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2013 Buick LaCrosse problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2013 Buick LaCrosse are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2013 Buick LaCrosse have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 41 of 129 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Buick LaCrosse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under engine (30). For comparison, the 2012 scores 37% and the 2014 scores 16%. 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 2013 compares with other Buick LaCrosse years
Of the 8 Buick LaCrosse years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (33%). The worst is the 2010 (41%), the best the 2015 (15%). By volume, the 2013 drew 129 complaints (41 drivetrain), against 206 for the 2012 and 63 for the 2014.
Buick LaCrosse years to avoid and best years →
2010 LaCrosse problems · 2011 LaCrosse problems · 2012 LaCrosse problems · 2013 · 2014 LaCrosse problems · 2015 LaCrosse problems · 2016 LaCrosse problems · 2017 LaCrosse problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Buick LaCrosse
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 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 41 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Buick LaCrosse transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Buick LaCrosse involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. 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.
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…
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.
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2013 Buick LaCrosse
Does the 2013 Buick LaCrosse have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 41 of 129 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Buick LaCrosse concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). 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 2013 Buick LaCrosse?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Buick LaCrosse is electrical system: 54 of 129 complaints (42%) name it, followed by engine (30) and suspension (27). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 33% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 Buick LaCrosse reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 33% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Buick LaCrosse years we score, it ranks 4th-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 2013 Buick LaCrosse?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Buick LaCrosse involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 13V097000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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 2013 (33%). 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.