Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the engine, electrical, and transmission. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2018 Buick LaCrosse: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2018's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2018 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Buick LaCrosse. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 23–24 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cylHybrid | FWD | 29 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Buick LaCrosse, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Thermostats on the 3.6 liter engine fail early. Reports put the failure near 53,939 to 56,000 miles. The engine stays cold, the electric cooling fans run nonstop, and a scan shows code PO128. The thermostat sits under the intake manifold, so one dealer repair cost over $800. A separate complaint involves the auto stop feature. When the engine shuts off on an uphill stop, the car can roll back after the brake is released, which risks hitting the car behind.
The car can shut off suddenly while in use. A new battery did not fix it, and a dealer software update came with no promise the stalling would stop. Another report describes a key fob that would not unlock the doors or let the car restart. The problem kept coming back at around 100,000 miles, even after fresh fob batteries. Owners also worry about the accelerator pedal's electrical connection causing reduced power, which is a real risk when merging onto a highway.
Acceleration from a stop can fail. The car struggles or refuses to move forward. Warnings for reduced engine power, check engine, and traction come on, and the engine may misfire. Drivers say the car can roll backward toward traffic during these events. Other reports describe the car slowing to a crawl, showing a service transmission message, and applying its own brakes, with repeated tows. A common complaint is that dealers decline to repair once the warning light goes out and the codes clear.
Pressing the accelerator can produce no response. Drivers then see an engine power reduced message and a check engine light, and normal driving returns only after the codes are reset. The opposite failure also appears: the car surges forward at a traffic light even with the brake applied. Both raise the risk of a crash in traffic. Dealers sometimes find no fault, which leaves the problem unresolved.
Excerpts from complaints LaCrosse owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
When I tried to stop at the traffic light, the car suddenly accelerated and went forward. At that time, the car brake was engaged. On the same day; When I tried to go forward at the traffic light, the car suddenly accelerated. The dealer service center said, "We cannot find any issue with the transmission."
Filed with NHTSA, January 2022
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 has the most owner complaints of the 2 LaCrosse years we cover, about 2.0 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2018 is the second model year of the LaCrosse's third generation (2017–2019).
Buick updated the LaCrosse for 2019, so a 2018 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2019 (not on a 2018)
Recall repairs are free at any Buick dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. 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 18279.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. 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 18188.
Cars shoppers compare with the Buick LaCrosse, with their own 2018 checklists.
2018 owner complaints, side by side
