2009 Buick Lacrosse problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting (44) · Air Bags (18) · Electrical System (14)
🧭 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
80 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 (1,038)
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 2025-09-09 · 13598 · Other
new vehicle monitoring programs section in ivh
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-07 · PIC5650M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. technician may find diagnostic trouble codes b3055, b3060, b3935, c0750, c0755, c0760, c0765, and/o
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,038 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-06-09 · Air Bags“the passenger airbag light started coming on and going off intermittently. after several weeks of this, it was on every time the car is driven. testing by an ase certified mechanic revealed that the permanent light results in no front seat airbags. the failed part is the seat presence sensor. the part is - and hasn't been for quite a while - manufa…”
2023-12-02 · Exterior Lighting“my headlamps have been going out sporadically and until recently i was able to …”
2023-07-13 · Air Bags“the air bag light on the dashboard is on all the time.it is available for inspection at any time. i do not know if the bag will go off at any time or does it mean that it won't go off on impact. i am nervous about having someone for a passenger. i have informed the dealership of the problem and they did confirmed the problem, it has not been inspec…”
2022-12-28 · Electrical System“passenger airbag intermittently turns on and off when passenger is seated.…”
2019-09-30 · Vehicle Speed Control · 84,000 mi“reduced power/traction control light came on suddenly and reduced car power immediately. this made for a very dangerous situation while passing a truck and entering the highway. the car dropped speed very quickly making for a potentially deadly situation. this problem comes and goes with no warning until it happens. research shows this is a big pro…”
2019-04-09 · Vehicle Speed Control · 99,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick lacrosse. when the contact started the vehicle, the check engine and service trac system warning indicators illuminated. also, the vehicle would not exceed 15 to 20 mph when the accelerator pedal was depressed. the contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the accelerator pedal was replaced, but the…”
2018-12-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 134,000 mi“was 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.…”
2018-11-18 · Service Brakes · 112,000 mi“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. …”
2018-02-08 · Vehicle Speed Control · 92,648 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 buick lacrosse. while driving approximately 40 mph, the throttle began to fail. there were no warning indicators illuminated before or after the failure. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was …”
2017-07-26 · Air Bags · 51,000 mi“abou 50,xxx miles the service airbag light in the dash began to illuminate intermittently. it would occur once a month or so. the dealer wanted $1200 to replace the ab control module. for the next 46,xxx miles it has been that way until a few days ago. now the airbag light is on continually, meaning the airbags are inoperative. seems like a …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.