Head-to-head reliability
Buick Lacrosse vs Honda Accord
How the Buick Lacrosse and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: The Lacrosse has 899 complaints over 10 years (89.9/yr) vs the Accord's 4438 (443.8/yr), but the Accord's issues are more often addressed by recalls. The Lacrosse shows dangerous steering and electrical failures, while the Accord has more engine and forward-collision complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Lacrosse or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Lacrosse
The Buick Lacrosse, in ownership terms, is a large sedan that tends to be bought for comfort and a quiet ride, but the complaint record shows a car that can be unpredictable in daily use. Owners report sudden power losses, stalling, and electrical glitches that can leave you stranded or dealing with a car that acts on its own, like a tailgate opening while parked. The high number of steering and suspension complaints also points to a car that may not always handle as expected, especially at speed. While not every car will have these issues, the pattern suggests that a used Lacrosse needs a careful check of its electronics, engine, and steering before you rely on it.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a perennial family sedan, has a much higher raw complaint count, but that's partly because it's sold in huge numbers. The complaints cluster around the engine, electrical system, and the forward collision avoidance suite, with owners describing scary moments like sudden loss of power on the highway and false braking or warning lights. There are also reports of a sunroof exploding and tire failures, which are rare but serious. The recall list shows Honda has issued fixes for hybrid power control, brakes, airbags, and fuel pumps, so many of these issues may have been addressed, but a used Accord still demands a thorough check of its safety systems and engine.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Lacrosse | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 899 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 53 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 89.9 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 41 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 3 |
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 the car stalling due to a fuel pump issue, and the tailgate opening by itself when parked and off. Another complaint describes a struggle to accelerate from stops, with warning lights flashing and reduced engine power, pointing to a broader electrical or sensor problem.
The engine can fail to respond when you press the accelerator, showing a 'reduced engine power' message. In another case, the cooling fan kept running after shutdown, which could drain the battery or overheat the engine if left unchecked.
Power steering can fail without warning, as one owner found at 70 mph on a highway, making the wheel very hard to turn. Another owner lost power steering while reversing, with a warning light on, but could still force the wheel, which is dangerous in tight spots.
“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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report a noise from the engine that got louder over time, and another describes a cascade of warnings (brake, hill descent, ABS) with the car losing speed on the highway, suggesting a serious engine or sensor fault.
A TPMS warning led to a tire failure hours after service, and another owner had rodent damage to a wiring harness, which can cause all sorts of electrical gremlins. These show that electrical issues can be both sudden and hard to predict.
The system can trigger false alerts or warnings for adaptive cruise, lane keep, and automatic high beams, sometimes intermittently. One owner reported the system failing to work properly, which could lead to a false sense of security or unexpected braking.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
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,…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Buick Lacrosse or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Buick Lacrosse has far fewer complaints per year (89.9 vs 443.8), but that doesn't mean it's more reliable—it just sells in lower volumes. In practice, the Lacrosse's issues are more about electrical and steering failures that can be dangerous, while the Accord's problems are more widespread but often addressed by recalls. You'll need to weigh the risk of a sudden power loss in the Lacrosse against the higher chance of a safety-system glitch in the Accord.
Key differences
- The Buick Lacrosse has a higher proportion of steering and suspension complaints, with owners losing power steering at speed, while the Honda Accord's top issues are engine and electrical, with more reports of sudden power loss.
- The Honda Accord has a large number of complaints about forward collision avoidance systems, which can cause false alerts or unexpected braking, a feature the Lacrosse doesn't emphasize in its complaints.
- The Lacrosse has a recall for brake calipers and fuel pumps, while the Accord has recalls for hybrid power control, brake control units, and airbag sensors, so check if these were fixed.
- The Accord's higher complaint count is partly due to its popularity, but it also has more crash-related complaints (160 vs 53) and injuries (144 vs 41), suggesting more incidents on the road.
- Check for any history of power steering failure or warning lights, and test the steering at all speeds, especially on a highway test drive.
- Look for signs of electrical gremlins, like the tailgate opening by itself or warning lights flickering, and have the fuel pump and engine control module inspected.
- Verify that all recalls, especially for the fuel pump and brake control unit, have been performed, and ask for proof.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe area to see if it gives false warnings, and check for any engine hesitation or warning lights during a test drive.
Before you buy
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic who specializes in the make.
- Check the NHTSA recall status for the specific VIN and confirm all recalls are done.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for any steering or power issues.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for fuel pump, brakes, and electrical repairs.
- Look for any signs of rodent damage under the hood, like chewed wires, especially on the Accord.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6 | 677 |
| 2018 | 12 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 34 | 534 |
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Lacrosse vs Honda Accord
- Buick Lacrosse total complaints
- 899
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Buick Lacrosse total recalls
- 33
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Buick Lacrosse avg complaints/year
- 89.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Buick Lacrosse
- Buick Lacrosse top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE