2017 Buick LaCrosse

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

Fuel economy
23–25 mpgcombined; city 20–21, highway 29–31; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,990–$14,120U.S. average; Ohio $11,610–$12,620 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
2over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
36filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2017 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 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 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 system11000
Power train9000
Engine5000
Suspension4000
Vehicle speed control4000
Unknown or other3000
Air bags2000
Electronic stability control (ESC)1000
Fuel system, gasoline1000
Seat belts1000
Seats1000
Service brakes1000
3 more parts
Steering1000
Structure1000
Visibility/wiper1000

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 2 recall campaigns for the 2017 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 17V267000 · reported Apr 21, 2017 · 11,246 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (C) is recalling certain 2017 Buick LaCrosse vehicles. The rear suspension toe-links may have been incorrectly installed, and, as a result, they may loosen and disconnect from the rear suspension system.

Risk: If a rear-suspension toe-link disconnects, it may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right rear suspension toe-link assemblies, correcting their installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 25, 2017. Owners may contact Buick's customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 17168.

NHTSA's record and documents

Steering: electric power assist system

NHTSA campaign 17V116000 · reported Feb 23, 2017 · 2,085 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Buick LaCrosse vehicles. The electrical connectors for the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system may not be properly sealed. As a result, water may enter and corrode the connectors possibly resulting in a loss of power steering.

Risk: A loss of power steering may result in increased manual steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect correct the seal seating and secure the EPS connector seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 17085.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,204 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2017 LaCrosse, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (463), electrical system (263), engine (135), engine and engine cooling (134), power train (102).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

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 2017 LaCrosse.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

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

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
LaCrosse
Front-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S8)Regular Gasoline21 / 31 / 25
LaCrosse
All-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S8)Regular Gasoline20 / 29 / 23

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