The used Buick LaCrosse to buy is a 2017-2019 car from the last generation: the best crash scores, the strongest reviews, and the smallest NHTSA complaint files of any LaCrosse. A 2010-2016 car is the budget pick, but if it lived anywhere the roads get salted, check the rear toe-link recall by VIN first. The 2005-2009 cars are cheap for good reasons, and headlight failures top their complaint lists.
Buick built the LaCrosse from 2005 through 2019, and Consumer Reports confirms it was discontinued after the 2019 model year. So you're buying an orphan either way. The upside is price. CR's used price ranges, pulled in mid October 2026, run from about $3,350 for the oldest cars to $10,675-$19,600 for a 2019, and those are CR estimates that a dealer lot may well ignore.
Three generations, quickly
2005-2009. CR says the first LaCrosse had a quiet ride and nice fit and finish but a tight rear seat, and the base 3.8-liter V-6 was thirsty and coarse. The 3.6-liter V-6 was the smoother upgrade, and a 5.3-liter V-8 was offered from 2008 until the 2010 redesign.
2010-2016. CR calls these the best LaCrosses up to that point, with a well-finished interior, comfortable seats and a composed ride, but thick roof pillars that hurt visibility. Mild-hybrid eAssist arrived for 2012. MotorTrend's 2012 test lists a 182-hp 2.4-liter four helped by a 15-hp electric motor and a six-speed automatic, and it ran 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds, sounding less than refined when pushed. CR adds that 2014 brought a new interior with simpler controls, and 2015 added standard WiFi and a rearview camera.
2017-2019. The redesign is the one reviewers liked. Car and Driver's 2017 review lists a 310-hp 3.6-liter V-6 with an eight-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive only on the top Premium trim. For 2018, CR says a 194-hp 2.5-liter eAssist four with a six-speed became the base engine and the V-6 switched to a nine-speed. In C/D's 2019 testing, the V-6 hit 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and returned 31 mpg on C/D's 200-mile real-world fuel route, while the eAssist car needed 7.3 seconds and got 38 mpg. Use our Buick VIN decoder post to confirm which engine and drive a given car has.
Recalls to run by VIN
I pulled each year from the NHTSA recalls API on Friday, October 16, 2026, including the 2012 LaCrosse query. The ones I'd check first:
- 21V00F, 2010-2013 cars sold or ever registered in 22 listed states plus D.C., mostly cold-weather ones: the rear toe links may have bad corrosion coating, rust through and fracture. Dealers replace the toe links and adjuster fasteners. It expands two earlier recalls, 20V764 and 21V633.
- 14V355, 2005-2009: key-ring weight or a jolt can move the ignition switch out of Run and shut the engine off. Dealers add a key insert or cover.
- 15V519, 2006-2009: the headlamp driver module can overheat and fail, leaving you without headlights or daytime running lights.
- 13V173, 2012-2013 eAssist: the generator control module may not work properly, slowly draining the battery.
- 17V116 and 17V267, 2017: water in the power steering connectors can cut assist, and rear toe links may have been installed wrong.
- 20V668, 2018-2019: the stop-start accumulator endcap in the transmission may be missing bolts.
The salt-state wording matters. A car sold in Arizona and later registered in Ohio still counts, so have the dealer run the VIN instead of guessing from the plate. Our Buick recall check by VIN post shows how.
Complaints and crash ratings
The 2006 complaint file had 299 complaints when I pulled it, and 156 were tagged exterior lighting, the most of any category. Exterior lighting also led the 2005, 2007 and 2009 files. Later years are quiet: 48 complaints for 2016, 36 for 2017, 12 for 2018 and 7 for 2019. NHTSA doesn't verify these, but the trend matches the recall list.
IIHS rated the 2017-2019 LaCrosse Good in every crash test, including driver-side small overlap, with optional front crash prevention rated Superior. Headlights were rated Poor, so drive one at night if you can. IIHS's page for the 2015 car shows no small overlap rating at all.
LaCrosse vs. Impala vs. Avalon
The Impala is the Chevy cousin. Our used Chevy Impala guide covers it, and its 2006-2014 cars share the same ignition-key recall as the early LaCrosse. Our used Toyota Avalon guide covers the Toyota most of these shoppers also look at. Pick the LaCrosse when it's cheaper for the same miles and the recall work is done. If you want a Buick with a third row, see the used Buick Enclave guide.
History check
A clean-looking 10-year-old Buick is exactly the kind of car people wave through without paperwork. Don't. Check brands on NMVTIS and pull your own report on the VIN; we've seen edited dealer PDFs. We're a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller with no affiliation with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Lately a report through us has run about $5.50 as a guest or $4.50 for members, with both reports for about $6.75, compared with roughly $39.99-$44.99 retail. Confirm at checkout.
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