2013 Buick LaCrosse

Showing the 2013 LaCrosse Touring. NHTSA's VIN data shows it with a 2.4 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
20–29 mpgcombined; city 17–25, highway 25–36; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$11,200–$16,240U.S. average; Ohio $10,010–$14,510 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
5over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
129filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2013 LaCrosse. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 129 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 LaCrosse. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical system54030
Engine30000
Suspension27100
Steering24100
Power train11000
Unknown or other9001
Fuel/propulsion system8000
Air bags5103
Electronic stability control (ESC)5000
Service brakes4000
Structure4000
Seats3000
10 more parts
Visibility/wiper3000
Equipment2000
Vehicle speed control2101
Wheels2100
Back over prevention1000
Engine and engine cooling1000
Exterior lighting1000
Fuel system, gasoline1000
Tires1000
Visibility1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006299
  2. 2007250
  3. 2008250
  4. 2009106
  5. 2010189
  6. 2011169
  7. 2012206
  8. 2013129
  9. 201463
  10. 201544
  11. 201648
  12. 201736
  13. 201812
  14. 20197

Every LaCrosse year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 LaCrosse over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Suspension: rear

NHTSA campaign 21V00F000 · reported Dec 22, 2021 · 4,271 vehicles potentially 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.

Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.

NHTSA's record and documents

Suspension: rear

NHTSA campaign 21V633000 · reported Aug 12, 2021 · 32,894 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and 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 fracture.

Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 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 N212330130.

NHTSA's record and documents

Suspension: rear

NHTSA campaign 20V764000 · reported Dec 21, 2020 · 220,006 vehicles potentially 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.

Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 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 N202308930.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system

NHTSA campaign 13V173000 · reported May 6, 2013 · 42,904 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system: software; Power train: automatic transmission; Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 13V097000 · reported Mar 15, 2013 · 26,582 vehicles potentially affected

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 Braking Effect." A software problem may cause the transmission to inadvertently shift to Sport mode removing any transmission-related engine braking effect.

Risk: If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,951 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2013 LaCrosse, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (794), electrical system (488), engine and engine cooling (211), engine (165), power train (132).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Audit query AQ14001
Sands Chevrolet/Hybrid System Fire/Stall · covers 2 makes
Electrical systemMay 2, 2014Closed May 22, 2016
NHTSA's summary names recall 13V173000
NHTSA's record and documents
Recall query RQ13003
Generator Control Module Fires · covers 2 makes
Electrical systemJul 5, 2013Closed Jul 22, 2014
NHTSA's summary names recall 13V173000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2013 LaCrosse.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–8 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
LaCrosse
Front-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline17 / 27 / 21
LaCrosse
Front-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline or E8517 / 27 / 21
LaCrosse
All-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline or E8517 / 25 / 20
LaCrosse eAssist
Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cylAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline25 / 36 / 29

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data