Is the KIA K5 more reliable than the Buick Lacrosse?

No, they are effectively tied. Both stand well in the data. The K5 has more owner complaints per car sold and more recalls, but it covers six model years. The Lacrosse looks cleaner, though only two model years and 18 complaints support it.

Which has more recalls, the K5 or the Lacrosse?

The K5 has more. Federal recall records show 20 recalls across its six model years, against 5 across the two Lacrosse model years. The K5 also has more years on the road, so part of the gap comes from sheer coverage.

Which is cheaper to repair, the K5 or the Lacrosse?

The data cannot settle this. Independent repair-cost data exists for the Lacrosse only: about $569 a year, 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and a 12% chance that a repair is major. No matching K5 figures are available to compare.

What is the most common K5 problem?

Electrical trouble leads, with 60 complaints. Headlights, the instrument cluster, the radio, and climate controls shut off while driving, sometimes for under a second and sometimes leaving the driver in the dark. Power train and fuel tank complaints follow closely behind.

What goes wrong most often on the Lacrosse?

Engine complaints lead with 5, mainly hesitation when you press the pedal to merge. Electrical issues follow with 3, including sudden shutoffs. Power train and speed control each have 2, with reports of no response or surging. Dealers sometimes find no fault.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Buick LaCrosse vs Kia K5: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Buick LaCrosse

Good

Kia K5

Good

Reliability is effectively tied between the KIA K5 and the Buick Lacrosse. The K5 has more recalls and more complaints per car sold. The Lacrosse has a thinner record covering only two model years, so its cleaner numbers carry less weight.

How Do the Buick LaCrosse and Kia K5 Generations Compare?

Fifth-generation status defines the K5 shopper's choices. That generation began with the 2021 model year, and a first facelift followed in 2025. The 2021 and 2022 cars came first in the cycle and are the weakest years in the data. Facelifted cars are the newest and have had little time to collect complaints. The Lacrosse data covers the third generation, which ran 2017 to 2019 and received a facelift for 2019. A fourth generation arrived for 2023 only. Used Lacrosse shoppers will mostly see the final third-generation years, 2018 and 2019.

Buick LaCrosse vs Kia K5: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick LaCrosse vs Kia K5 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick LaCrosse	Kia K5
Reliability Score	76/100	75/100
Years Tracked	2	6
Total Recalls	5	20
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.9	10.2
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2019 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
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What Are the Common Problems With the Buick LaCrosse and Kia K5?

Varied, physical failures define the Kia's complaint list. Headlights and the instrument cluster cut out while driving, the fuel tank swells with a loud bang, trim pieces fly off at highway speed, and panoramic sunroof glass shatters. Crash-linked reports appear in power train, structure, and air bags. The Buick's list is shorter and centers on power delivery. The pedal does nothing when merging, the car surges at a light, or it shuts off. Dealers often find no fault once the codes clear. No Lacrosse problem area is marked crash-linked.

Buick LaCrosse vs Kia K5 common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick LaCrosse	Kia K5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.3Low	1.7Low
ENGINE	2.2Low	0.6Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.3Low	0.9Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.9Very Low	1.2Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	1.2Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.9Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.8Very Low
AIR BAGS	—None	0.6Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.6Very Low
STEERING	—None	0.4Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.2Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.1Very Low

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Who Should Buy the Buick LaCrosse vs the Kia K5?

Pick the K5 if you want a newer car with more model years to choose from and can live with a longer complaint history. Check that every open recall has been completed before you buy. Be cautious with 2021 and 2022, the weakest years. The newest years look better, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven. Pick the Lacrosse if you want fewer reported problems and a known repair bill. Independent repair-cost data shows infrequent shop visits and a modest chance of a major repair. Only 2018 and 2019 are covered, so your choice is narrow. On a test drive, press the pedal hard from a stop and while merging. Hesitation, surging, or a reduced power message is the failure to watch for, and dealers sometimes cannot reproduce it. Ask for service records showing any such visits.

Buick LaCrosse vs Kia K5: Common Questions

Is the KIA K5 more reliable than the Buick Lacrosse?: No, they are effectively tied. Both stand well in the data. The K5 has more owner complaints per car sold and more recalls, but it covers six model years. The Lacrosse looks cleaner, though only two model years and 18 complaints support it.
Which has more recalls, the K5 or the Lacrosse?: The K5 has more. Federal recall records show 20 recalls across its six model years, against 5 across the two Lacrosse model years. The K5 also has more years on the road, so part of the gap comes from sheer coverage.
Which is cheaper to repair, the K5 or the Lacrosse?: The data cannot settle this. Independent repair-cost data exists for the Lacrosse only: about $569 a year, 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and a 12% chance that a repair is major. No matching K5 figures are available to compare.
What is the most common K5 problem?: Electrical trouble leads, with 60 complaints. Headlights, the instrument cluster, the radio, and climate controls shut off while driving, sometimes for under a second and sometimes leaving the driver in the dark. Power train and fuel tank complaints follow closely behind.
What goes wrong most often on the Lacrosse?: Engine complaints lead with 5, mainly hesitation when you press the pedal to merge. Electrical issues follow with 3, including sudden shutoffs. Power train and speed control each have 2, with reports of no response or surging. Dealers sometimes find no fault.

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How we score the Buick LaCrosse and Kia K5

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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