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2006 Buick Lacrosse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Lacrosse years

Owner complaints for the 2006 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

218 reports with mileage · 81 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 156 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports7 fire reports12 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
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55,000 miles · May 27, 2013
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOOSING ANTIFREEZE AND CANT FIND LEAK. WHEN DRIVING I CAN SMELL IT AND WHEN I CHECK THE ANTIFREEZE LEVEL IT'S LOW. CAN'T FIND A LEAK, BUT I'M ADDING ANTIFREEZE TO OFTEN 1 GL. EVERY OTHER WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513688

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT 12K MILES THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTINUED TO GO ON AND OFF DEPENDENT OF THE RPM. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A CAM SHAFT FAILURE AND DUE TO THAT FAILURE OTHER SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, MY STEERING SHAFT WAS ALSO WORN AT 12K MILES AND NEEDED…

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AT 12K MILES THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTINUED TO GO ON AND OFF DEPENDENT OF THE RPM. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A CAM SHAFT FAILURE AND DUE TO THAT FAILURE OTHER SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, MY STEERING SHAFT WAS ALSO WORN AT 12K MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AND FURTHERMORE, I HAVE HAD CHRONIC ISSUES WITH MY GAUGE LIGHTS DIMMING AND UNDIMMING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND RETURNED THE CAR UNFIXED. VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW CAR AND WILL NOT BUY GM EVERY AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212407

87 miles · May 16, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT A BUICK LACROSSE VIN [XXX] ON MARCH 30, 2006. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON MARCH 31, 2006, AND HAD A PROBLEM WITH A LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT THAT DAY. I WAS SICK AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR BUT ATTEMPTED TO USE ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC WHICH THEY WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM AND I E-MAILED THE DEALER CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. UP…

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I BOUGHT A BUICK LACROSSE VIN [XXX] ON MARCH 30, 2006. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON MARCH 31, 2006, AND HAD A PROBLEM WITH A LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT THAT DAY. I WAS SICK AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR BUT ATTEMPTED TO USE ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC WHICH THEY WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM AND I E-MAILED THE DEALER CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. UPON MY RECOVERY, I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON APRIL 7, 2006. ON APRIL 10, 2006, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONTACTED AND INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR NEEDS A REPAIR TO THE CAMSHAFT ASSEMBLY. THIS DEFECT EXISTED THE DAY I PICKED UP THE CAR, IT HAD 87 MILES ON IT WHEN I PICKED IT UP, AND SINCE THE CAR WAS INSPECTED THE MORNING I PICKED IT UP, THE DEALER ALLOWED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT TO BE SOLD AND DELIVERED. UPON CONTACTING BUICK TO MAKING BUICK IS AWARE THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED AND SEEKING RESOLUTION THE DEALER PUT A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR. IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE DEALER OR BUICK TO SELL A DEFECTIVE CAR AND BELIEVE THAT PUTTING A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR RESOLVES THE PROBLEM. I HAVE COMPLAINT TO BUICK AND THE DEALER ABOUT THIS NUMEROUS TIME BUT I GET STONE WALLED, THEY COMPLETELY IGNORE THE PROBLEM EXISTING PRIOR TO ME BUYING AND TAKING DELIVERY OF THE CAR. I HAVE ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, PARTIAL, OR TOTAL REFUND AND I'M IGNORED. ALL BUICK DOES IS OFFER OIL CHANGES AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH I FIND USELESS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ONSTAR MODULE FAILED, APRIL 22, 2006, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10157626

1,550 miles · Feb 6, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE LOW OIL PRESSURE ALARM RANG AFTER ONLY 1542 MILES DEALER MADE APPT FOR 2/21 - WASN'T WORRIED "PROBABLY ONLY A FALSE ALARM". THE ALARM RANG AGAIN AT 1550 MILES. I MADE THE DEALER TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER. GM HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE DUE TO METAL IN OIL PAN. I'VE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT AND DON'T FEEL THE CAR IS WORTH A NEW CAR…

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THE LOW OIL PRESSURE ALARM RANG AFTER ONLY 1542 MILES DEALER MADE APPT FOR 2/21 - WASN'T WORRIED "PROBABLY ONLY A FALSE ALARM". THE ALARM RANG AGAIN AT 1550 MILES. I MADE THE DEALER TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER. GM HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE DUE TO METAL IN OIL PAN. I'VE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT AND DON'T FEEL THE CAR IS WORTH A NEW CAR PRICE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10149586

Official recalls

3

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.

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

1

RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights

Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.