2012 Buick Lacrosse reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Buick Lacrosse — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 299
- 91 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 59 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 15 reported crashes · 7 injuries · 4 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,781
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Buick median
+102
median 197 across 98 Buick records
Vs 2010-2014
+7
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
20%
Electrical System: 59 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Buick Lacrosse
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 59
- ENGINE 45
- SUSPENSION 28
- STEERING 24
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 24
5 recalls on record for the 2012 Buick Lacrosse
- NHTSA 21V00F000 · 2022 · SUSPENSION:REAR A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 20V764000 · 2021 · SUSPENSION:REAR A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 14V447000 · 2014 · SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of th
- NHTSA 13V173000 · 2013 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may
- NHTSA 11V404000 · 2011 · ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) THE IMPROPER DIAGNOSING MAY CAUSE THE ESC TO FALSELY ACTIVATE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING AND DECEL
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Buick Lacrosse
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Buick Lacrosse units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Buick Lacrosse reliable?
NHTSA has 299 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Buick Lacrosse and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (59 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Buick Lacrosse units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Buick Lacrosse?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (59), engine (45), suspension (28), steering (24). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Buick Lacrosse?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.