2012 Buick Lacrosse Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2012 Buick Lacrosse, 30% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 66,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “generator control” (10% of reports).
- 62electrical system complaints
- 66,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 39%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Generator control: mentioned in 6 of 62 complaints (10%)
- Upon investigation: mentioned in 5 of 62 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 39 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 62 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Buick Lacrosse electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Lacrosse | 1 | 14% | 56,000 |
| 2018 Lacrosse | 5 | 42% | 100,000 |
| 2017 Lacrosse | 11 | 31% | 10,000 |
| 2016 Lacrosse | 3 | 6% | 99,000 |
| 2015 Lacrosse | 9 | 20% | 7,000 |
| 2014 Lacrosse | 14 | 22% | 27,000 |
| 2013 Lacrosse | 54 | 42% | 62,750 |
| 2012 Lacrosse | 62 | 30% | 66,000 |
| 2011 Lacrosse | 32 | 19% | 55,355 |
| 2010 Lacrosse | 46 | 24% | 63,000 |
| 2009 Lacrosse | 31 | 29% | 64,500 |
| 2008 Lacrosse | 84 | 34% | 55,850 |
| 2007 Lacrosse | 75 | 30% | 78,250 |
| 2006 Lacrosse | 83 | 28% | 77,000 |
| 2005 Lacrosse | 80 | 25% | 100,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system
Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
**Subject:** Formal Safety Defect Complaint: Premature Failure of Completed Recall Remedy (NHTSA Campaign 13V173000 / GM Recall 13136) Resulting in Sudden Loss of Power Steering **VEHICLE INFORMATION** * **Year/Make/Model:** 2012 Buick LaCrosse Hybrid (eAssist) * **VIN:** [XXX] * **Current…
Shows service stability track
during a regular drive the check stabiltrack system message popped up on the dash in the middle circle and then the little car with the squiggly lines behind it popped up and the check engine light came on and started blinking. Immediately I noticed lack of steering control, the car's speed was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Buick Lacrosses have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 62 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2012 Buick Lacrosse (30% of the 206 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Buick Lacrosse electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 66,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2012 Buick Lacrosse?
The most frequent phrase is “generator control”, in 6 of 62 complaints, followed by “upon investigation” (5).
See all 2012 Buick Lacrosse problems or electrical system problems across all Lacrosse years.