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Free public service · Official NHTSA & EPA data

2018 Buick Lacrosse

Verified August 31, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
5
of 5 stars
Recalls
3
on record
MPG
24
combined

Open recalls on record

3 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Vehicle Summary

2018 Buick Lacrosse

3 recalls
12 complaints
24 MPG combined
5/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Confirm all 3 recalls were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
No complaint on record reports a crash
Review the 12 owner complaints on record
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
3
Owner complaints
12
Complaints citing a crash
0

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

3 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 20V668000high

    Drivetrain issue

    POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

    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.

    Consequence

    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.

    Remedy

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 18V576000high

    Brake system issue

    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

    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.

    Consequence

    A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 18V358000high

    Fuel pump may fail

    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

    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.

    Consequence

    A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    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.

    Full campaign record

NHTSA crash-test ratings

NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2018 Buick Lacrosse.

  • Frontal crash

    Driver
    5 / 5
    Passenger
    4 / 5
  • Side crash

    Driver
    4 / 5
    Passenger
    5 / 5
    Side pole
    5 / 5
  • Rollover

    Rollover risk
    9.9%
    Dynamic tip

Driver-assistance technologies

Electronic stability control
Standard
Forward collision warning
Optional
Lane departure warning
Optional

What the ratings mean

NHTSA gives the 2018 Buick Lacrosse 5 out of 5 stars overall, level with the 5-star median for the 16 comparable 2018 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.

NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.

NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 9.9% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.

NHTSA crash tests

2018 Buick Lacrosse Frontal crash crash test
Frontal crash Video
2018 Buick Lacrosse Side crash crash test
Side crash Video
2018 Buick Lacrosse Side pole crash test
Side pole Video

Fuel economy & emissions

EPA figures for the 2018 Buick Lacrosse, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.

21

City

30

Hwy

24

Comb

Annual fuel cost
$2,550
Tailpipe CO₂
367 g/mi

How this compares

At 24 MPG combined, the 2018 Buick Lacrosse ranks 17th of 24 midsize cars EPA rated for 2018 — 2.5 MPG short of the 26.5 MPG median for that group.

That places it in the lower third of its class. If annual mileage is high, the running-cost gap against a class-average rival compounds quickly.

EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $2,550, $50 less than the $2,600 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $12,750, a $250 difference against a class-median vehicle.

Tailpipe CO₂ is 367 grams per mile — about 5.5 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.

Consumer complaints

12 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

12
Total
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE6
  • ELECTRICAL3
  • OTHER2
  • BRAKES1

Normal Range

12 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)6
electrical issues (battery, wiring, infotainment)3
miscellaneous issues2

Safety timeline

Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2018 Buick Lacrosse, newest first.

  1. Recall

    Recall 20V668000

    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.

  2. Recall

    Recall 18V576000

    A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

  3. Recall

    Recall 18V358000

    A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Midsize Cars
Drive type
Front-Wheel Drive
Engine
3.6L 6-cyl
Fuel type
Unknown
Transmission
Automatic (S9)
Seats
0

Fuel economy

21

City

30

Hwy

24

Comb

Annual cost
$2,550
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Buick Lacrosse years

Common problems

Buick Lacrosse problems

142 owner complaints analyzed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 20V668000

    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.

  2. Recall

    Recall 18V576000

    A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

  3. Recall

    Recall 18V358000

    A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.