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2005 Buick Lacrosse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Lacrosse years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Buick Lacrosse are substantially higher than the model-year median of 129.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

224 reports with mileage · 91 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 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

Visibility complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2016
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (VISIBILITY) 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 ISSUE. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (VISIBILITY) 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 ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10824815

42,000 miles · Mar 10, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY JERK WHEN CHANGING GEARS AND SPORADICALLY WOULD FAIL TO START. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DEFROSTER WOULD TAKE AN ABNORMALLY LONG TIME TO DEFROST THE WINDOW AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY JERK WHEN CHANGING GEARS AND SPORADICALLY WOULD FAIL TO START. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DEFROSTER WOULD TAKE AN ABNORMALLY LONG TIME TO DEFROST THE WINDOW AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY TURN OFF AND ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10389707

59,700 miles · Nov 1, 2010
Electrical SystemVisibility

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING OUR NEW (TO US) 2005 BUICK LACROSSE WITH THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON IN SANFORD, NC. IT WAS ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN 8 INCH HOLE IN THE MIDDLE. WE BOUGHT THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO USED WITH A…

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MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING OUR NEW (TO US) 2005 BUICK LACROSSE WITH THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON IN SANFORD, NC. IT WAS ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN 8 INCH HOLE IN THE MIDDLE. WE BOUGHT THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO USED WITH A 30 DAY WARRANTY FROM STEVE JONES HONDA IN ABERDEEN NC. WE HAVEN'T EVEN MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT AND WE STILL HAVE A TEMPORARY TAG ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY WITH THE VEHICLE REPAIR AND NOW WE HAVE SPENT OVER $300 ON A NEW REAR WINDOW FOR OUR NEW CAR. THE WIRES IN THE DEFROSTER WERE OBSERVED TO BE A DIFFERENT COLOR IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDOW - DARK ORANGE / RED. THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AND APPEARED TO SIMPLY BE A RESULT OF A MALFUNCTIONING REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. WE HAD THE SHOP NOT HOOK UP THE DEFROSTER TO THE NEW WINDOW TO AVOID ANOTHER OF THESE INCIDENTS. WE COULD FIND NO RECALL INFORMATION FOR THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THOUGH WE DID FIND ONE OTHER INCIDENT ONLINE OF THE EXACT THING OCCURRING TO A MOTHER WHO HAD THEIR INFANT CHILD IN THE BACK OF THEIR 2006 LACROSSE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363584

35,650 miles · Nov 13, 2006
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THREE TIMES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. ON THE LAST VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEALER, THEY…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THREE TIMES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. ON THE LAST VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW SENSOR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK, THE FRONT ROTORS WERE MACHINED. THE GAS CAP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE TURNED ON, THE HEAT WOULD CUT OFF. UPDATED 12/12/06 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173412

10,051 miles · Sep 12, 2006
Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED OPERATING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED ALTHOUGH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM SHOULD'VE BEEN GROOVED ON THE INSIDE, IT WAS SMOOTH. THE WIPER ARM WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10168063

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2004
StructureVisibility

THE RIGHT AND LEFT EXTERIOR MIRRORS EXPERIENCE A REFLECTION THAT IS VERTICALLY GOING THROUGH THEM. HOWEVER, IT DISAPPEARS WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THERE IS A HORIZONTAL CHROME STRIP THAT GOES THROUGH THE INTERIOR MIRROR WHICH IS VERY DISTRACTING. *AL THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A REFLECTION AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT WINDSHIE…

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THE RIGHT AND LEFT EXTERIOR MIRRORS EXPERIENCE A REFLECTION THAT IS VERTICALLY GOING THROUGH THEM. HOWEVER, IT DISAPPEARS WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THERE IS A HORIZONTAL CHROME STRIP THAT GOES THROUGH THE INTERIOR MIRROR WHICH IS VERY DISTRACTING. *AL THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A REFLECTION AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. ALL REFLECTIONS WERE CAUSED BY THE CHROME STRIP ON THE DASHBOARD. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10101333

Official recalls

4

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.