IllustrationPassenger airbag intermittently turns on and off when passenger is seated.
2009 Buick Lacrosse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Buick Lacrosse do not stand out strongly from 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
100–25K
1925–50K
2550–75K
1575–100K
10100–150K
1150K+
80 reports with mileage · 26 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 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
31 reportsWAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD GOT TO MY DESTINATION PARKED IT AND WHEN I CAME OUT IT WOULD NOT START FOUND A BURNT FUEL PUMP RELAY CHANGED IT AND DROVE IT HOME. 20 MIN LATER I DROVE IT AGAIN AND MADE IT 2 MILES SAME THING HAPPENED TO RELAY ONLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT.
TAKATA RECALL.. ALL OF MY WARNING DASH LIGHTS ARE ON AT TIMES OR THE WHOLE DASH, RADIO AND EVERYTHING GO OUT THEN COMES BACK, THE IGNITION HAS BEEN PAUSING BEFORE IT TURNS OVER, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR RATTLES, ABS, T/C AND AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS ON.. I HAVE REPLACED 1000.00S OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AN…
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TAKATA RECALL.. ALL OF MY WARNING DASH LIGHTS ARE ON AT TIMES OR THE WHOLE DASH, RADIO AND EVERYTHING GO OUT THEN COMES BACK, THE IGNITION HAS BEEN PAUSING BEFORE IT TURNS OVER, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR RATTLES, ABS, T/C AND AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS ON.. I HAVE REPLACED 1000.00S OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING CHANGES. I HAVE REPLACED THE WHEEL HUBS, IGNITION MODULE, THE 700.00 PART FOR THE ECBM, NOTHING CHANGES, I BELIEVE ITS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN TO FIND. IT DOESNT MATTER IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION OR WHERE I AM DRIVING. I NEED HELP WITH MY CAR, PLEASE. I DONT HAVE PICTURES , CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME
AT 80XXX MILES THE DRIVERS FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME INOPERATIVE. AT 90XXX MILES THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME INOPERATIVE. AT 96XXX MILES THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME INOPERATIVE. EACH RUNS $250-300 TO REPAIR. NOT REPAIRING LEAVES THE DOOR UNLOCKED (WHILE DRIVING) OR UNLOCKED (WHILE PARK…
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AT 80XXX MILES THE DRIVERS FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME INOPERATIVE. AT 90XXX MILES THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME INOPERATIVE. AT 96XXX MILES THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME INOPERATIVE. EACH RUNS $250-300 TO REPAIR. NOT REPAIRING LEAVES THE DOOR UNLOCKED (WHILE DRIVING) OR UNLOCKED (WHILE PARKED AND VEHICLE BECOMES ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE) OR THE DOOR REMAINS LOCKED WHEN TRYING TO EXIT OR ENTER. IN AN EMERGENCY, THIS MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE LACROSSE.
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHEN OCCUPIED - THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT NOT ON INDICATOR LIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING STATIONARY.
GM RECALL # N140291 WAS ISSUED 11/25/2014. AS OF 1/6/2016 A REMEDY IS NOT YET AVAILABLE PER THE GM WEB SITE. REALLY? WHEN IS THE NHTSA GOING TO START PROMPTING SOME ACTION FROM GM?
ABS STABLILITY TRACTION LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR DIES I HAVE NO POWER STEERING OR BREAKING POWER AND MY CAR IS STILL MOVING. GM DID THE PETAL RECALL TO IT THINKING THAT WOULD FIX IT, IT DID AND HAS NOT. THIS IS A DEATH TRAP I HAVE LOST FAITH IN DRIVING THIS CAR. HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE??? HAS HAPPENED TWICE.
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE IS OFF 50% OF TIME WHEN CARRYING A PASSENGER ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO OPERATE ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND ON OCCASIONS WHEN THEY WORK YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $1300 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS SAME ITEM. I'VE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS. IT INITIALLY STARTED WITH THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR, AND HAS NOW PROGRESS…
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THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $1300 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS SAME ITEM. I'VE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS. IT INITIALLY STARTED WITH THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR, AND HAS NOW PROGRESSED TO ALL THE DOORS. THE PRICE I WAS GIVEN TO REPAIR THIS WAS $1600. AGAIN, I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS ITEM. THIS IS MY 3RD BUICK, AND I DO NOT INTEND TO BUY ANOTHER ONE. IT SEEMS ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES, SEVERAL COSTLY REPAIRS ARE INCURRED.
IN JANUARY OF 2015 THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK SYSTEM BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE REMOTE FIRST FAILED TO CONTROL THE RIGHT REAR DOOR. THEN THE MALFUNCTION SPREAD TO THE LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK. THE SITUATION BECAME WORSE UNTIL THE ENTIRE LOCKING SYSTEM COULD ONLY BE CONTROLLED MANUALLY. EVEN THEN THE PHYSICAL KEY CONTROL FREQUENTLY MALF…
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IN JANUARY OF 2015 THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK SYSTEM BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE REMOTE FIRST FAILED TO CONTROL THE RIGHT REAR DOOR. THEN THE MALFUNCTION SPREAD TO THE LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK. THE SITUATION BECAME WORSE UNTIL THE ENTIRE LOCKING SYSTEM COULD ONLY BE CONTROLLED MANUALLY. EVEN THEN THE PHYSICAL KEY CONTROL FREQUENTLY MALFUNCTIONED. SAFETY HAZARDS WERE CREATED INCLUDING LOCKING THE KEYS INSIDE AN UNOCCUPIED RUNNING VEHILE, BEING TOTALLY UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE, AND GENERALLY INCONSISTENT ABILITY TOO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLES LOCKING STATUS. APPROXIMATELY $1,000 DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SPENT USING GENUINE GMC PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT IS STILL UNSTABLE AND IN A DETERIORATED CONDITION.
Official recalls
215V519000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.