2013 Buick LACROSSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
129 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
58,999 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 74 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 50 of 129 complaints (38.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 34 | 26.4% |
| Steering behavior | 26 | 20.2% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 11.6% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 10.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 6.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 50 |
| Engine | 30 |
| Suspension | 27 |
| Steering | 24 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
Electrical System: 50; Engine: 30; Suspension: 27; Steering: 24; Power Train: 11; Unknown Or Other: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Air Bags: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 55 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2013: 9; 2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 8; 2017: 15; 2018: 11; 2019: 12; 2020: 7; 2021: 29; 2022: 7; 2023: 5; 2024: 6; 2025: 9; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 34 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 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 10510864 · 2013-05-06 (May 6, 2013)
4/6/2013 MY 2013 BUICK LACROSSE 4 CYLINDER MODEL WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. AT 9PM MY HUSBAND WENT OUTSIDE TO GET SOMETHING FROM THE CAR AND SAW THE CAR ON FIRE WITH FLAMES COMING FROM THE BACK END REAR BUMPER. BY THE TIME HE COULD GET A HOSE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE BACK BUMPER, THE REAR SIDE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAD ALL MELTED FROM THE HEAT. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE BODY SHOP SINCE 4/8/2013 AND NO WORK CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THE SHOP CAN NOT GET A CRITICAL PART FROM GM. THE PART IS THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE EASSIST AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,357 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10955641 · 2017-02-20 (February 20, 2017)
THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE ELECTRICAL NO POWER 3 TIMES SINCE NOVEMBER 2016
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10955641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10500074 · 2013-02-26 (February 26, 2013)
VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) CAME ON; 5 MINUTES LATER CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WITH WARNING THAT "CHARGING SYSTEM NOT WORKING". SHORTLY THEREAFTER, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2012 BUICK LACROSSE LOOKED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FOUND THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SHREDDED. VEHICLE BEING TOWED TO DEALER IN MORNING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585421 · 2014-04-29 (April 29, 2014)
NEAR THE FLORIDA-GEORGIA ON NORTH INTERSTATE 75 I STOPPED AT A REST AREA.WHEN I STARTED THE AUTO AGAIN,I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING LANE AND TO STRAIGHTEN THE CARS WHEELS TO EXIT THE AREA.I REALIZED THEN I LOST POWER STEERING.SLOWLY AND ON THE RIGHT LANE I DROVE THE AUTO TO VALDOSTA,GA .I STOPPED AT A MOTEL AND CALLED THE LOCAL BUICK DEALER.THE NEXT DAY (APRIL 2) I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE AUTO TO THE LOCAL BUICK DEALER.FORTUNATELY,THE DEALER WAS JUST A FEW MILES FROM MY MOTEL. I STAYED OVERNIGHT AT A LOCAL MOTEL.THE DEALER …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10537519 · 2013-08-27 (August 27, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000. ..UPDATE 04-10-14 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10767337 · 2015-09-22 (September 22, 2015)
THREE LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC MOVING AT 65 MPH AND ENGINE STALLS OUT WITH NO POWER. MAKE IT TO SHOULDER OF ROAD AND AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR, CAR STARTS WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON AND I CONTINUE TO DESTINATION. I HAVE SERVICE REPAIR SPECIALIST CHECK SOURCE OF PROBLEM AND IT IS FAILURE OF "CAM SHAFT SENSOR". UPON RETURNING HOME 285 MILES AWAY, AGAIN HAD PROBLEM DIAGNOSED WITH SAME RESULTS..."CAM SHAFT SENSOR" AS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN AND CAR HAD NO POWER. ON 9/1/2015 CALL ELLIS AUTOMOTIVE INC. AND TOLD THEM ABOUT PROBLEM, P…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,327 miles reported. Look up ODI 10767337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505647 · 2013-04-09 (April 9, 2013)
ON SATURDAY, APRIL 7,2013 MY WIFE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A CONDO IN MARCO IS.FL. SHE WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 BUICK LACROSSE. KNOWING THAT THE LACROSSE HAS A LOW FRONT END,SHE SLOWS DOWN TO A CRAWL TO AVOID DRAGGING THE FRONT END ON THE PARKING LOT BLOCKS. SHE IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARKING LOT AS MY DAUGHTER LIVES THERE AND SHE HAS PARKED THERE OFTEN. THIS TIME UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT STOP,WENT OVER THE PARKING BLOCKS AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE CAR.THE LACROSSE HAS BEEN CITED FOR A BRAKING PROBLEM BY THE NHTSA AND ISSUED A RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,020 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10615464 · 2014-07-28 (July 28, 2014)
2013 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PARTIAL/COMPLETE BLACKOUT OF MONITOR (NAV SCREEN) INCLUDING REAR VIEW CAMERA WHEN BACKING UP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE NAVIGATION SCREEN AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD GO DARK, FOR 25 SECONDS. WHICH INCLUDED THE REAR VIEW CAMERA WHICH BECAME TOTALLY USELESS FOR THE INITIAL 25 SECONDS OF BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE SAME BLACKOUT OF THE MONITOR/DASHBOARD HAPPENED WHEN HE DROVE FORWARD OUT OF A COVERED PARKING GARAGE. THE DEALER EVERYTHING WAS PERFORMING AS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10615464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11124674 · 2018-09-06 (September 6, 2018)
THE CODE INDICATES AN EVAPORATION LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK.. EVERY TIME I PUT GAS IN THE CAR IT SPUTTERS OR STALLS BEFORE CRANKING.
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124674 at NHTSA ↗