Exterior Lighting. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

82 reports

Clear category filter

38,000 miles · Dec 14, 2011

Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #10439859

140,000 miles · Feb 17, 2011

Exterior Lighting

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT REALIZED HE COULD NOT SEE. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE AUTOMATIC AND HAD APPARENTLY TURNED OFF AFTER HE HAD BEEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS THAT NIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE HIGHBEAMS TO REACH HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN OCCURRING SINCE DECEMBER 2010. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #10383072

67,000 miles · Jan 11, 2011

Exterior Lighting

3 TIMES IN PAST MONTH LOW BEAMS HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF FOR 1-2 MINUTES AND THEN CAME BACK ON. HIGH BEAMS WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375540

55,520 miles · Dec 22, 2010

Exterior Lighting

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIRST NOTICED UNTIL LEAVING A WELL LIGHTED THOROUGHFARE ONTO AN UNLIGHTED SIDE STREET. HIGH BEAMS CONTINUED TO WORK, BUT LOW BEAMS COULD NOT BE TURNED BACK ON. THE NEXT DAY, LOW BEAMS SEEMED TO WORK WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM, BUT TH…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10372045

44,800 miles · Oct 28, 2010

Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF; THE CONTACT HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON FOR THEM TO WORK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,800.

NHTSA ODI #10362778

107,450 miles · Sep 21, 2010

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN OTHER DRIVERS BEGAN TO FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AT HER. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE DRIVER NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE RELAY WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,450 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,650. UPDATED 01/06/11 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10356823

98,000 miles · Jan 18, 2010

Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE DARK AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FIRST 2 TIMES MY HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE 3RD TIME I HAD TO USE MY FLASHER TO MAKE IT INTO TOWN. I HAVE THE CAR THE SHOP AND THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR RUNNING…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10300193

26,000 miles · Jan 5, 2010

Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON 10-14-2006. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER MADE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE HEADLIGHTS BY ADDING AN UNKNOWN SENSOR, HOWEVER A SHORT OCCURRED AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE HORN WAS ALSO INOPERABLE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER HER EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN. TO DATE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE HEADLIGHTS TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10298261

133,450 miles · Dec 17, 2008

Exterior Lighting

DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I REMEMBERED READING THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH SOME ONE ELSE WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR. I TURNED THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND THEY WORKED. THE INCIDENT HAS NOT RE-OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252087

65,000 miles · Dec 14, 2008

Exterior Lighting

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT I TRIED TURNING THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON NOTHING HAPPENED SO I DROVE HOME USING MY FLASHERS SO NO ONE WOULD HIT ME. TOOK INTO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOW WORKING THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNLESS IT HAPPENS WHEN THEY HAVE IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THEY STATED IT'S LIKE FINDING A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK. GREAT RESPONSE . SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES THE MOST RECENT WAS YESTERDAY. I AM ABLE TO PUT MY HIGH BEAMS ON BUT WHILE DRIVING IT'S SCARY BECAUSE I AM CONSTANTLY BEING FLASHED BY CARS DUE TO THE USE OF THEM . MY JOB IS 35 MIN AWAY FROM HOME AND THERE ARE THREE NIGHTS PER WEEK THAT I DRIVE HOME IN THE EVENING AND MY DRIVING IS ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS A MAJOR INTERSTATE. I'M WAITING FOR THE POLICE TO PULL ME OVER ONE TIME FOR USING THEM. I AM CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TOMORROW WHICH IS DEC 15, 2008. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251709

Official recalls

15V519000 · 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.

05V156000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Apr 20, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CLIP THAT SECURES THE BRAKE PUSHROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM PIN COULD HAVE BEEN BENT WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED. A BENT CLIP MAY COME OFF, ALLOWING THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSHROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PUSHING ON THE PEDAL WILL NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD BUSHING AND RETAINING CLIP AND, IF THE CLIP WAS MISSING, A NEW BRAKE PEDAL ARM ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.