The 2013 LaCrosse is a comfortable cruiser built on GM's Epsilon II platform, sharing DNA with the Regal and Cadillac XTS. The 3.6L V6 is the volume seller and generally reliable, but the 2.4L four-cylinder has catastrophic timing chain and oil consumption issues that can grenade the engine, while the transmission oil cooler quietly fails and contaminates fluid in both powertrains.
2.4L Ecotec Timing Chain Stretch and Oil Consumption (Engine Failure)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0008/P0011 timing correlation codes, Cold-start rattle lasting 3-5 seconds from timing chain slack, Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000 miles or worse), Blue smoke on startup, oil fouling on spark plugs, Complete loss of power or no-start after chain jumps timing
Fix: The 2.4L timing chain stretches due to marginal oil flow and piston ring design leads to oil burning. Once codes appear, the engine is living on borrowed time. Full timing chain replacement runs 8-10 hours, but if oil consumption is present, you're looking at piston rings or a full shortblock. Most shops recommend replacing with a low-mile used engine (12-15 hours) rather than rebuilding.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks and Cross-Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink or milky transmission fluid on dipstick, Coolant level dropping without external leaks, Harsh or delayed shifting, especially when cold, Transmission slipping or shuddering under load, Steam or sweet smell from exhaust (coolant in trans)
Fix: The internal transmission cooler in the radiator develops pinhole leaks, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. This destroys the 6T70 transmission quickly. Proper fix requires radiator replacement, transmission flush with new torque converter (can't flush converter adequately once contaminated), and often full transmission rebuild if caught late. Budget 6-8 hours labor for cooler/flush, 18-22 hours if trans needs rebuild.
Symptoms: Clunking or banging from rear suspension over bumps, Rear end feels loose or unstable during lane changes, Uneven or accelerated rear tire wear on inside edges, Steering wheel off-center after hitting potholes, Visible cracking or separation of rubber bushings on inspection
Fix: The rear cradle bushings and lateral control arm bushings deteriorate, especially in rust belt states. GM issued a recall for lateral links on some units (NHTSA 14V-394), but non-recalled cars still fail. Replacing all four cradle bushings requires subframe drop (4-5 hours), lateral links add another 2 hours. Alignment mandatory afterward.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Water Pump Failure (3.6L V6)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant seeping from weep hole below water pump, Growling or squealing noise from front of engine, Overheating or temperature gauge creeping up in traffic, Pink or green coolant pooling under car after sitting, Check engine light with P0128 (thermostat) as secondary symptom
Fix: The 3.6L water pump bearing fails or the gasket weeps. It's buried behind the timing cover, requiring 6-7 hours labor. Smart money does timing chains (which are actually good on the V6 unlike the four-cylinder) and thermostat while you're in there, adding 2-3 hours. If just the pump, you're looking at 6-7 hours straight time.
Symptoms: Loud clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration through floor and steering wheel at idle in Drive, Visible sag or cracking of rubber mount on inspection, Excessive driveline movement when accelerating hard
Fix: The hydraulic transmission mount wears out and the rubber tears. It's a 1.5-2 hour job to replace, straightforward from underneath. OEM mount is superior to aftermarket; cheap ones fail in 20,000 miles.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Power Steering Hose Leaks and Pump Whine
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining or groaning noise when turning steering wheel, Power steering fluid dripping from passenger side of engine bay, Stiff or heavy steering, especially when cold, Low fluid level despite no obvious external leaks (pressure hose weeps), Burning smell from fluid dripping on exhaust manifold
Fix: High-pressure power steering hose develops leaks at crimp fittings or the hose itself cracks. Pump can fail if run low. Hose replacement is 1.5-2 hours, pump adds another 2 hours. Fluid is expensive synthetic; full system flush required after any repair.
If buying a 2.4L four-cylinder model, walk away unless you can verify timing chain and piston ring replacement with receipts — these engines are ticking time bombs after 60k miles
Check transmission fluid color religiously every oil change; pink or milky means immediate radiator replacement before transmission damage occurs
Use only Dexos-certified oil in the 2.4L and change every 5,000 miles maximum; stretching intervals accelerates timing chain wear
The 3.6L V6 is far more reliable than the 2.4L but still needs quality synthetic oil and timely changes to avoid carbon buildup on valves
Inspect rear cradle bushings at every alignment or if handling feels vague; catching them early prevents tire wear and unsafe handling
Buy a 3.6L V6 model with service records and avoid the 2.4L entirely — the four-cylinder's engine failures are economically unrecoverable, while the V6 is a solid highway cruiser if the trans cooler is monitored and cooling system maintained.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.
SUSPENSION:REAR · 21V633000
2021-08-12
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212330130.
SUSPENSION:REAR · 20V764000
2020-12-21
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · 13V173000
2013-05-06
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.
Consequence: If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · 13V097000
2013-03-15
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012, through February 18, 2013 for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." A software problem may cause the transmission to inadvertently shift to Sport mode removing any transmission-related engine braking effect.
Consequence: If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2013. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. Buick owners may call 1-866-694-6546.
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