CSR

Buick · NHTSA safety record

2016 Buick Lacrosse

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

46

Complaints

4

Crashes

2

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Buick Lacrosse have filed 46 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2016 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the steering, named in 12 of them (26%). The typical failure was reported at 40,000 miles, the median across the 25 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V437000 · July 10, 2017

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

General Motors LLC · up to 40,683 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

16V651000 · September 8, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,640,162 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 46.

STEERING 12 26%
POWER TRAIN 7 15%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 13%
AIR BAGS 5 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 9%
ENGINE 3 7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 4%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 2%
EQUIPMENT 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 8.

2016 2023 2026
2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 78,000 miles

I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA complaint 11150374. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 68,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DEER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE INTENSE EXCESSIVE EXPLOSION FROM THE AIR BAGS CAUSING THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE TO GO DEAF IN WHICH MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE CONTACT CONTACTED GROWNEY MOTORS, INC (1160 MAIN ST, RED BLUFF, CA 96080 (530) 527-1034) OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. *BF *AS

NHTSA complaint 11342066. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

1 injured · 412 miles

RENTED AUTO FROM ENTERPRISE LEASING COMPANY OF ST. LOUIS, DROVE 412 MILES WITH THE SEAT HEATERS ON. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR I FELT AN INTENSE BURNING SENSATION ON MY LOWER BACK. BEFORE BED MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS VERY VERY RED. I AM A BACK SLEEPER SO I HAD A VERY RESTLESS NIGHT. BY THE NEXT MORNING THE RED SPOTS HAD BLISTERED AND ARE PAINFUL. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO ENTERPRISE LEASING COMPANY OF ST. LOUIS; WHICH IS JUST RIDICULOUS - ENTERPRISE DID NOT MAKE THE CAR! EVENTUALLY I WAS GIVEN CASE NUMBER 8-1897481531. I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS OF GM BEING SUED FOR BURNS FROM SEAT HEATERS, GM SHOULD BE

NHTSA complaint 10851655, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

fire

2016 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE FIRE. *SMD

NHTSA complaint 10914594. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · towed

On June 22,2026, I was involved in a frontal impact collision while traveling at approximately 35 mph. The vehicle suffered a catastrophic failure of the entire occupant restraint system. Despite a severe, high-speed frontal impact, the frontal airbags failed to physically deploy, and the seatbelt pretensioners failed to tighten, leaving the seatbelts completely loose. Crucially, the dashboard instrument cluster displayed a message indicating that an airbag deployment event had occurred. A check of the VIN shows no open recalls, meaning the GM SDM software update (NHTSA Campaign 16V651000) was likely marked as completed by a prior owner. However, the system completely failed to function as

NHTSA complaint 11745821, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
While driving down the road goin around 45 mph all of a sudden my steering wheel got so stiff I could hardly steer the car off the road and out of traffic. I didn't hit anything, my power steering just stopped. I put the car into park and turned off the ignition after a few minutes I started it back up and my steering was back to normal. This has happened to me 2 times driving my 2016 Buick Lacrosse Sport. It's Dangerous and Honestly if your not paying attention it can cause a accident.

NHTSA complaint 11736881. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

99,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the fuel pump was previously replaced due to the vehicle stalling while driving. The contact stated that the tailgate unintendedly opened while the vehicle was parked and turned off. Additionally, the vehicle jerked while driving from a complete stop, and the vehicle hesitated and shuddered while driving at various speeds. An unknown warning light was illuminated. OnStar was contacted and informed the contact that a DTC for the ABS was found. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was repaired for ABS failure; however, the failure persisted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an

NHTSA complaint 11720665, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Trunk lid latch disintegrated, and lid flipped open without warning. Driver vision immediately obscured, leaving trunk contents to be easily dislodged and become hazardous to other motorists; will not secure.

NHTSA complaint 11701648. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Cars shudders 20-30 MPH. Started last year, I needed to get my wife for cancer treatments. Basically, shifted the car manually.

NHTSA complaint 11657537. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

81,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that occasionally while his wife was driving in rainy or snowy conditions, the check power steering warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after it had stopped raining or snowing, the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that a dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The contact was informed that a code for 19-NA-182 could be reset, and that there was no failure found with the steering. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was

NHTSA complaint 11653907, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Buick Lacrosse

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 12 3
2017 34 2
2015 44 3
2014 63 5
2013 128 4 1
2012 205 4
2011 169 3
2010 189 1

Other 2016 Buick models

Every Buick on this site — 60 vehicles, 172 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst