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2010 Buick LaCrosse problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Better than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 23 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 36%).
Does the 2010 Buick LaCrosse have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 68 of 166 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Buick LaCrosse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%), and the largest group is filed under engine (44). For comparison, the 2011 scores 32%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2010 compares with other Buick LaCrosse years
Of the 8 Buick LaCrosse years with enough complaints to score, the 2010 is the worst on engine and transmission share (41%). The best is the 2015 (15%). By volume, the 2010 drew 189 complaints (68 drivetrain), against 169 for the 2011.
Buick LaCrosse years to avoid and best years →
2010 · 2011 LaCrosse problems · 2012 LaCrosse problems · 2013 LaCrosse problems · 2014 LaCrosse problems · 2015 LaCrosse problems · 2016 LaCrosse problems · 2017 LaCrosse problems
The rest of the picture on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 68 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2010 Buick LaCrosse engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2010 Buick LaCrosse? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2010 Buick LaCrosse have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 68 of 166 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Buick LaCrosse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Buick LaCrosse?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2010 Buick LaCrosse is electrical system: 46 of 189 complaints (24%) name it, followed by engine (44) and electronic stability control (esc) (23). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 41% of the relevant total.
Is the 2010 Buick LaCrosse reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 41% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is better than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Buick LaCrosse years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse?
No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Buick LaCrosse years are better?
Among the Buick LaCrosse years we track, the 2015 (15%), the 2014 (16%) and the 2011 (32%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2010 (41%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/buick-lacrosse
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.