2011 Buick Lacrosse Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Buick Lacrosse.

20102012
Complaints
243
Crashes
27
Fires
2
Injuries
19
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2011 Buick Lacrosse Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#130 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:64,593 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#226 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:58,019 mi
#325 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:60,492 mi
Crash-related:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Buick Lacrosse.

Engine Problems
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
64,593
Electrical Faults
26
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,019
Suspension Failures
25
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
60,492
Transmission / Drivetrain
18
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
50,327
Brakes
17
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
56,806
Wipers & Visibility
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
67,808
Steering Defects
12
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
50,743
Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
50,998
Electronic Stability Control
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
61,485
Unintended Acceleration
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
52,554
Seat-Related Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
65,435
Body Structure
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
43,056
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
54,371
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,870
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Adas:Hill Start Assist:Clutch Solenoid
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Buick Lacrosse. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Buick Lacrosse

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~648,789 vehicles.

21V00F000Suspension:rear
~4,271 affected

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 Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

20V764000Suspension:rear
~220,006 affected

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 Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.

14V447000Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust
~414,333 affected

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 suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

11V149000Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:windshield:electrical Heating Element
~10,179 affected

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 BUICK LACROSSE AND CADILLAC SRX VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS". ON THESE VEHICLES, THE SOFTWARE IN THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL (ECC) MODULE MAY DISABLE THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEM SETTINGS. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE HEATING, COOLING, AND VENTILATION FOR THE VEHICLE.

Other Buick Lacrosse Years

2011 Buick Lacrosse — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Buick Lacrosse reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2011 Buick Lacrosse has 243 NHTSA complaints, 27 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 30 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2011 Buick Lacrosse?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (30 complaints, avg 64,593 mi); Electrical Faults (26 complaints, avg 58,019 mi); Suspension Failures (25 complaints, avg 60,492 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Buick Lacrosse?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 58,960 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2011 Buick Lacrosse?
NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Buick Lacrosse include 27 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 19 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2011 Buick Lacrosse have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 648,789 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2011 Buick Lacrosse?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Buick Lacrosse reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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