Model year guide

2012 Buick LaCrosse

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Buick LaCrosse is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 249 on record.

2012 Buick LaCrosse at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints199
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined21 mpg
Typical price$15,504

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Buick LaCrosse recalls 5

Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust NHTSA Campaign #14V447000 · 23/07/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenl…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006…

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #13V173000 · 06/05/2013

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.

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.

Electronic Stability Control (esc) NHTSA Campaign #11V404000 · 03/08/2011

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BUICK LACROSSE PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 9, 2011, THROUGH JULY 2, 2011, FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 126, "ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS (ESC)." THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM HAS AN INCORRECT CALIBRATION THAT MAY CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO NOT PROPERLY DETECT IF A SENSOR WERE TO MALFUNCTION, AND THE WARNING L…

Fix: GM DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #20V764000 · 21/12/2020

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 Wiscons…

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 m…

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #21V00F000 · 22/12/2021

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 Wiscons…

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 N2123466…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Buick LaCrosse common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 199 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

2012 Buick LaCrosse safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Buick Lacrosse 4 DR AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Buick LaCrosse MPG & running costs

Combined21 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway27 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,950

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Buick LaCrosse worth?

Low
$11,100
Typical price
$15,504
High
$19,400

From 246 comparable 2012 Buick LaCrosse listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Buick LaCrosse costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,750
Depreciation (5 yrs)$10,700
Total$25,450
Per mile$0.34

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($15,504) with the same model 5 model-years older ($4,820), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Buick LaCrosse trims & engines on record

Trims
Premium I Group · Leather Group · Premium II Group · Base · Convenience Group · Premium III Group · Touring Group · Premium 1 · Touring · Leather
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl · 2.4L 4-cyl

2012 Buick LaCrosse vehicles on record

Other Buick LaCrosse model years

2012 Buick LaCrosse — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Buick LaCrosse have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Buick LaCrosse?

Based on 199 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, steering, vehicle speed control.

What is the 2012 Buick LaCrosse safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Buick LaCrosse an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Buick LaCrosse get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Buick LaCrosse at about 21 mpg combined (17 city / 27 highway).

How much is a 2012 Buick LaCrosse worth?

Comparable 2012 Buick LaCrosse listings run roughly $11,100–$19,400, typically around $15,504 (from 246 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.