Head-to-head reliability
Buick Lacrosse vs FORD F 150
How the Buick Lacrosse and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Buick Lacrosse vs FORD F 150: The Lacrosse averages 90 complaints per year versus 1,131 for the F-150. Lacrosse owners report electrical and steering failures, while F-150 owners face transmission issues. Recalls: 33 vs 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Lacrosse or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Lacrosse
The Buick Lacrosse, over the past decade, has generated a moderate number of complaints, averaging about 90 per year. Owners frequently report issues with the electrical system, engine, and steering, often involving sudden power loss, warning lights, and steering failure. While not as numerous as some rivals, these problems can affect daily drivability and safety, making it a vehicle that requires careful inspection before purchase.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, in contrast, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year, reflecting its popularity and widespread use. Transmission problems dominate, with many owners describing harsh shifting, jerking, and even sudden power loss. Electrical issues, including camera and sensor malfunctions, are also common. These patterns suggest that while the F-150 is a capable workhorse, its transmission and electronic systems may be sources of frustration and expense.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Lacrosse | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 899 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 53 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 89.9 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 41 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Buick Lacrosse
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM236
- 02ENGINE170
- 03STEERING114
- 04SUSPENSION106
- 05POWER TRAIN95
Owners report stalling due to fuel pump failure, unintended tailgate opening, and transmission-related warning lights. These issues can lead to sudden loss of power or unexpected vehicle behavior, posing safety risks.
Complaints include lack of response when pressing the accelerator, with 'engine power reduced' messages, and engine fans that continue running after shutdown. These can indicate serious engine management or cooling problems.
Several owners experienced sudden loss of power steering, especially at highway speeds, with warning lights illuminating. This can make the vehicle difficult to control and is a critical safety concern.
“The contact owns a 2016 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the fuel pump was previously replaced due to the vehicle stalling while driving. The contact stated that the tailgate unintendedly opened while the vehicle was parked and turned off. Additionally…”
“When I get to a stop sign, and a stop light, when trying to accelerate after a complete stop, the car would struggle to accelerate to go forward. Where the shifting gears would start blinking, and the warning lights (engine power reduced, engine light, and th…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is harsh or delayed shifting, particularly in the 10-speed automatic, with reports of jerking, clunking, and even complete loss of power while driving. This can be dangerous in traffic and indicates potential transmission failure.
Owners report loud bangs from the transmission accompanied by rear suspension popping, as well as persistent dashboard warnings for front camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions. These electrical gremlins can be annoying and may affect safety features.
While fewer complaints than transmission, engine issues include stalling and power loss, which can be alarming and require immediate attention.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Buick Lacrosse — 33 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. Th…
The risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increa…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267,…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insu…
The risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrole…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange…
The risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. Th…
The risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increa…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267,…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Buick Lacrosse or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
Based on NHTSA data, the Buick Lacrosse has significantly fewer complaints per year (about 90) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100). This suggests that, on average, the Lacrosse may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, though both have notable issues. The F-150's higher volume is partly due to its popularity, but the nature of its transmission problems is concerning.
Key differences
- The Lacrosse has far fewer complaints per year (90 vs 1,131), indicating a lower rate of reported problems.
- The F-150's most common issue is transmission harshness and failure, while the Lacrosse's top issues are electrical and engine-related.
- The Lacrosse has reports of power steering failure at speed, a critical safety concern, whereas the F-150's main safety issues involve sudden power loss from transmission problems.
- The F-150 has a higher number of recalls (145 vs 33), suggesting more widespread manufacturing or design issues.
- Inspect the electrical system, especially the fuel pump and any signs of stalling or power loss.
- Check the power steering for any intermittent loss of assist, and look for warning lights related to steering.
- Test drive the F-150 through various speeds to feel for harsh shifts or jerking, especially between 4th and 6th gears.
- Check for any dashboard warnings about camera or pre-collision systems, as these may indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission for the F-150 and the electrical system for the Lacrosse.
- Test drive both vehicles under varied conditions, including stop-and-go traffic and highway speeds, to assess shifting and power delivery.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and any electrical repairs on the Lacrosse.
- Check online forums and NHTSA complaint databases for specific model years to identify common issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Buick Lacrosse | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6 | 36 |
| 2018 | 12 | 56 |
| 2017 | 34 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Buick Lacrosse or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Lacrosse vs FORD F 150
- Buick Lacrosse total complaints
- 899
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Buick Lacrosse total recalls
- 33
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Buick Lacrosse avg complaints/year
- 89.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Buick Lacrosse
- Buick Lacrosse top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN