465699 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459447 · 2012-05-25 (May 25, 2012)

2012 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER STATES MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE COULD SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND A VERY LOW KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK, THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THERE WAS OIL LEAKING BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED A WARNING LIGHT NEVER APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD TO WARN HIM OF A PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10459447 at NHTSA ↗