Best and worst Buick LaCrosse years — which to avoid

Buick LaCrosse is one of the most affordable picks for a daily driver sedan, but drivers often struggle to identify the best and worst Buick LaCrosse years. Sadly, some models have been bothered by problems that often lead to expensive repairs, so the buying decision can often be difficult to make.

Luckily, our team explored the official data from reputable driving safety organizations and ownership reviews to help. We’ll present our research through this guide as we dig deeper into NHTSA submissions, complaints, common issues, and everything else that might help you opt for a more reliable LaCrosse model.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Buick LaCrosse years

While making this guide, our team of experts examined reliability details obtained from various sources. We used official NHTSA records on complaints and recalls, as well as reliability ratings from IIHS.

On top of that, we included driver ratings and reviews from popular websites like Consumer Reports, KBB, and Edmunds, as well as first-hand driver impressions from LaCrosse forums. Thanks to all that, this is the list of the best and worst years we’ve created:

Most common Buick LaCrosse problems

Having in mind that the Buick LaCrosse has been in production for over 15 years, there haven’t been many critical issues reported. Still, there are some problems we just have to go over so you’ll get a clear picture of the qualities and downsides of the model once we are done.

1. Check engine light

While there weren’t major engine-related issues during the three years of production, the “check engine” light came up on the board quite frequently.

As it turns out, it was sometimes an electrical fault and a false warning that can be removed by using a simple trick to turn off the check engine light. However, in other cases, the matter required further attention and it was mostly caused by gas cap leaks.

2. Steering problems

As mentioned, the LaCrosse specifically had a few steering issues that sometimes made it difficult to take turns and control the vehicle properly. One of the main issues was the strange noise coming from the intermediate steering shaft. This shaft is the bond between the steering wheel and transmission, and one of the main symptoms of it going bad is a clicking noise coming from below the seat.

At least that’s how you’ll feel it from inside the driver’s cabin, and this problem could lead to nearly impossible steering and turning. While you could keep somewhat of control over your ride on a straight road, we wouldn’t recommend you tamper with the LaCrosse that has this issue. Your best shot is to entrust the steering shaft inspection to a mechanic you know will do the job right, so you can have peace of mind while driving.

3. Gas cap leaks

Another problem that affects the crucial systems of the LaCrosse is the leaking gas cap and this one is a more serious issue than it seems. In case there’s a crack in the cap, fuel vapors will get out and this could lead to increased emissions from the car and fuel smell in the cabin. So, if you get a used LaCrosse without proper inspection and are wondering “why does my car smell like gas“, a gas cap leak is probably the cause.

Gas cap insection should be fast and easy for an experienced mechanic, so it’s best to check up on this before buying the car. Not only will it end up in gas odor within the cabin, but the crack may also let dirt and grime inside and contaminate the fuel, leading to poor engine performance.

4. Door locking mechanism faults

While we are at the most frequently reported issues of the LaCrosse, we can’t overlook the malfunctioning door locking mechanism. This turned out to be one of the most common issues, and that’s both a good and a bad thing. The bad thing is that in case the mechanism fails, you may not be able to unlock or lock the car.

It takes replacing the door lock actuator to cope with the issue, and the good news is – it’s a solid sign of reliability if the most commonly reported issue is something as harmless as this one. Sure, if you don’t have a garage, the car may be an easy target for car thieves, but at least you can easily fix it and it’s not something as crucial as engine faults.

5. Problems with the suspension

Finally, we must deal with the suspension-related issues that plagued this model. There are quite a few problems with the suspension of the LaCrosse in several generations with the most common one being the disconnected rear suspension due to poorly connected toe links.

These links keep the suspension together and there have been several recalls in an attempt to deal with the problem. The affected model years include the 2010-2013 LaCrosse and the 2017 LaCrosse vehicles, so make sure to check if the unit you are taking for a test drive has been recalled.

Worst Buick LaCrosse years to avoid

Based on all the problems and the history of driver complaints on LaCrosse models submitted to the NHTSA, our team was able to figure out the model years that are best avoided:

• 2005
• 2006
• 2008
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012

We’ll also explain the details behind the main issues these models have faced, and it’s best to do this by generation.

First-generation Buick LaCrosse (2005-2006 and 2008 model years)

When it comes to the first generation of the LaCrosse, it had more bad model years than good ones and the aesthetics of the car weren’t as sharp as the third-gen LaCrosse. Still, there are some decent models here as well, but you have to avoid the 2005 and 2008 models if you don’t want to spend too much time servicing the car.

The 2005 LaCrosse was the first production model and it suffered from issues that were later on sorted out for the facelift version. These issues mostly include electrical problems with headlights, interior accessories, A/C heater, and gas cap-related issues that triggered the check engine light. The 2008 model struggled with the same issues overall, along with seat belt retention and airbag issues, so it’s best to avoid both of these.

Second-generation Buick LaCrosse (2010-2013 model years)

While the second generation of the LaCrosse brought significant interior and exterior improvements, there were still some pretty bad model years. The worst production models overall belong to the second generation, and these were the 2010 and 2011 models.

The 2010 one struggled with engine issues, cooling system problems, and suspension problems, while the 2011 model had a lot of reported issues regarding the steering system. Things were slightly better for the 2012 and 2013 models, but these had issues as well and it’s best if you avoided them.

Third-generation Buick LaCrosse (2017 model year)

It seems that Buick finally got it right with the third-gen model and we have to say that this one is the most reliable and best-looking LaCrosse yet. All the model years are pretty much safe to go with, while there are only slight issues with the 2017 one.

This is when the second round of the infamous rear suspension issues occurred, so the best move is to go with any of the later third-gen models.

What are the best Buick LaCrosse years to buy?

After going through the troublesome details regarding common issues and years to avoid, it’s finally time to get to the point. Our team made a list of the reliable Buick LaCrosse model years, so it’s time to finally answer the question – what are the best Buick LaCrosse years?

The best Buick LaCrosse years are 2009 and 2015, but here’s a full list of reliable model years:

• 2009
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016
• 2018
• 2019

As you can see, there’s a decent option for everyone’s taste as you can go for a 2009 model for a first-gen LaCrosse, a 2015 one for the second-gen model, or a 2019 one for a third-gen model. Our experts will further elaborate on the best-rated models to show you why these make the best purchase decisions.

2009 Buick LaCrosse

The 2009 Buick LaCrosse is one of the most reliable first-gen models and in fact, the only one you can go for and feel safe. It’s due to this model only receiving around 150 complaints on NTHSA and it didn’t face many issues with the headlights and electrical features.

There were some engine-related issues, mostly concerning the dashboard light for reduced engine power, which was often falsely activated due to electrical issues. On top of that, the 2009 LaCrosse received positive feedback from drivers and previous owners, making it an excellent choice.

2015 Buick LaCrosse

As for the 2015 LaCrosse, this model was by far the best-rated one with the least number of complaints. It didn’t have any of the issues that the previous second-gen models like issues with interior accessories, electrical system, and steering issues.

It’s also one of the models that didn’t have any engine-related issues, which is why it makes a perfect choice among second-gen options.

Is Buick LaCrosse worth buying?

Ultimately, the Buick LaCrosse is worth buying as long as you avoid the listed model years that had a fair share of issues. Still, it’s a common situation with almost any car and it’s a relief that there are LaCrosse models coming with little to no reported issues.

We hope that you will be able to pick the best-rated LaCrosse in terms of reliability thanks to the information listed in this guide and make sure to keep an eye out for the most problematic issues we’ve mentioned.

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