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What 46 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Buick Lacrosse Hybrid

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (46)Crash / fire / injury (7)Steering (12)Transmission & drivetrain (7)Speed control (6)Airbags (5)Brakes (4)Engine (3)Fuel system (3)Driver assistance (2)Electrical system (2)Body & structure (1)

4 of 46 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jun 22, 2026AirbagsSeat beltsCrash

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 designed during a major crash, mimicking the exact symptoms of the original defect. The vehicle is currently held at a private tow yard pending an insurance investigation and an Event Data Recorder (EDR) download.

NHTSA ODI 11745821

Jul 29, 2020AirbagsCrash1 injury

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 ODI 11342066

Nov 9, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

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

NHTSA ODI 11150374

Oct 17, 2016AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. 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.

NHTSA ODI 10916565

Working with the data? Download all 46 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Buick Lacrosse Hybrid verdict →