Is the Nissan Maxima more reliable than the Buick Lacrosse?

No, they are effectively tied. Both have a good standing and average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year. The Maxima has a lower complaint rate per car sold, while the Lacrosse has a slightly lower chance that a repair is major. Neither gap is large enough to name a winner.

Which has more recalls, the Maxima or the Lacrosse?

The Lacrosse has more recalls on a smaller base. Federal recall records show 5 across its 2 model years in the data, 2018 and 2019. The Maxima has 4 recalls spread across 6 model years, 2018 to 2023. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before buying.

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

The Maxima is slightly cheaper. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $540 a year against $569 for the Lacrosse, a gap that adds up to about $145 over five years. That is small enough that the condition and service history of the individual car will matter more.

What are the most common Maxima problems?

Service brakes lead with 9 complaints, followed by forward collision avoidance and the electrical system with 7 each. Reports include sudden loss of power with many warning lights, a forward collision light that stays on, and a front radar message that disables adaptive cruise control.

What goes wrong with the Buick Lacrosse?

Engine and throttle problems dominate. Owners describe a pedal that does not respond when merging, power reduced messages, and a car that surges at a light with the brake applied. Others report sudden shutoffs and a car that struggles to move from a stop, sometimes rolling backward.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima: Reliability Compared

Buick LaCrosse

Good

Nissan Maxima

Good

Reliability is effectively tied between the Nissan Maxima and Buick Lacrosse, with both at a good standing and 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year. What separates them is the failure type: Maxima complaints involve brakes and sensors, while Lacrosse complaints involve throttle response.

How Do the Buick LaCrosse and Nissan Maxima Generations Compare?

Every Maxima year in the data belongs to the eighth generation, which ran from 2016 through 2023 in the US. It was facelifted in 2020, so 2018 and 2019 are pre-facelift cars, and 2020 through 2023 are facelifted ones. The Lacrosse years in the data, 2018 and 2019, both fall in the third generation, which ran from 2017 through 2019. That generation was facelifted in 2019. A fourth generation is listed only for 2023, so used shoppers looking at 2018 or 2019 are buying the last years of the third generation.

Verdict

The Buick LaCrosse and Nissan Maxima are evenly matched with a reliability score of 76/100.

Reliability is effectively tied. Both sedans earn a good standing, both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and their yearly repair costs are close. The Lacrosse has a slightly lower chance that a repair turns major. The Maxima has a lower complaint rate per car sold. Neither edge is big enough to decide the choice, so the kind of failure each car tends to have matters more than the score.

Key Differences

1Nissan Maxima costs $29 less per year to repair
2Buick LaCrosse has 3% lower major repair risk
3Nissan Maxima has 1.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

1Buick LaCrosse

—

3Nissan Maxima

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick LaCrosse	Nissan Maxima
Reliability Score	76/100	76/100
Years Tracked	2	6
Total Recalls	5	4
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.9	6.5
Annual Repair Cost	$569/yr	$540/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	12%	15%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2019 NHTSA	2023 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	1 (1 tied)	0 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick LaCrosse and Nissan Maxima?

Spread across several systems, the Maxima's complaints include a sudden loss of power with a cluster of warning lights, a forward collision light that stays on, and a front radar message that shuts off adaptive cruise control. Grille clips snap, and trim or glass comes loose without a collision. The Lacrosse's complaints center on throttle response. Owners describe a pedal that does nothing when merging, a surge at a stoplight with the brake applied, sudden shutoffs, and rolling backward after a failed start from a stop. Only the Maxima has parts detaching from the body.

Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick LaCrosse	Nissan Maxima
ENGINE	2.2Low	—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.3Low	0.9Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.3Low	0.5Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.9Very Low	0.3Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.9Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	0.7Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.5Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.3Very Low
AIR BAGS	—None	0.2Very Low
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	0.2Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.2Very Low

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick LaCrosse or Nissan Maxima?

Repair cost barely separates these cars. The Maxima runs an estimated $540 a year, against $569 for the Lacrosse, which adds up to about $145 less over five years. Both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, so neither sends you to the shop more often. The Lacrosse has the lower chance that a repair is major, at 12% against 15% for the Maxima.

How Does Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick LaCrosse	Nissan Maxima	Edge
2019	76/1002R / 6C	76/1001R / 18C	Tie
2018	75/1003R / 12C	72/1002R / 36C	Buick LaCrosse

Best years to cross-shop: The 2019 Buick LaCrosse scored 76/100 and the 2019 Nissan Maxima scored 76/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Buick LaCrosse vs the Nissan Maxima?

Choose the Maxima if you want more model years to shop and a larger pool of owner reports behind the rating. Target 2021 and 2022, the strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2020, the weakest. On a test drive, watch for a forward collision light or a radar obstruction message, and check the grille and trim for sagging or loose clips. Choose the Lacrosse if a slightly lower chance of a major repair appeals to you and you can find a clean 2018 or 2019. The data does not separate those two years, and only 18 complaints are on file, so treat the picture as thin. Spend the test drive on acceleration. Merge onto a highway, pull away from a stop, and press the pedal at a light. Hesitation, a power reduced message, or a surge should end the deal. Ask for records of any stalling or tows, since owners say dealers sometimes decline repairs once the codes clear.

Buick LaCrosse vs Nissan Maxima: Common Questions

Is the Nissan Maxima more reliable than the Buick Lacrosse?: No, they are effectively tied. Both have a good standing and average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year. The Maxima has a lower complaint rate per car sold, while the Lacrosse has a slightly lower chance that a repair is major. Neither gap is large enough to name a winner.
Which has more recalls, the Maxima or the Lacrosse?: The Lacrosse has more recalls on a smaller base. Federal recall records show 5 across its 2 model years in the data, 2018 and 2019. The Maxima has 4 recalls spread across 6 model years, 2018 to 2023. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before buying.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Maxima or the Lacrosse?: The Maxima is slightly cheaper. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $540 a year against $569 for the Lacrosse, a gap that adds up to about $145 over five years. That is small enough that the condition and service history of the individual car will matter more.
What are the most common Maxima problems?: Service brakes lead with 9 complaints, followed by forward collision avoidance and the electrical system with 7 each. Reports include sudden loss of power with many warning lights, a forward collision light that stays on, and a front radar message that disables adaptive cruise control.
What goes wrong with the Buick Lacrosse?: Engine and throttle problems dominate. Owners describe a pedal that does not respond when merging, power reduced messages, and a car that surges at a light with the brake applied. Others report sudden shutoffs and a car that struggles to move from a stop, sometimes rolling backward.

More Buick LaCrosse comparisons

Buick LaCrosse vs Chrysler 300 reliability Buick LaCrosse vs Kia K5 reliability Buick LaCrosse vs Dodge Charger reliability Buick LaCrosse vs Honda Accord reliability Buick LaCrosse reliability by year Buick LaCrosse years to avoid

More Nissan Maxima comparisons

Nissan Maxima vs Chrysler 300 reliability Nissan Maxima vs Dodge Charger reliability Nissan Maxima vs Hyundai Sonata reliability Nissan Maxima vs Subaru Legacy reliability Nissan Maxima reliability by year Nissan Maxima years to avoid

Decided between Buick LaCrosse and Nissan Maxima? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Buick LaCrosse and Nissan Maxima

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.

See incorrect data? Report an issue