Chrysler 300 vs Buick LaCrosse: which is more reliable?
The Buick LaCrosse is ahead of the Chrysler 300 on the federal record, 80/100 against 74/100 — a real but narrow gap that a bad model year on either side closes.
The record, side by side
Chrysler 300
- 13 model years scored
- 1,676 owner complaints on record
- about 10 complaints per year on the road
- 53 recall campaigns, 36 safety-critical
- best year 2022 (91/100) · worst 2012 (28/100)
Buick LaCrosse
- 9 model years scored
- 711 owner complaints on record
- about 4 complaints per year on the road
- 31 recall campaigns, 16 safety-critical
- best year 2019 (90/100) · worst 2012 (43/100)
Mean score is the average across model years from 2013 on, where both records are comparable. How the score works.
Year by year: 300 against LaCrosse
The comparison that decides the purchase. A nameplate is not one car — a redesign can move the record sixty points inside two years, and the two nameplates rarely move together.
What owners actually complain about
Chrysler 300
- Electrical System — 682 complaints
- Power Train — 269 complaints
- Air Bags — 242 complaints
Buick LaCrosse
- Electrical System — 188 complaints
- Engine — 118 complaints
- Suspension — 89 complaints
Both nameplates have Electrical System as their largest complaint group, so the choice between them is about how often, not about what.
Years to avoid on each
Chrysler 300 — avoid: 2012, 2013, 2014.
Buick LaCrosse — avoid: 2012.
A year scores below 45 on complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. Every car’s years to avoid.
What each costs today
A recent used Chrysler 300 prices at about $27,600 and a Buick LaCrosse at about $20,900 — the Buick LaCrosse is roughly $6,700 less, and they return 23.0 against 24.0 MPG combined.
Class-level estimates re-priced to your country, not a valuation of one car. Method.
FAQ
Is the Chrysler 300 or the Buick LaCrosse more reliable?
On the NHTSA record the Buick LaCrosse scores 80/100 against the Chrysler 300's 74/100, averaged across every model year we hold. The gap is small enough that the model year matters more than the badge.
Which Chrysler 300 and Buick LaCrosse years should I avoid?
Chrysler 300: 2012, 2013, 2014. Buick LaCrosse: 2012. Each of those scores under 45 out of 100 on complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns.
What goes wrong on the Chrysler 300 and the Buick LaCrosse?
The largest complaint group on the Chrysler 300 is Electrical System (682 complaints); on the Buick LaCrosse it is Electrical System (188).
Is the Chrysler 300 or the Buick LaCrosse cheaper to own?
A recent used Chrysler 300 prices at about $27,600 and a Buick LaCrosse at about $20,900, before insurance and the maintenance band. Both pages carry the five-year running-cost figure.