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

What owners actually said

315 reports

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

35,500 miles · Dec 28, 2010

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL CLICKING NOISE. IN ADDITION, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A SLIGHT JERK FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,500.

NHTSA ODI #10372660

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…

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NHTSA ODI #10372045

25,000 miles · Nov 27, 2010

Steering

MY 2005 LACROSSE HAS 25,000 MILES AND I AM ABOUT TO TAKE IT IN FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR THE STEERING COLUMN GRINDING PROBLEM. GM BETTER FIGURE SOMETHING OUT BECAUSE FORDS ARE LOOKING BETTER THAN EVER. THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE PREVIOUS VISITS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367947

25,000 miles · Nov 27, 2010

Steering

MY 2005 LACROSSE HAS 25000 MILES AND I AM ABOUT TO TAKE IT IN FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR THE STEERING COLUMN GRINDING PROBLEM. GM BETTER FIGURE SOMETHING OUT BECAUSE FORDS ARE LOOKING BETTER THAN EVER. ALL THEY SEEM TO DO IS LUBE THE STEERING COLUMN AND EXPECT YOU BACK LATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367945

53,000 miles · Nov 15, 2010

Steering

I HAVE 53000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND IT'S BEEN CLUNKING EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. I'M TOLD THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. I'LL BE GETTING IT REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SHAME ON GM. THAT SAID, I'LL GUESS IM GOING WITH TOYOTA OR HONDA!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365856

59,700 miles · Nov 1, 2010

Electrical SystemVisibility

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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

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

59,800 miles · Oct 14, 2010

Air Bags

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR MODULE FAILURE/INTERMITTENT IN 2005 BUICK LACROSSE CX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360426

107,450 miles · Sep 21, 2010

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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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

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.