Buick Years to Avoid by Model
Buick years to avoid: the 2008 Enclave (536 complaints), 2011 Regal (279 complaints) and 2008 Lucerne (218 complaints) lead the list. 5 of the 6 Buick models we track have at least one avoid-rated year; the cleanest records include the 2017 LaCrosse and 2023 Enclave. Based on 5,823 NHTSA owner complaints, rated model year by model year.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, recall campaigns & service bulletins · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
Buick years to avoid, model by model
| Model | Years to avoid | Best years | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buick LaCrosse | 20082010201120122013 | 201520162017 | 1,245 (2008–2025) |
| Buick Enclave | 20082009201020112014 | 20212023 | 2,470 (2008–2025) |
| Buick Regal | 201120122013 | — | 635 (2008–2025) |
| Buick Encore | 2019 | 2020 | 585 (2013–2025) |
| Buick Verano | None rated avoid | 2015 | 439 (2012–2025) |
| Buick Lucerne | 20082009 | — | 449 (2008–2025) |
Verdicts are each model’s own, rated against that model’s history (see the methodology); counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
The worst year for each Buick model
2008 Buick Enclave: 536 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014 · Full Enclave breakdown →
2011 Buick Regal: 279 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2011, 2012 and 2013 · Full Regal breakdown →
2008 Buick Lucerne: 218 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2008 and 2009 · Full Lucerne breakdown →
2012 Buick LaCrosse: 201 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 · Full LaCrosse breakdown →
2019 Buick Encore: 79 NHTSA owner complaints · Full Encore breakdown →
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Frequently asked questions
What Buick years should you avoid?
By model: LaCrosse 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; Enclave 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014; Regal 2011, 2012 and 2013; Encore 2019; Lucerne 2008 and 2009. Each verdict matches that model's own years-to-avoid page, built from NHTSA owner-complaint and recall records.
What are the best Buick years to buy?
The cleanest federal records by model: LaCrosse 2015, 2016 and 2017; Enclave 2021 and 2023; Encore 2020; Verano 2015.
Which Buick model has the most years to avoid?
The Buick LaCrosse, with 5 avoid-rated model years (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013) across 18 years on record (2008–2025).
How are Buick years to avoid rated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity, converted to a rate per year on the road, compared with the rest of that model's own history and adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
Where does the Buick data come from?
Federal records: 5,823 NHTSA owner complaints across 6 Buick models, plus NHTSA recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.