AI Damage2016 Buick Lacrosse: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Buick Lacrosse filed 48 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain. The maker issued 888 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 48
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 888
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 25% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 13% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 6% of all complaints
- 8 Forward collision avoidance 6% of all complaints
- Steering: 12 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 21.
- Powertrain: 7 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 61.
- Air bags: 6 complaints (13% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Vehicle speed control: 6 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.4 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 48 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 12 | 0 | 21 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 0 | 61 |
| Air bags | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 17 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 198 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 90 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 360 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 107 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 32 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 31 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was in a front end collision where the damages were over $20,000.00 and the air bags did not deploy.
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.
The air bags did not deploy and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was included in nhtsa campaign number 16v651000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 11,500.
The volt meter on the dashboard keeps dropping below 14 volts and 13.5 volts. The car has been checked by Buick and my mechanic no issues found. Buick has no idea why it keeps doing it neither does my mechanic.
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.
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.
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.
Diagnostic trouble code P0442. Evaporative emission system leak detected indicated by check engine light on.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 890 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Lacrosse has 21 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 48, above average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic…
This document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172. The diagnostic tip has the technician inspect the high pressure fuel pump…
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and…
This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
NHTSA lists 888 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Buick Lacrosse?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, powertrain, air bags. Total complaints: 48. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (23%), warning lights, check engine (21%), jerking, harsh shifts (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Buick Lacrosse?
NHTSA lists 888 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Buick Lacrosse from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.