IllustrationLOW BEAMS DO NOT FUNCTION, ONLY HIGH BEAMS. WHEN HEADLAMPS ARE SWITCHED TO LOW BEAMS THEY GO DARK. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A DARK RURAL ROAD WITH NO STREET LIGHTS.
2006 Buick Lacrosse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lacrosse years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Buick Lacrosse are substantially higher than the model-year median of 129.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lacrosse years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
170–25K
2425–50K
6050–75K
3975–100K
52100–150K
26150K+
218 reports with mileage · 81 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 156 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports7 fire reports12 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
156 reportsMY HEADLAMPS HAVE GONE OUT ON ME THREE TIMES (OCT. 7, 2016, NOV. 3, 2016, AND NOV. 9, 2016 ) WHILE EITHER DRIVING TO WORK OR DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND IN THE DARK. THE FIRST TIME, I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON. THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP. THE SECOND TIME, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK…
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MY HEADLAMPS HAVE GONE OUT ON ME THREE TIMES (OCT. 7, 2016, NOV. 3, 2016, AND NOV. 9, 2016 ) WHILE EITHER DRIVING TO WORK OR DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND IN THE DARK. THE FIRST TIME, I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON. THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP. THE SECOND TIME, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SWITCH, AND WERE OUT BRIEFLY. THE THIRD TIME, THE LIGHTS WERE OUT LONGER THAN THE SECOND TIME, BUT THEY DID COME BACK ON WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SWITCH. THE FIRST AND SECOND TIMES HAPPENED ON A RATHER BUSY STATE ROAD WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE THIRD TIME HAPPENED ON A STREET NEAR MY HOME AT ABOUT 20- 35 MPH.
I DRIVE AT NIGHT AND THE LOW BEAM LIGHT OUT SIDE SHOTS OFF THAT I CAN NOT SEE THE ROAD TO DRIVE UNTIL I TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM TO GET TO MY PLACE. NOW THE LOW BEAM LIGHT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC, THEY COUL NOT FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT IS OF A MATTER OF SAFTY ISSUE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WHE…
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I DRIVE AT NIGHT AND THE LOW BEAM LIGHT OUT SIDE SHOTS OFF THAT I CAN NOT SEE THE ROAD TO DRIVE UNTIL I TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM TO GET TO MY PLACE. NOW THE LOW BEAM LIGHT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC, THEY COUL NOT FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT IS OF A MATTER OF SAFTY ISSUE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WHEN LIGHTS GO OFF . I WAS DRIVING LAST NIGHT AND THE LIGHT LOW BEAM WENT OFF " DANGEROUS " I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY STREETS, I COULD NOT GO TO HYWAY. I NORMALLY DRIVE IN HIWAY.
TAKATA RECALL, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS GO OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES STARTING IN 2011 BUT HAVE COME BACK ON UNTIL 10/14/2016, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A BUSY CITY STREET. NOW THE LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE RECALL DESCRIPTION MATCHES TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY 2006 BUICK LACROSSE WITH THIS…
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TAKATA RECALL, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS GO OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES STARTING IN 2011 BUT HAVE COME BACK ON UNTIL 10/14/2016, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A BUSY CITY STREET. NOW THE LOW BEAMS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE RECALL DESCRIPTION MATCHES TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY 2006 BUICK LACROSSE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL BUICK DEALER INFORMED ME MY CAR VIN # IS NOT ON THEIR RECALL LIST. *TR
THE HDM MODULE FAILED LEAVING NO LOW BEAMS WHILE DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA AT NIGHT. VIN WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL ALLOWING BUICK TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND LEAVE THE OWNER TO PAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE BRIGHT LIGHTS EVENTUALLY ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS REMAINED OFF. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS PERMANENTLY FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS ARE NOT AFFECTED. GM REFUSES TO INCLUDE THIS VIN IN IT'S RECALL OF BUICK LACROSSE VEHICLES FOR THIS ITEM BUT INCLUDES OTHERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. THE REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE TO THE CONSUMER ONLY REPAIRS THIS ISSUE FOR A SHORT TIME. BUICK IS RE…
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THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS PERMANENTLY FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS ARE NOT AFFECTED. GM REFUSES TO INCLUDE THIS VIN IN IT'S RECALL OF BUICK LACROSSE VEHICLES FOR THIS ITEM BUT INCLUDES OTHERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. THE REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE TO THE CONSUMER ONLY REPAIRS THIS ISSUE FOR A SHORT TIME. BUICK IS REQUIRING ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER AUTOMOBILES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL BY TAKING IT TO A DEALER WHERE THE NEW PART IS ONLY AVAILABLE. THE DEALERSHIP IS QUITE EXPENSIVE COMPARE TO MY REGULAR AUTO REPAIR PLACE. I FEEL THAT THE BUICK COMPANY IS ACTING INAPPROPRIATELY IN ONLY COVERING SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS OF LACROSSE FROM 2006.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS LATER BEGAN TO OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS LATER BEGAN TO OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH HEADLAMPS GOING DARK WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT FORCING ME TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS APPEAR TO WORK ALTHOUGH I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY NOTICE IF THEY GO DARK DURING THE DAY. I UNDERSTAND GM HAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WANT TO KNOW IF MY VEHICLE QUALIFIES. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL…
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INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH HEADLAMPS GOING DARK WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT FORCING ME TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS APPEAR TO WORK ALTHOUGH I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY NOTICE IF THEY GO DARK DURING THE DAY. I UNDERSTAND GM HAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WANT TO KNOW IF MY VEHICLE QUALIFIES. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE FROM GM ALTHOUGH I READ THEY HAVE STARTED TO SEND NOTICES OUT IN MAY 2016.
Official recalls
315V519000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Aug 14, 2015
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.
14V355000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jun 23, 2014
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.
06V417000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 31, 2006
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.
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
1RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights
Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.