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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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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158,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WORK SPORADICALLY ON ALL DOORS. THEY SEEM TO LOCK WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE, BUT WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN SHIFTED TO PARK OR WHEN YOU PUSH THE POWER UNLOCK BUTTON. A RELATED PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHERE THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. REPLACED THE CABLE IN THE FRONT DRIVER…

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AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WORK SPORADICALLY ON ALL DOORS. THEY SEEM TO LOCK WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE, BUT WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN SHIFTED TO PARK OR WHEN YOU PUSH THE POWER UNLOCK BUTTON. A RELATED PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHERE THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. REPLACED THE CABLE IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE THAT WAS CORRODED, NOW EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND $200 TO REPLACE ANOTHER CABLE. IF I POUND THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR JUST RIGHT AND IN THE RIGHT SPOT, I CAN GET IT TO OPEN. THE LOCK MECHANISM IS NOT OPENING ALL THE DOORS - I HAVE BEEN STUCK INSIDE THE CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE I NEEDED TO CRAWL OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE BEFORE I FIXED THE DRIVERS DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577854

90,000 miles · Mar 10, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

I WENT TO THE PARKING GARAGE AFTER WORK, AND HAD DIFFICULT GETTING INTO MY VEHICLE. THE REMOTE DID NOT WORK. WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE LOCK, IT WOULD TURN BUT NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I FINALLY GOT INTO MY CAR. I PICKED MY SISTER UP AND WENT TO THE RESTAURANT. I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I TRIED…

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I WENT TO THE PARKING GARAGE AFTER WORK, AND HAD DIFFICULT GETTING INTO MY VEHICLE. THE REMOTE DID NOT WORK. WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE LOCK, IT WOULD TURN BUT NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I FINALLY GOT INTO MY CAR. I PICKED MY SISTER UP AND WENT TO THE RESTAURANT. I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I TRIED THE REMOTE, THE INSIDE RELEASE AND PULLING ON THE LOCK. I FINALLY GOT IT TO RELEASE. THEN I HAD PROBLEMS CLOSING THE DOOR. WE GOT IT SHUT BUT WHEN WE CAME BACK FROM THE RESTAURANT IT WAS OPEN. I DROPPED MY SISTER OFF AND DROVE THE MILE HOME, THE DOOR AGAIN WOULD NOT OPEN NOR WOULD THE PASSENGER DOOR OPEN. I AM CLAUSTROPHOBIC AND BECAME VERY UPSET. I WENT BACK TO MY SISTER'S AND GOT THE DOOR OPEN . WE LEFT IT AJAR, AND WHEN I GOT HOME IT STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 15 MINUTES, I FINALLY GOT IT TO RELEASE. THEN NEXT DAY WHEN MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR OVER TO THE DEALERS, HE COULD NOT GET THE DOOR TO OPEN. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE PASSENGER DOOR OPEN AND CLIMBED OUT THAT WAY. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE ELECTRONICS MALFUNCTIONING, BUT NOT THE MANUAL SYSTEM. I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I JUST GOT OFF THE CHAT LINE WITH GENERAL MOTORS AND RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION OR RESOLUTION. IT WAS $300 TO HAVE THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACED/REPAIRED. I STILL HAVE NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE MANUAL SYSTEM DID NOT WORK.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502252

66,000 miles · Jan 31, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE CXL (NA). THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE TO ENTER BY USING THE KEY FOB WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE DOOR REMAINED LOCKED. EVENTUALLY, HE WAS ABLE TO GET IN. HE THEN DROVE ABOUT 100 FEET AND ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE D…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE CXL (NA). THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE TO ENTER BY USING THE KEY FOB WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE DOOR REMAINED LOCKED. EVENTUALLY, HE WAS ABLE TO GET IN. HE THEN DROVE ABOUT 100 FEET AND ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS REMAINED LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CLIMBING INTO THE BACK SEAT AND EXITING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE MECHANISMS BUT DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE PARTS TO ARRIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,000. UPDATED 3/7/11 *CN UPDATED 04/22/11

NHTSA ODI #10379706

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.