IllustrationMy headlamps have been going out sporadically and until recently I was able to
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
47 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 09/28/16*LJ UPDATED 03/14/17*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 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 2009 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. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 08/17/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. 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 TI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. 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 FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC LIGHT SETTING FAILS TO WORK IN THE DARK. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V75500…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC LIGHT SETTING FAILS TO WORK IN THE DARK. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART TO REPAIR TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/22/16*LJ UPDATED 12/14/2017*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS TO DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE RELAY SWITCH WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS TO DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE RELAY SWITCH WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
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?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED BUT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. IN ADDITION, THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED BUT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. IN ADDITION, THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
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.