2016 Buick LACROSSE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 48 complaints (22.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 12 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 14.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 11 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
Steering: 11; Air Bags: 6; Power Train: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Service Brakes: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2016: 5; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 5; 2023: 8; 2024: 2; 2025: 5; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10851655 · 2016-03-25 (March 25, 2016)
RENTED AUTO FROM ENTERPRISE LEASING COMPANY OF ST. LOUIS, DROVE 412 MILES WITH THE SEAT HEATERS ON. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR I FELT AN INTENSE BURNING SENSATION ON MY LOWER BACK. BEFORE BED MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS VERY VERY RED. I AM A BACK SLEEPER SO I HAD A VERY RESTLESS NIGHT. BY THE NEXT MORNING THE RED SPOTS HAD BLISTERED AND ARE PAINFUL. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO ENTERPRISE LEASING COMPANY OF ST. LOUIS; WHICH IS JUST RIDICULOUS - ENTERPRISE DID N…
Owner-reported narrative. 412 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10863920 · 2016-05-09 (May 9, 2016)
SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN HUMID WEATHER, THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD HAS QUICKLY FOGGED UP TO THE POINT OF BLINDING ME. THE DEFROSTERS ARE SHOOTING A FOG OF MOISTURE ONTO THE GLASS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE HVAC CHECKED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS CONDITION WAS NORMAL. SEEMS DANGEROUS TO ME?
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10863920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10914594 · 2016-10-12 (October 12, 2016)
2016 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE FIRE. *SMD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10914594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916565 · 2016-10-17 (October 17, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 16V651000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10930364 · 2016-12-07 (December 7, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65+ MPH) THE INFORMATION CENTER WILL DISPLAY 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND CAR WILL DOWN SHIFT AND ONLY REACH 45 MPH. CAUSING CLOSE TO REAR-END CRASH. YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY AND TURN OFF ENGINE. RE-START ENGINE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW. SEEMS LIKE A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10930364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10949761 · 2017-02-06 (February 6, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HOOD LATCH WOULD PARTIALLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,100.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10949761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10969499 · 2017-03-30 (March 30, 2017)
AS I WAS HEADING OUT OF TOWN FOR MY DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE. I LOOKED UP AND NOTICED MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED ABOVE ME. I WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH AND HAD NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME. I TURNED AROUND AND HEADED BACK HOME WHERE I NOTICED THAT THE GLASS WAS BENT UPWARD AS IF THERE WAS TOO MUCH PRESSURE IN THE CABIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID SOMETHING HAD TO OF HIT IT WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME AND THE HOLE WAS ABOUT 1FT BY 1FT WITH THE GLASS BENT UPWARD AS IF IT WAS SOMETHING F…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10969499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051891 · 2017-12-02 (December 2, 2017)
FROM STANDING STOP OR WHILE IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, STOMP THE ACCELERATOR TO COMMAND IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION: ACCELERATOR SOMETIMES STICKS IN WIDE OPEN THROTTLE RESULTING IN UNINTENDED SUSTAINED ACCELERATION. FIRST COUNTER-MEASURE TRIED - SLAP THE GEAR SELECTOR HANDLE TO NEUTRAL POSITION; HOWEVER, ENGINE REMAINS IN WOT CONDITION. SECOND COUNTER-MEASURE - PUSH THE ENGINE OFF SWITCH AND COAST TO A STOP. THIRD COUNTER-MEASURE - STOP THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN UNTIL IT COMES UN-STUCK. IN LIGHT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COUNTER-MEASURE #3, I B…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051891 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V651000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal | Seat Belts:Pretensioner
Reported: 2016-09-08 (September 8, 2016)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V437000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2017-07-10 (July 10, 2017)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
NHTSA campaign record ↗