This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Buick LaCrosse suspension problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Buick LaCrosse have filed 27 NHTSA complaints about the suspension at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 LaCrosse | 13 |
| 2011 LaCrosse | 26 |
| 2012 LaCrosse | 30 |
| 2013 LaCrosse (this page) | 27 |
| 2017 LaCrosse | 4 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 suspension 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.
Among the 9 model years of Buick LaCrosse in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel on diagnosis and replacement of shock absorber and strut due to fluid leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel on diagnosis and replacement of shock absorber and strut due to fluid leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer?s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for furthe
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The bulk of complaints here concern NHTSA recall 20V764000 for rear suspension toe links. Starting in late 2020, owners got recall notices but dealers couldn't get parts—some waiting months or making multiple dealer trips with no resolution. A few owners experienced the failure itself: banging noises, vehicle drifting, suspension lowering, and loss of control. One owner's vehicle went uncontrolled in a parking lot, and another felt the rear drop low enough to lose traction on the highway.
Separate from the toe link issue, an owner reported all four wheel bearings failed simultaneously around 146,000 miles, despite recent maintenance and a state inspection with no warnings—the dealership technician confirmed the failure and the risk of wheel disengagement.
Two reports involve electronic failures: one owner's StabiliTrak system suddenly reduced engine power on the freeway, nearly causing a wreck; another had ABS and traction lights stay on even after alignment work, requiring strut and hub bearing replacement. One complaint mixed brake failure with transmission software and suspension design geometry.
These are unverified consumer allegations, but the pattern shows suspension control loss, bearing durability, and electronic stability system problems across the model year.
Same Buick LaCrosse suspension reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Rear toe link fracture
The rear suspension toe link fractures, reducing steering control and increasing crash risk. This is the subject of NHTSA recall 20V764000. Parts were unavailable for extended periods, delaying repairs.
When: Not specified in narratives; recall issued Dec 2020
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal banging or roaring noise from suspension; Vehicle drifting or pulling to one side; Reduced vehicle control; Front and rear suspension lowering
Repairs/costs cited: Recall remedy: dealers replace rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners; parts were unavailable for months after recall notification
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V764000 (Suspension); parts initially unavailable; GM told owners remedy not yet available; one dealer offered old-design rear toe link as temporary warranty coverage
Multiple wheel bearing failure
All four wheel bearings fail simultaneously or nearly so, creating severe control loss risk. Owners report no prior warning signs despite recent state inspection and routine maintenance.
When: Approximately 146,000 miles on one vehicle; one vehicle May 7th date mentioned
Symptoms owners cite: Load roaring noise from wheel areas; Loss of vehicle control potential; Wheel disengagement risk
Repairs/costs cited: All four wheel bearings required replacement at the same time; confirmed by Buick dealership technician and independent mechanic
StabiliTrak malfunction with power reduction
StabiliTrak system engages and reduces engine power without warning while driving freeway speeds, creating sudden loss of power and steering control.
When: Occurred while driving on freeway
Symptoms owners cite: Service StabiliTrak warning light activates; Engine power reduced drastically; Unable to maintain freeway speed; Near-crash situation
ABS and traction control system malfunction
ABS and traction control lights remain illuminated. Alignment shop work did not resolve the issue, and strut and hub bearing replacement was needed.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light on; Traction control light on; Warning lights persist after alignment service
Repairs/costs cited: Hub bearing and strut replacement required
Suspension geometry collapse
Both front and rear suspension lower unexpectedly, causing the vehicle to drift and list. Associated with electrical system failure.
When: Approximately 146,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front and rear ends of vehicle lowered; Vehicle drifting while driving; Multiple warning lights illuminated; Suspension and electrical system failure
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed suspension and electrical system failure requiring replacement
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I purchased the vehicle in 07/2021 through the Drive time Dealership. The first concern is that as you go over the agreement the cost of the vehicle is well over the actual blue book value which $24,000 plus. But then there is the blinded words which cover the interest rate and the false mathematics that is used to confuse you. I realized that in the end of that process it is stated that I would…
The contact owns a 2013 Buick Lacrosse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified…
The contact owns a 2013 Buick Lacrosse. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a…
Had suspension trouble with your 2013 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 suspension problem on the 2013 Buick LaCrosse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 27 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 69,204 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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/2013/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.