2013 Buick LaCrosse Problems, Recalls & Reliability

200 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Buick LaCrosse, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 43/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 63,000 miles.

200Complaints
43/100Trouble index
5Recalls
62,500Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2013 sits among all LaCrosse years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 55 complaints (28%) · typically ~63,000 miles
“The power steering went out and the electrical no power 3 times since november 2016”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 LaCrosse
Engine 31 complaints (16%) · typically ~65,751 miles
“Well the belt tensioner and the hybrid motor Drive Motor Performance and Hybrid Power train Control Module Requested MIL Illumination Yes not just any mechanic can work on the car because of the hybrid system is to much voltage And the check engine light came on the car”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 LaCrosse
Suspension 27 complaints (14%)
“The contact owns a 2013 Buick LaCrosse. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign number: 20V764000 (Suspension). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The part was not…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 LaCrosse
Steering 24 complaints (12%) · typically ~64,941 miles
Other 17 complaints (9%) · typically ~71,000 miles
Transmission & drivetrain 11 complaints (6%) · typically ~30,000 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 121 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 62,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,852 and 83,907 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (5)

SUSPENSION 21V00F000 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,…

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…

SUSPENSION 21V633000 2021

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,…

Fix: 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…

SUSPENSION 20V764000 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,…

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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13V173000 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…

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…

POWER TRAIN 13V097000 2013

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…

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…

Federal defect investigations

Sands Chevrolet/Hybrid System Fire/Stall AQ14001 opened 2014, closed 2016
Generator Control Module Fires RQ13003 opened 2013, closed 2014

Technical service bulletins

1,948 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2013 Buick LaCrosse. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2013 LaCrosse TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2013peak 34 in 20212026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2013 Buick LaCrosse reliable?

The 2013 Buick LaCrosse drew 200 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 43/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).

What are the most common 2013 Buick LaCrosse problems?

The top reported problems for the 2013 Buick LaCrosse are electrical (55 complaints), engine (31), and suspension (27).

At what mileage do 2013 Buick LaCrosse problems show up?

Owners most often report 2013 Buick LaCrosse problems around 62,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,852 and 83,907 miles.

Does the 2013 Buick LaCrosse have recalls?

5 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Buick LaCrosse. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2012 LaCrosse All LaCrosse years 2014 LaCrosse →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.