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2017 Buick Lacrosse Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2017 Buick Lacrosse carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering electric power assist system and rear. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Suspension strut and yoke failure with discontinued parts.” Buick uses the GM Oil Life System: an algorithm tracks engine revolutions and temperature, then lights the change-oil message — typically every 7,500 miles in mixed driving, capped at 12 months, using dexos-approved oil. Current Encore GX and Envista run 1.2/1.3L turbo three-cylinders where oil quality matters more than volume drivers expect (the sump is small and turbo-heated). Front-drive models pair to a CVT with a published fluid interval — it is not a lifetime part.

2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Campaign #17V116000 · Feb 23, 2017

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Buick LaCrosse vehicles. The electrical connectors for the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system may not be properly sealed. As a result, water may enter and corrode the connectors possibly resulting in a loss of power steering.

Risk: A loss of power steering may result in increased manual steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect correct the seal seating and secure the EPS connector seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 17085.

SUSPENSION:REAR

Campaign #17V267000 · Apr 21, 2017

Issue: General Motors LLC (C) is recalling certain 2017 Buick LaCrosse vehicles. The rear suspension toe-links may have been incorrectly installed, and, as a result, they may loosen and disconnect from the rear suspension system.

Risk: If a rear-suspension toe-link disconnects, it may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right rear suspension toe-link assemblies, correcting their installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 25, 2017. Owners may contact Buick's customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 17168.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2017 Buick Lacrosse.

Reported to NHTSA

Suspension strut and yoke failure with discontinued parts

SUSPENSION

4 NHTSA complaints · 2022-02 → 2026-05

“This vehicle has major suspension issues containing the complete strut assembly, lower control arms, and strut yokes/forks, which can not be replaced due to the discontinuance of the vehicle and parts itself”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11736767
“The contact owns a 2017 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was making an abnormally loud stomping sound and the wheels were shuddering significantly. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11596103
“The contact owns a 2017 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH and making a left turn, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The contact mentioned the failure was related to the bushings”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11452579

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission shift and gear selector malfunction

POWER TRAIN

9 NHTSA complaints · 2018-10 → 2023-12

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11562549
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11240696
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11209049

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic Stop/Start system failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2019-02 → 2021-08

“The contact owns a 2017 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated that while at a stoplight the fuel-saving feature activated and the engine shut-off. After removing his foot from the brake pedal the STOP/START feature failed to activate”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11430318
“AT A FULL STOP, THE ENGINE AUTO STOP SHUTS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE DOWN. VEHICLE MUST BE RE-STARTED AND ALL FEATURES LIKE RADIO, CLOCK ETC. RETURN TO THE FACTORY SETTINGS AS IF THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11204194
“2017 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE CONTROL STOP/START SYSTEM. *LD *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11175531

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light and module failure

AIR BAGS

2 NHTSA complaints · 2022-06 → 2024-07

“The air bag warning light in the dash came on intermittently during driving. I took the vehicle to the dealer for service December 27, 2023, since it was a safety issue that the authorized dealer needs to take care of”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11603514
“the airbag lite has been coming on for the last year saying it needs to be serviced”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11467521

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unexpected stall or loss of engine power while driving

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2020-02 → 2024-02

“Vehicle loses power every gmc vehicle I have owned (3) seen to have this issue throttle pedal position sensor while driving on the interstate vehicle speed drops to reduce engine power which is very scary and dangerous”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11571349
“The contact owns a 2017 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power on several occasions. The vehicle restarted after a while”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11486363
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11307684

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Cruise control and idle unintended acceleration

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 NHTSA complaints · 2018-01 → 2019-03

“I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2017 BUICK LACROSSE, A VEHICLE WITH 17,004 MILES. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE SET TO 70 MPH THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF TO 105 MPH AND THE ENGINE REVVED 3000 RPM ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11192544
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BUICK LACROSSE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING THIRTY SECONDS TO A MINUTE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE REVVED AND INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11063227

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it — typically around 7,500 miles, never beyond 12 months. dexos1 0W-20 on modern engines. Small-displacement turbos (Encore GX, Envista): don't stretch the indicator.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles with the oil change — GM pairs the two in its schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Older Centurys: check rear drum adjustment and parking-brake cables, which seize with age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

CVT Fluid (Encore GX / Envista FWD)

Every 45,000 mi

FWD Encore GX and Envista use a CVT: GM schedules fluid replacement around 45,000 miles under severe service — which includes most city commuting. AWD Encore GX uses a 9-speed automatic instead (see transmission fluid).

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Conventional automatics (Century's 4T65-E, Regal's Aisin, AWD Encore GX's 9-speed): GM lists 45,000 miles severe / longer normal. Older Buicks respond well to a simple drain-and-fill — avoid pressure flushes on high-mile units.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Small-turbo three-cylinders (Encore GX, Envista): roughly every 60,000 miles — check the manual. Older 3.1/3.8 V6s: iridium plugs last to 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM schedules replacement around 45,000 miles; inspect at every oil change in dusty regions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking or glazing rather than mileage alone.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace roughly every 22,500 miles per GM's schedule — behind the glovebox on modern Buicks.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 150,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles. On older 3.1/3.8 V6s, intake-gasket seepage was the classic failure — check coolant level and condition at every oil change on a Century.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Stop-start-equipped Encore GX/Envista use AGM batteries — replace like-for-like, not with a cheaper flooded battery.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

27 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

0

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2017 Buick Lacrosse reflects Buick's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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