2005 Buick LACROSSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
315 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
64,511 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 224 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 74 of 315 complaints (23.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 54 | 17.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 42 | 13.3% |
| Braking behavior | 35 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 74 |
| Electrical System | 69 |
| Steering | 48 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Service Brakes | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Suspension | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 8 |
Exterior Lighting: 74; Electrical System: 69; Steering: 48; Air Bags: 27; Service Brakes: 13; Power Train: 12; Suspension: 11; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 53 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 41 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 31 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 46 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 53; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 41; 75,000 to 99,999: 31; 100,000 to 149,999: 46; 150,000 and above: 16
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (53). 91 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 29 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 61 |
| 2015 | 46 |
| 2016 | 45 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2004: 1; 2005: 29; 2006: 16; 2007: 11; 2008: 10; 2009: 16; 2010: 21; 2011: 10; 2012: 7; 2013: 11; 2014: 61; 2015: 46; 2016: 45; 2017: 11; 2018: 7; 2019: 5; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 54 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 42 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 35 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10117664 · 2005-04-08 (April 8, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEELJERKED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121340 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)
DT: NEW BUICK LACROSS; THE CAR WANDERED AROUND THE ROAD. IT WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN GO TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TURNED IN EITHER OF THOSE DIRECTIONS. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173379 · 2006-11-13 (November 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH TOWARD AN INTERSECTION ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. NO WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE ROTORS MUST BE MACHINED. AFTER A VISUAL INSPECTION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE OF A DIFFERENT BRAND; THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THERE WAS NO CONCERN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TIRE BRANDS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LEAK WAS FROM THE OIL FILTER AND CORRECTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,435 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204874 · 2007-09-24 (September 24, 2007)
2005 BUICK LACROSSE WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES UNDER RECALL. CUSTOMER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE HAD DEFECTIVE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED THE BRAKES WOULD NOT BE APPLIED. SHE WAS TOLD TWO WEEKS BEFORE REPAIRS COULD BE MADE. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE LIGHTS ON THE DRIVER'S INFORMATION CENTER WERE DIM MOST OF THE TIME AND SOMETIMES DISAPPEARED ALTOGETHER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR INTERIOR ILLUMINATION TO DIM/BRIGHTEN DUE TO VOLTAGE DEMAND AND/OR AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 19,446 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111291 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
WHEN ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 55 - 60 MPH, SUDDENLY THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES.*AK THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS DOWN AFTER 60 SECONDS. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114934 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
WHEN ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 55 - 60 MPH, SUDDENLY THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129734 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED AT 3,535 MILES. THEY LOOKED AT THEM AND TIGHTENED SOMETHING. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED AT 5567 MILES, THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. THE THIRD TIME IT OCCURRED AT 5,947 MILES. GM SAID THAT THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE BRAKES. THE PADS WERE CRYSTALLIZING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AT 3,500 MILES. GM TOLD THE DEALER NOT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE TO THE BRAKES ON 6-30-05. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THERE WERE NO LIGHTS THAT CAME ON PRIOR TO THE BRAKE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173412 · 2006-11-13 (November 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THREE TIMES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. ON THE LAST VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW SENSOR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK, THE FRONT ROTORS WERE MACHINED. THE GAS CAP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE WHEN THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148004 · 2006-01-18 (January 18, 2006)
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SURGED. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND NO CODES WERE FOUND. WHILE TURNING RIGHT THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265607 · 2009-04-16 (April 16, 2009)
2005 BUICK LACROSSE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 81,000 MILES- TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP BEFORE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH THE HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT THEY STATED IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION- TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT MY COST $2,500. PER GOOGLE SEARCH THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265607 at NHTSA ↗