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2017 Buick Lacrosse

Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

34 owner complaints · 2 recalls · data verified July 25, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Electrical system problems dominate (32% of complaints, typically reported near 11k miles).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.

Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.

Score breakdown, by factor

Full methodology →

#31 of 574Among the 2017 models with a matured record, the 2017 Buick Lacrosse ranks #31, scoring higher than 93% of them. See the 2017 ranking →

Complaint volume98
Severity100
Recall load87
Trend95

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20162026 YTD

How it crashes

NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.

5/5 overall

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2017 Buick LaCrosse 4 DR AWD

Front crash
Side crash
Rollover

Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%

Stability control: StandardForward collision warning: OptionalLane departure warning: Optional

No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.

NHTSA crash-test photo, 2017 Buick LaCrosse 4 DR AWD

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2017 Buick Lacrosse, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miElectrical system~11k mi · 11 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Transmission & drivetrain (8) · Engine (5)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.

Electrical system

32%

11 complaints · typically near 11k mi

Intermittent failure to start All electrical components failed to operate after total shutdown while at a stopped traffic light. After being towed to dealer it did sta…

Read the electrical system complaints →

Transmission & drivetrain

24%

8 complaints

2017 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SEEMED T…

Read the transmission & drivetrain complaints →

Engine

15%

5 complaints

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…

Read the engine complaints →

Suspension

12%

4 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

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 discon…

Read the suspension complaints →

Check it against this car’s mileage

Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.

miles

We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.

Read all 34 owner complaints in their own words →

Recalls (2)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Suspension · 17V267000

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.

Steering · 17V116000

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.

Questions to ask the seller

Questions worth asking the seller of this Buick before you buy, drawn from its public record:

  1. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2017 Buick Lacrosse. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
  2. Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 11k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  3. Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  4. Has this car been in any accident, and can you share a title history and any service records you have?
  5. How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
  6. Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Buick LACROSSE beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2017? See how every Lacrosse model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Buick Lacrosse against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

See what owners are saying about other cars →

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2017 Buick Lacrosse as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.