2013 Buick Lacrosse Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 17, 2026 · 129 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Lacrosse years
About as many complaints as other years 8th of 15 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
5 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 129 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Buick Lacrosse. That ranks 8th out of 15 Lacrosse model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (54 complaints, 42%), typically at around 62,750 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

Buick Lacrosse
BUICK LACROSSE FOURTH GENERATION China. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2013 Buick Lacrosse problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System54 · ~62,750 mi
Engine30 · ~65,500 mi
Suspension27 · ~59,000 mi
Steering24 · ~64,941 mi
Power Train11 · ~30,000 mi
Unknown or Other9 · ~76,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion System8 · ~36,000 mi
Air Bags5 · ~4,900 mi
Electronic Stability Control (esc)5 · ~65,500 mi
Service Brakes4 · ~150,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System problems5442%62,750“failed start” (9%)—
Engine3023%65,500——
Suspension2721%59,000——
Steering2419%64,941——
Power Train119%30,000——
Unknown or Other97%76,000——
Fuel/propulsion System86%36,000——
Air Bags54%4,900——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)54%65,500——
Service Brakes43%150,000——
Structure43%56,000——
Seats32%20,700——
Visibility/wiper32%20,013——
Equipment22%———
Vehicle Speed Control22%72,880——
Wheels22%30,852——
Back Over Prevention11%2,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling11%88,000——
Exterior Lighting11%65,000——
Fuel System, Gasoline11%83,000——
Tires11%92,540——
Visibility11%50——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2021, with 29 complaints
2013: 9201392014: 5201452015: 3201532016: 8201682017: 152017152018: 112018112019: 122019122020: 7202072021: 292021292022: 7202272023: 5202352024: 6202462025: 9202592026: 320263

n = 129 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2013 Buick Lacrosse recalls (5)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Suspension:rearDec 22, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V00F000 · 4,271 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Suspension:rearAug 12, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V633000 · 32,894 vehicles

Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and 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 fracture.

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

Fix: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 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 N212330130.

Suspension:rearDec 21, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V764000 · 220,006 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Electrical systemMay 6, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V173000 · 42,904 vehicles

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.

Electrical system:software; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)Mar 15, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V097000 · 26,582 vehicles

Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012, through February 18, 2013 for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." A software problem may cause the transmission to inadvertently shift to Sport mode removing any transmission-related engine braking effect.

Risk: If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2013. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. Buick owners may call 1-866-694-6546.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Sands Chevrolet/Hybrid System Fire/Stall (AQ14001) — opened May 2, 2014, closed May 22, 2016.
  • Generator Control Module Fires (RQ13003) — opened Jul 5, 2013, closed Jul 22, 2014.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Buick LaCrosse on March 3, 2024. The vehicle was purchased from the dealer. The odometer was reported at 118,000 during the sale. The vehicle was recently taken to an independent mechanic for service. The contact was provided with an auto report in which…

Electrical System · received Aug 17, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11757506

The contact owns a 2013 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced starting failures and was taken to Piedmont Tire & Auto, where the battery was replaced. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound, and felt like the…

Electrical System · received Jul 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11750562

My vehicles started experiencing a Service Power Steering Code and Service Stabilitrak warning after I Replaced my Sway Bar Bushings and Sway Bar Links and Started Giving Me A Code On My Scan Tool Of CO55C:00, and Lost Of Communication With Electronic Brake Module(UO121:00) Code. I Also Have A…

Electrical System · received Jun 1, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11741241

Today is 8.26.2025, I took this car back and left it w/dealership: Let them figure it out! I told them 0ne month after purchase this car is constantly EMPTY with no/Oil. I should not be getting oil changes this often. "Oh, it just burns more Oil and you bought a USED car"...Months later I hear…

Engine · received Aug 26, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11683040

I lost all steering control and lost control

Steering · received Jul 29, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11676991

Other Buick Lacrosse years

← 2012 Lacrosse · 2014 Lacrosse →

See all Buick Lacrosse problems by year, every Buick model, or the Buick VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Buick Lacrosse?

Owners most often report electrical system, engine, suspension problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 54 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2013 Buick Lacrosse?

Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2013 Buick Lacrosse a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Lacrosse model years, the 2013 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.