The contact owns a 2012 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The…
2012 Buick LaCrosse engine problems
moderate 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 27 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 9 model years of Buick LaCrosse we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 27.
Owners have filed 27 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2012 Buick LaCrosse has a pattern of serious engine and power-delivery issues reported by owners—sudden complete power loss at highway speeds, unexplained coolant loss, stalling without warning, and serpentine belt failures that cause loss of steering. Many problems leave dealers unable to diagnose, and some don't show check engine lights; buy one of these only with a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic experienced with this model.
The 2012 Buick LaCrosse shows a troubling range of engine failures across this complaint cluster. Sudden, complete power loss is the most serious pattern—owners report losing all engine power while driving 30 to 70 mph, with power steering and brakes also failing. In several cases, the engine restarts after a few seconds or minutes; in others, the vehicle requires towing. Check engine lights may or may not illuminate, and dealers frequently cannot duplicate or diagnose the problem.
Serpentine belt failure appears in multiple complaints. One owner's belt came off repeatedly even after replacements. Owners also report unexplained coolant loss triggering overheat warnings, with neither independent shops nor Buick dealers finding any leak despite dye testing.
Stalling is widespread—at idle, on acceleration, during ramps, and without warning. Some episodes are preceded by warning lights; others have none. One owner's engine seized at 170,000 miles; another at 70,000 miles required a complete rebuild after bent or broken valves were discovered. Excessive oil consumption (3–4 quarts between changes) and oil leaks from the rear main seal appear in separate complaints.
One unusual report describes diesel fuel being able to enter the gasoline filler neck, contaminating the fuel system. Throughout these complaints, dealers frequently cannot replicate failures, and many owners report no manufacturer response or recall action.
Same Buick LaCrosse engine reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Coolant Loss / Overheating
Engine loses coolant with no visible leak point; coolant disappears between service visits despite mechanic inspection with dyed coolant. Triggers overheat warning and engine overheat alarm while driving.
When: 2015; also reported as recurring issue after one week
Symptoms owners cite: wet spots under vehicle; temperature gauge spiking; engine overheat warning message and alarm; coolant level drops to zero despite no detectable leak
Repairs/costs cited: Independent shop and Buick dealer unable to locate source despite dye test
Sudden Complete Power Loss / Stalling
Engine loses all power while driving at highway or street speeds (30–70 mph). All warning lights illuminate, including check engine. Power steering and power brakes also fail, creating major safety hazard. Some events resolve after restart; others require towing.
When: Various mileages: 30k, 17k, 56k, 65 mph, 70 mph incidents reported
Symptoms owners cite: sudden complete loss of engine power; no acceleration or reduced power; check engine and all warning lights illuminate; loss of power steering and power brakes; engine stalls or dies; vehicle can restart after power loss
Codes mentioned: check engine light, stability track warning light, anti-theft warning light, service warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanics cannot locate fault; GM diagnostic shows no error message stored
Serpentine Belt Failure
Serpentine belt breaks or comes loose while driving, causing complete engine power loss, loss of steering control, and stalling. One owner reported belt replacement three times with belt continuing to come off.
When: 8,750 miles; 65 mph driving; highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: complete loss of engine power; steering wheel lock-up; engine stalls; check service warning light illuminates; belt repeatedly comes off after replacement
Codes mentioned: check engine light, service warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Serpentine belt replaced; one owner reports belt replaced three times
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued 12 days after vehicle purchase per one owner; GM stated 'engine wasn't the issue it was the vehicle'
Intermittent Stalling on Acceleration / Ramps
Vehicle stalls or loses power when accelerating, particularly when entering or exiting highway ramps at 30–40 mph. Engine recovers after reducing throttle. Check engine light may illuminate. Occurs intermittently over months of ownership.
