Buick LaCrosse Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Not unusually. 104 of the 1,247 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2019 Buick LaCrosse (8.3%) name the transmission, below the 12.6% median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Transmission complaints
104
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2019 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
8.3%
of 1,247 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Buick LaCrosse transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 | 2% | 0 | — | 66 |
| 2009 | 3 | 2.8% | 0 | — | 68 |
| 2010WORST | 17 | 9% | 0 | — | 127 |
| 2011WORST | 19 | 11.3% | 2 | — | 136 |
| 2012WORST | 25 | 12.3% | 1 | — | 132 |
| 2013 | 11 | 8.7% | 0 | 13V097000 | 141 |
| 2014 | 4 | 6.5% | 1 | 14V092000 | 113 |
| 2015 | 2 | 4.5% | 0 | — | 97 |
| 2016 | 7 | 15.2% | 0 | — | 96 |
| 2017 | 8 | 23.5% | 0 | — | 107 |
| 2018 | 3 | 25% | 0 | 20V668000 | 108 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 20V668000 | 76 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Buick LaCrosse transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 104 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Buick LaCrosse years to avoid for the transmission
2012 Buick LaCrosse
25 transmission complaints (12.3% of the year's 203). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
2011 Buick LaCrosse
19 transmission complaints (11.3% of the year's 168). Most often described: hesitation or delayed engagement.
2010 Buick LaCrosse
17 transmission complaints (9% of the year's 189). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Buick LaCrosse years to avoid.
Buick LaCrosse transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Buick LaCrosse model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 20V668000 · 2020-10-29 · 2018–2019 models
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
- 14V092000 · 2014-02-21 · 2014 models
In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter…
- 13V097000 · 2013-03-15 · 2013 models
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…
Which transmission does the Buick LaCrosse use?
- GM 6T40 / 6T45 — 2011–2014 (varies by model); 2018–2019 Malibu 1.5L
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Buick LaCrosse have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 25 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse, 12.3% of all 203 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (6 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2011 Buick LaCrosse have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 19 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Buick LaCrosse, 11.3% of all 168 complaints for that year. The most common description is "hesitation or delayed engagement" (4 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2010 Buick LaCrosse have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 17 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 9% of all 189 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (4 complaints).
Which Buick LaCrosse years have the most transmission complaints?
2012 (25), 2011 (19) and 2010 (17), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Buick LaCrosse transmission problems?
In the 104 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (17.3%), hesitation or delayed engagement (8.7%) and loss of power or limp mode (8.7%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Buick LaCrosse model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration