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2005 Buick Lacrosse Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 315 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Buick Lacrosse, most often about the lights (27% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Lacrosse model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2005 Buick Lacrosse problems
Lights
86 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
Driving down the road lost low beam headlights as well as day time lights , smelled small burning odor and discovered the headlight control in the fuse panel to be over heating and beginning to burn a hole in the fuse panel under the hood. Have read of this happening to several of these cars with the fuse panel being…
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Lacrosse. While driving 40 MPH, the low beam head lamps failed to illuminate. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v755000 (exterior lighting)…
Electrical
80 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, wiring, ignition, starter assembly.
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Lacrosse. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the computer module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer…
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that number: 35 fuse melted into the fuse box, which needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage…
Steering
51 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 35,500 miles. Parts named most often: column, hydraulic power assist.
My vehicle was experiencing clunking whenever I turned the steering wheel while driving with less than 35,000 miles on it. It had become progressively worse over the past few months. The steering also felt a bit loose. I contacted gm for vehicle recalls and there was one on the steering column but not for my vehicle…
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…
Air bags
34 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
I was crossing hwy 90 in lake city, fl. I checked both ways and no traffic was coming. As I was going into the mall a car came out of no where and hit me on the passenger side I did not see her hit me. It totaled my car and they blamed me for the accident. The air bag did not deploy...updated 08-26-14 updated 8/29/2014
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the front passenger side air bag sensor illuminated and continued to flash off and on intermittently when the vehicle was driven over a bump in the road. The dealer stated that a sensor located inside the front passenger seat had malfunctioned. The…
Brakes
34 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, pedals and linkages, foundation components, antilock.
The traction control system lights come on during wet weather and or turning. The anti-locks brakes fail to work unless pressed completely down. No accidents have occured at this time, but a few close calls. The car is being returned to a gm dealer to inspect and report the problem. The brakes have always had a spongy…
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Lacrosse. While making a right turn at low speeds, the contact heard a grinding noise coming from the front of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle was taken to an…
Transmission
19 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
Car was repaired thursday, june 27, 2013, picked up on thursday, june 27, 2013, rack and pinion went out friday night, june 28, 2013 for the fourth () time in less than two months. Something needs to be done about this defect. There was no warning, steering got tight, pulled over and checked the fluid, was empty, put…
This is the fifth (5th) time the rack and pinion has gone out on this vehicle in the past three months - may 2013 through july 2013. This does not make any sense - the vehicle was repaired with "genuine gm parts" and still continues to go out in about a week after install. When is someone going to address this issue?…
Engine
17 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 39,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the oil light illuminated since the valve intake was blocked. The mechanic stated that the engine on the vehicle could be ruined if the problem was not corrected. The contact is concerned about the safety risk. According to the contact, the dexcool…
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…
Body and structure
16 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would decelerate or accelerate independently without warning. The contact mentioned that the instrument panel malfunctioned and failed to display the correct readings for the speedometer and fuel gauge. In addition…
The contact owns a 2005 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the vehicle doors locked unexpectedly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Buick Lacrosse recalls
Lights: headlights
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: ignition
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: pedals and linkages
Risk: Pushing on the pedal will not apply the brakes and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2005 Buick Lacrosse
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Buick Lacrosse?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (86 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles); electrical (80 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); steering (51 complaints, typically around 35,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Buick Lacrosse have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 14, 2015 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Buick Lacrosse?
- It is the most complained-about Lacrosse model year since 2000, with 315 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.