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 ↗2017 Buick LaCrosse powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Buick LaCrosse have filed 8 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 LaCrosse | 9 |
| 2014 LaCrosse | 4 |
| 2016 LaCrosse | 6 |
| 2017 LaCrosse (this page) | 8 |
When does it fail?
Of the 8 powertrain complaints filed for the 2017 Buick LaCrosse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Powertrain accounts for 24% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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 bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on Policies Applicable to All U.S. Dealers for Engine and Transmission Assembly Replacement Under Warranty, Policy or Customer Enthusiasm and information on Submission of Warranty Transaction in Global Warranty Management.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that after his wife had parked and turning off the vehicle, moments later the vehicle was restarted and the check engine and TCM warning lights remained illuminated. Additionally, the transmission shifter failed to shift out of park. The vehicle towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer…
On november 19, 2016, I purchased the 2017 Buick lacrosse premium AWD. On that same day, while I was driving on the highway the overheated engine light came on, beeping sound, oil light came on, shortly vehicle indicated immediately to stop, which I did, stranded on the highway in en route to dealership. I had just left the dealership approximately five minutes ago after I purchased the vehicle.…
I have no idea whether this concerns the takata inflators or not. While accelerating from a normal traffic speed (approximately 20 to 40mph) , it seems like the transmission shifts up and down rapidly several times between lower gears. If the acceleration is terminated by by lifting your foot from the accelerator, the shifting goes away. After that, a soft pressure on the accelerator will…
I purchased my vehicle in june of 2018. The car drove beautifully for about 14000 miles. Then I started noticing harsh shifts at lower speeds, shifted fine on the highway. This continued on and I just thought it was normal wear. Then about 2 months after the harsh shifting started I was getting on the highway and accelerating up to speed. I then let off my gas pedal and the car stuck in gear. I…
Car has 4 trips on rollback and one driving in for transmission problems 3 trips was when coming to a stop the car will will slide to stop almost making us hit dash of car each time there would be a warning about a minute before service transmission . One of the Trip for transmission service light I did drive it in. The car went in yesterday for transmission service again. My thinking of this is…
Loud clunk noise during any gear change. Car does not have to be moving. I experimented this problem while shifting from park to drive, drive to reverse, reverse to park. This problem also exists shifting up and down gears. Took it to the dealer to get serviced. They flushed the transmission, reprogrammed the transmission control to no avail. The problem occurs when the engine is cold and hot
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Buick lacrosse. The contact stated that the gear shift lever would misshift and switch into other gears that were not selected. Secondly, the transmission would not go into park or reverse properly. To reverse, the contact had to move the lever back and forth. To park, the contact had to select park, shift into another gear, and then shift back into park. The vehicle…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2017 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 powertrain problem on the 2017 Buick LaCrosse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 8 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 8 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 30,050 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2017/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.