2005 Buick Lacrosse problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting (71) · Steering (43) · Electrical System (41)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Buick Lacrosse model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
224 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Exterior Lighting:headlights 2015-08-14 · campaign 15V519000 · 429,170 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:ignition 2014-06-23 · campaign 14V355000 · 3,141,731 vehicles
Defect: 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 af
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (576)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Unknown Or Other 2024-12-07 · PIT5074Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads. the j-35616-64b is the latest test probe released for checking tension or probing the .64 series terminals. the test probe
Showing the 6 most recent of 576 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-13 · Tires“the contact owns a 2005 buick lacrosse equipped with venom power tires, tire line: ragnarok gts, tire size: 235/35/vr20, dot number:1wp2ctpwl. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear driver’s side tire became flat. the contact exited the vehicle and became aware that the sidewall of the tire had separated. the cause …”
2026-05-06 · Fuel/Propulsion System“gas. leaking car smoking and cutting off …”
2023-08-10 · Electrical System · 89,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 buick lacrosse. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v355000 (electrical system) and the vehicle was repaired. the contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and the contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the road. after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle …”
2022-06-28 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel · 90,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 buick lacrosse. the contact stated that the instrument panel was inoperable. the battery was replaced several times however, the failure persisted. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the mileage control circuit had malfunctioned. the dealer was notified of the failure and informed th…”
2021-02-10 · Steering · 24,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 buick lacrosse. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle steering wheel became difficult to steer. no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to smart chevrolet cadillac buick gmc (3 smart dr, white hall, ar 71602, (870) 543-2200) where it was diagnosed and determined that the ste…”
2020-10-21 · Vehicle Speed Control · 138,000 mi“i was driving on the highway going 50mph and the car stalled and went down to 20mph and it shut off. i was able to get it started again and was only able to go 20mph all the way home. my car insurance app has engine alerts and it stated it is the throttle/pedal position sensor/switch 'd'/'e' voltage correlation. the the alert stated it was urgent…”
2020-09-08 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch“tl* the contact owns a 2005 buick lacrosse. the contact stated that the doors failed to open from inside the vehicle. the contact was locked inside the vehicle for an hour. the contact stated that the electrical system allowed other components to function including the windshield wipers, the heater, and the door locks. the contact researched and wa…”
2020-06-26 · Air Bags · 90,000 mi“within the last few years i have noticed the airbag light has been coming on intermittently, every month or so for a few hours to a day. while at the dealer i was told to bring it back when the light is on. this happens when i start the car to make a trip to a store or other daily drives. the problem is getting to the dealer with it on. *tr…”
2019-08-28 · Air Bags · 110,421 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 buick lacrosse. while driving 45 mph over a bump in the road, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was taken to conklin fangman buick gmc (located at 3200 main st, kansas city, mo 64111, (816) 759-0853), where it was diagnosed that the front passenger air bag needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not r…”
2019-07-01 · Air Bags · 104,000 mi“2005 buick lacrosse airbag light tentatively turns on. this model has airbag recall.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.