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2012 Buick LaCrosse problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
37% of relevant owner complaints on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2012 Buick LaCrosse have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 73 of 206 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Buick LaCrosse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%), and the largest group is filed under engine (46). For comparison, the 2011 scores 32% and the 2013 scores 33%. 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 2012 compares with other Buick LaCrosse years
Of the 8 Buick LaCrosse years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (37%). The worst is the 2010 (41%), the best the 2015 (15%). By volume, the 2012 drew 206 complaints (73 drivetrain), against 169 for the 2011 and 129 for the 2013.
Buick LaCrosse years to avoid and best years →
2010 LaCrosse problems · 2011 LaCrosse problems · 2012 · 2013 LaCrosse problems · 2014 LaCrosse problems · 2015 LaCrosse problems · 2016 LaCrosse problems · 2017 LaCrosse problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 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 73 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Buick LaCrosse engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2012 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.
5 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 2012 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 2012 Buick LaCrosse have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 73 of 206 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Buick LaCrosse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%). 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 2012 Buick LaCrosse?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Buick LaCrosse is electrical system: 62 of 206 complaints (30%) name it, followed by engine (46) and suspension (31). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 37% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Buick LaCrosse reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 37% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Buick LaCrosse years we score, it ranks 2nd-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 2012 Buick LaCrosse?
No. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2012 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 2012 (37%). 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. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.