Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
530–25K
3725–50K
4150–75K
3175–100K
46100–150K
16150K+
224 reports with mileage · 91 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Exterior Lighting. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
315 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2016
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/04/16*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10821526
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2016
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTS) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10819929
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2016
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10819403
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2016
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PART NOT BEING AVAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME TO SUPPLY THE PART TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10819337
98,000 miles · Jan 7, 2016
Power Train
WHILE SITTING AT RED LIGHT WOULD NOT MOVE ON GREEN, HAD CHECKED COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. THEN DURING MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY LOST ALL POWER, ALMOST GOT HIT. THEN STARTING SURGING. TO DEALER AGAIN, COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. KEPT ACTING UP, IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. THIS IS THE 2ND REBUILD ON THIS VERY MUCH USED TRANSMISSION MODEL I…
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WHILE SITTING AT RED LIGHT WOULD NOT MOVE ON GREEN, HAD CHECKED COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. THEN DURING MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY LOST ALL POWER, ALMOST GOT HIT. THEN STARTING SURGING. TO DEALER AGAIN, COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. KEPT ACTING UP, IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. THIS IS THE 2ND REBUILD ON THIS VERY MUCH USED TRANSMISSION MODEL IN GM VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #10818588
105,000 miles · Jan 6, 2016
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE HIGH BEAMS WERE ACTIVATED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING; HOWEVER, A TEMPORARY REMEDY WAS PER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE HIGH BEAMS WERE ACTIVATED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING; HOWEVER, A TEMPORARY REMEDY WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE DAYS AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10818404
80,374 miles · Dec 31, 2015
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,374. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10817160
93,000 miles · Dec 29, 2015
Exterior LightingFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A WIRE WAS BURNING AND WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE REMEDY WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A WIRE WAS BURNING AND WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE REMEDY WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10816842
70,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2006-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL, 2006-2008 Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7x vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the headlamp driver module (HDM) may overheat and fail, causing the headlamps and daytime running lights to not illuminate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Headlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's visibility to oncoming vehicles, both of which increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HDM, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14291.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.
Remedy: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CLIP THAT SECURES THE BRAKE PUSHROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM PIN COULD HAVE BEEN BENT WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED. A BENT CLIP MAY COME OFF, ALLOWING THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSHROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PUSHING ON THE PEDAL WILL NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD BUSHING AND RETAINING CLIP AND, IF THE CLIP WAS MISSING, A NEW BRAKE PEDAL ARM ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2005 Buick Lacrosse Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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