When: 17,000 miles; 4 occurrences reported; 6 months of intermittent incidents
Symptoms owners cite: engine loses power and nearly stalls; loss of steering control when stalling; check engine light (seen briefly); engine recovers after foot removed from gas; occurs on acceleration or ramps
Codes mentioned: check engine light (red light with car and swerve marks symbol)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer found no problems; vehicle runs fine between incidents
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated vehicle operating 'as designed'
Fuel System Incompatibility / Diesel Contamination
Diesel fuel nozzle fits into gasoline vehicle filler pipe; no mechanical prevention of mismatch. Engine receives contaminated fuel when unleaded in fuel lines depletes, causing stall and no restart.
When: Timing not specified; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle stalls when diesel fuel enters combustion cycle; engine cannot restart with contaminated fuel; loss of power steering and brakes if stall occurs on road
Repairs/costs cited: $1,145 repair cost
Burning Odor and Stalling
Abnormal burning plastic smell originates from unknown source inside vehicle; engine stalls while driving at highway speed. Two dealers report no hybrid mechanics available; vehicle not diagnosed.
When: 104,800 miles; 70 mph driving
Symptoms owners cite: engine stalls while driving; abnormal burning plastic odor from unknown source; check engine light illuminates
Codes mentioned: check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated vehicle not included in recall
Reduced Engine Power Mode
Check engine light illuminates with 'engine power reduced' message; vehicle slows and fails to accelerate. Issue resolves after restart.
When: 152,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: check engine warning light with 'engine power reduced' message; vehicle slows and fails to accelerate; loss of responsive acceleration
Codes mentioned: check engine light - engine power reduced
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired by mechanic
Oil Leaks and Burning Smell
Rear main seal leaks oil; oil also leaks between engine and transmission. No warning light alerts driver. Low knocking sound and burning smell reported.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: burning odor; low knocking sound from engine; oil dipstick reads zero oil; visible oil leaking from rear main seal and engine-transmission interface
Repairs/costs cited: Rear main seal leaking; oil leaking between engine and transmission
Excess Oil Consumption
Engine consumes excessive oil between scheduled oil changes; 3–4 quarts consumed without visible leaks or smoking. Dealership attributes to stuck piston rings. Occurs mid-life of vehicle ownership.
When: 57,000 miles; reported at 70,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: rapid oil level drop between oil changes; no visible oil leaks per dealer inspection; no engine smoking observed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed stuck piston rings; warranty company refused coverage
Engine Seizure
Engine seizes without warning while driving at low speed; no prior warning lights. Engine requires complete replacement.
When: 170,000 miles; 20 mph driving
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle stalls without warning; no warning lights illuminated; engine has seized and will not restart
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; not repaired per complaint
Valve Damage / Bent or Broken Valves
Several intake or exhaust valves bend or break during engine operation. Engine runs rough and stalls at idle. Camshaft misalignment code triggered.
When: 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine light illuminates; engine runs rough; stalling at idle; several valves bent or broken
Codes mentioned: camshaft misalignment
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine rebuild or replacement required
Oxygen Sensor Malfunction
Oxygen sensor warning light illuminates repeatedly. Independent mechanic reset the light; it reappears after short driving distance (400 miles).
When: 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: oxygen sensor warning light illumination; warning light recurs within 400 miles of reset
Codes mentioned: oxygen sensor warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic reset light; permanent repair not performed
Stalling Without Warning
Engine stalls without warning lights while vehicle is stationary or moving at low speed. Vehicle difficult to restart. Occurs multiple times during ownership.
When: 1,300 miles; 85,293 miles; various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: sudden stalling without warning light; difficulty restarting engine; malfunction indicator light may illuminate after stall; stalling repeats multiple times
Codes mentioned: malfunction indicator light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate failure after multiple test drives and 10+ days inspection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered to send representative for further inspection; vehicle sold back to dealer due to inability to diagnose
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Buick lacrosse. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of power and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. Yates Buick GMC (13845 w test dr, goodyear, az) informed the contact that there were no open recalls. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Had engine trouble with your 2012 Buick LaCrosse?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 14,630 and 85,293 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,630; a quarter make it past 85,293. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Buick/LaCrosse.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.