Model year record

2012 Buick Lacrosse

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 329 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V00F000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
4,271
Reported to NHTSA
2021-12-22
Owners notified
2022-01-27

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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 campaignNHTSA 20V764000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
220,006
Reported to NHTSA
2020-12-21
Owners notified
2021-08-19

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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 campaignNHTSA 14V447000

Seats: front assembly: power adjust

Component
Seats: front assembly: power adjust
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
414,333
Reported to NHTSA
2014-07-23
Owners notified
2014-12-26

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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 campaignNHTSA 13V173000

Electrical system

Component
Electrical system
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
42,904
Reported to NHTSA
2013-05-06
Owners notified
2013-06-11

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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 campaignNHTSA 11V404000

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Component
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Vehicles affected
4,077
Reported to NHTSA
2011-08-03
Owners notified
2011-08-12

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system6566,000 mi
Engine4852,894 mi
Suspension3154,456 mi
Steering2550,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)2483,177 mi
Power train2312,000 mi
Unknown or other2279,000 mi
Service brakes1850,000 mi
Vehicle speed control144,700 mi
Fuel/propulsion system990,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling656,000 mi
Seats62,300 mi
Wheels530,000 mi
Air bags487,000 mi
Seat belts421,500 mi
Exterior lighting366,000 mi
Structure: body39,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility2100 mi
Structure24,500 mi
Electrical system: wiring1
Electronic stability control (ESC): control module196,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner114,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1900 mi
Latches/locks/linkages11,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch165,000 mi
Power train: driveline: chain/belt1141,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint1150 mi
Structure: body: door1
Structure: body: hood113,653 mi
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar166,938 mi
Suspension: rear1
Tires1348 mi
Traction control system134,080 mi
Visibility/wiper1

The 2011 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2013 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.