Is the Buick Lacrosse more reliable than the Nissan Maxima?

They're very close — both average 76/100 in our reliability scoring. Other factors like repair costs and specific year models may tip the decision.

Which has more recalls, the Buick Lacrosse or the Nissan Maxima?

The Buick Lacrosse has more recalls (5) compared to the Nissan Maxima (4). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Buick Lacrosse or the Nissan Maxima?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Maxima has a lower complaint rate at 6.5 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 7.9 for the Buick Lacrosse. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Buick Lacrosse or the Nissan Maxima?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Maxima is cheaper to maintain at $540/year versus $569/year for the Buick Lacrosse.

Is the Buick Lacrosse or Nissan Maxima safer?

Both the Buick Lacrosse and Nissan Maxima received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-07-26

Buick Lacrosse vs Nissan Maxima: Reliability Compared

Buick Lacrosse

Good

Nissan Maxima

Good

Choosing between the Buick Lacrosse and the Nissan Maxima? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize sedans.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. Both models currently share an average reliability score of 76/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Buick Lacrosse and Nissan Maxima Generations Compare?

As of July 2026, the Nissan Maxima is in its eighth generation, which was introduced in 2016 and received a facelift in 2020. This generation is mature, suggesting that most early issues have likely been resolved, making it a potentially reliable choice. On the other hand, the Buick Lacrosse is currently in its fourth generation, which began in 2023. Being early in its cycle, the Lacrosse may still be refining initial design and engineering challenges. Generally, vehicles in later stages of their generation, like the Maxima, offer more predictable reliability compared to newer platforms like the Lacrosse's current generation.

Verdict

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

Both the Nissan Maxima and Buick Lacrosse hold an identical average reliability score of 76 out of 100, yet they differ in other reliability metrics. The Maxima has a lower owner complaint rate of 6.5 per 10,000 vehicles compared to the Lacrosse’s 7.9, indicating slightly better owner satisfaction. However, the Maxima has faced four recalls over six years, while the Lacrosse has had five recalls in just two years, suggesting a potentially higher frequency of issues with the Buick. Although both models have similar repair costs, the Maxima's lower complaint rate and recall history make it marginally more reliable.

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?

The Nissan Maxima exhibits a broader range of issues, with notable concerns in categories such as UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES, and FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE, indicating potential safety-related challenges. In contrast, the Buick Lacrosse's primary problem area is the ENGINE, which could suggest more critical mechanical reliability issues. While both models face ELECTRICAL SYSTEM complaints, the Maxima has a higher overall complaint volume, particularly in safety-critical areas like brakes and collision avoidance, which the Lacrosse does not. This suggests the Maxima may present more diverse operational concerns, whereas the Lacrosse's issues are concentrated in fewer, but potentially more severe, areas.

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
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	—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?

According to independent repair cost data, the Nissan Maxima and Buick Lacrosse have similar repair frequencies of 0.3 visits per year, but the Maxima has a slightly lower annual repair cost at $540 compared to the Lacrosse's $569. Over five years, this translates to a $145 total difference in favor of the Maxima. However, the Maxima also carries a higher major repair risk at 15%, compared to the Lacrosse's 12%. Despite the higher risk, the Maxima offers better value for cost-conscious buyers due to its lower annual repair costs, assuming major repairs are avoided.

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 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Buick Lacrosse vs the Nissan Maxima?

If you prioritize lower running costs and fewer overall complaints, the Nissan Maxima could be the better choice for you. With an estimated annual repair cost of $540 and owner complaints at 6.5 per 10,000 sold, the Maxima presents a slightly more budget-friendly and less problematic option. Despite having one fewer recall than the Buick Lacrosse, the Maxima has a slightly higher major repair risk at 15%. However, its issues, including brakes and electrical systems, are less frequent in complaints. On the other hand, if you're concerned about major repairs and want to minimize that risk, consider the Buick Lacrosse. It offers a marginally lower major repair risk at 12%, which might give you more peace of mind over time. Although it has a slightly higher estimated annual repair cost of $569 and more owner complaints, its focus on engine and speed control issues might align better with your specific needs if these areas are a priority for you.

Buick Lacrosse vs Nissan Maxima: Common Questions

Is the Buick Lacrosse more reliable than the Nissan Maxima?: They're very close — both average 76/100 in our reliability scoring. Other factors like repair costs and specific year models may tip the decision.
Which has more recalls, the Buick Lacrosse or the Nissan Maxima?: The Buick Lacrosse has more recalls (5) compared to the Nissan Maxima (4). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Buick Lacrosse or the Nissan Maxima?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Maxima has a lower complaint rate at 6.5 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 7.9 for the Buick Lacrosse. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Buick Lacrosse or the Nissan Maxima?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Maxima is cheaper to maintain at $540/year versus $569/year for the Buick Lacrosse.
Is the Buick Lacrosse or Nissan Maxima safer?: Both the Buick Lacrosse and Nissan Maxima received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Buick Lacrosse comparisons

Buick Lacrosse vs Chrysler 300 reliability Buick Lacrosse vs Dodge Charger reliability Buick Lacrosse vs KIA K5 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 Subaru Legacy reliability Nissan Maxima vs Hyundai Sonata 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.

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Look Up a VIN →

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

See incorrect data? Report an issue