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2009 Buick Lacrosse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Buick Lacrosse do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Compare all Lacrosse years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

80 reports with mileage · 26 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 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

47 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10790592

84,000 miles · Nov 4, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD NOT BE CUT BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10788403

49,000 miles · Nov 4, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10788373

89,500 miles · Nov 2, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMP DRIVER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMP DRIVER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,500. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10787686

79,000 miles · Oct 2, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V75500…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); 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 FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 01/27/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10779251

42,000 miles · Sep 18, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); 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 NOTIFIED OF THE I…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); 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 NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10765191

32,000 miles · Sep 15, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 11/12/15*LJ UPDATED 1/4/2016*JS

NHTSA ODI #10763894

148,000 miles · Sep 14, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT HEAD LAMPS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAMS TO INCREASE HIS VISIBILITY. THE FRONT HEAD LAMPS AND DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NO LONGER ILLUMINATE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT HAD TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT HEAD LAMPS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAMS TO INCREASE HIS VISIBILITY. THE FRONT HEAD LAMPS AND DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NO LONGER ILLUMINATE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT HAD TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAMS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); 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 FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000. UPDATED 11/18/15*LJ UPDATED 12/09/15 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10763525

65,000 miles · Aug 28, 2015
Exterior Lighting

MY MOTHERS AUTOMATIC LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY FUNCTION. MY MOTHER IS 85 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR HER. SHE IS NOT AS ATTENTIVE AS SHE WAS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER AND SHE DOES NOT NOTICE THAT THE LIGHTS ARE NOT SHINING UNTIL SHE GETS IN A RURAL AREA AND REALIZES THAT SHE CANNOT SEE. T…

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MY MOTHERS AUTOMATIC LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY FUNCTION. MY MOTHER IS 85 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR HER. SHE IS NOT AS ATTENTIVE AS SHE WAS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER AND SHE DOES NOT NOTICE THAT THE LIGHTS ARE NOT SHINING UNTIL SHE GETS IN A RURAL AREA AND REALIZES THAT SHE CANNOT SEE. THIS CAN CAUSE HER TO GET A LITTLE ANXIOUS AND CONFUSED UNTIL SHE STOPS TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS MANUALLY. THIS CONDITION WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF A CHEVROLET DEALER AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT WAS NEEDED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR A POTENTIAL 269,586 VEHICLES WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! A TEMPORY REPLACEMENT PART WAS INSTALLED ON 7/29/15. THE RECALL BULLITEN STATES THAT ONLY THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE AFFECTED. THIS IS NOT CORRECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. ON MY MOTHERS VEHICLE THE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS MAY OR MAY NOT WORK ON THE AUTOMATIC SETTING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE HOT. THIS CONDITION IS STILL PRESENT ON A COLD OR HOT VEHICLE SINCE THE TEMPORARY PART WAS INSTALLED! THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ALSO. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS BEEN VERY NICE AND HAS DONE EVERYTHING THAT GM HAS TOLD THEM TO DO. GM HAS APPARENTLY NOT LEARNED IT'S LESSON OVER THE KEY SWITCH RECALL AND GM DOES NOT SEEM TOO CONCERNED OVER THIS PROBLEM. GM'S RESPONSE TO THIS RECALL IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNACCEPTABLE. IF GM KNEW JUST HOW UPSET MY MOTHER WAS ABOUT THIS MALFUNCTION THEY MIGHT BE MORE CONCERNED. MY MOTHER HAS ONLY BEEN TRYING FOR TEN MONTHS TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS REPAIRED. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT GM MUST SEE THIS MALFUNCTION AS AN UNIMPORTANT ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI #10760060

53,020 miles · Aug 24, 2015
Exterior Lighting

WAS GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF ,I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 4 MILES WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AND BLINKERS FLASHING. AS I PULLED INTO MY STOP AND PUT CAR IN PARK ,LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I DROVE BACK HOME NO PROBLEM . CALLED DEALER ON MONDAY THEY MADE AN APPT. FOR ME ON WEDNESDAY MAY 6,2015 AND THEY REPLACED…

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WAS GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF ,I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 4 MILES WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AND BLINKERS FLASHING. AS I PULLED INTO MY STOP AND PUT CAR IN PARK ,LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I DROVE BACK HOME NO PROBLEM . CALLED DEALER ON MONDAY THEY MADE AN APPT. FOR ME ON WEDNESDAY MAY 6,2015 AND THEY REPLACED HEADLIGHT INTERNAL SWITCH AND CHARGED ME 121.69+ TAX ALSO SAID BATTERY WAS TESTING BAD SO ANOTHER 99.95+ TAX .NOW SINCE I DON'T DRIVE MUCH AND ESPECIALLY NOT AT NIGHT IT WAS A WHILE LONGER ,BUT IN JULY I EXPERIENCED IT AGAIN SAME THING ,EXCEPT THIS TIME I PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND WAS MESSING WITH LIGHT SWITCH AND FIGURED OUT I COULD TURN SWITCH FROM AUTO ON TO MANUAL ON AND MY BRIGHT LIGHTS WOULD WORK. I TRIED GETTING IT FIXED BUT THIS TIME L&M MOTORS SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT IF I HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN TO SWING BY AND LET THEM SEE. WELL SINCE IN THE DAYTIME YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THIS ,AND THEY ARE CLOSED AT 5PM BEFORE DARK ,NOT MUCH OF A CHANCE ,RIGHT?? SO ANY WAY I FOUND OUT THERE IS A PENDING RECALL, SO HOW DO I DRIVE AT NIGHT??? UNTIL IT CAN BE FIXED .

NHTSA ODI #10758885

Official recalls

2

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.

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.