2006 Buick LACROSSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
299 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
78,246 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 217 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 146 of 299 complaints (48.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 34 | 11.4% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 8.0% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 3.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 2.0% |
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 | 146 |
| Electrical System | 78 |
| Air Bags | 28 |
| Steering | 23 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 9 |
| Suspension | 9 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
Exterior Lighting: 146; Electrical System: 78; Air Bags: 28; Steering: 23; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 9; Suspension: 9; Engine: 8; Service Brakes: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 60 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 39 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 52 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 60; 75,000 to 99,999: 39; 100,000 to 149,999: 52; 150,000 and above: 25
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (60). 82 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 46 |
| 2015 | 80 |
| 2016 | 50 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 9; 2007: 6; 2008: 5; 2009: 3; 2010: 7; 2011: 13; 2012: 6; 2013: 14; 2014: 46; 2015: 80; 2016: 50; 2017: 18; 2018: 12; 2019: 17; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 34 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 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 10377021 · 2011-01-18 (January 18, 2011)
IT STARTED WHEN DRIVING ALONG AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT, THE ONLY WAY I HAD ANY LIGHTS AT ALL IS ON HIGH BEAM, AND I WOULD CLICK BACK ON LOW BEAM AFTER I PULLED OVER AND THE LOW LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND NOW I HAVE NO LOW BEAM LIGHTS AT ALL ONLY HIGH BEAM. I HAVE CALLED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT HAS FIXED THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WITH ELECTRICAL ISSUES BECAUSE THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. AND THEY SAID IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL COST BE APPROXIMATELY $400-$700…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10377021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513687 · 2013-05-27 (May 27, 2013)
STARTED OFF LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS WOULD FADE IN AND OUT THEN ONE DAY I HAD NO LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS AT ALL EVERY SHOP I TAKE THIS CAR TO NO ONE HAS A CLUE WHY MY LOW BEAM LIGHTS WANT WORK AUTO OR MANUAL. . HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ARE OK AND I HAVE NO OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184797 · 2007-03-06 (March 6, 2007)
GM 2006 BUICK LACROSSE WITH FRONT END PROBLEM**CC THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE MILEAGE WAS INCREASED ON THE VEHICLE, THE TIRES WORE PREMATURELY AND THE SHIMMY OR VIBRATION BECAME WORSE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VIBRATION WAS SO SEVERE, THAT SHE ALSO SHAKES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. STEERING CONTROL HAS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE VEHICLE WILL FLOAT ON CURVES AND ON FLAT STRAIGHT HIGHWAYS. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER STATED A TOTAL OF 16 TIRES HAD BEEN ORDERED FOR THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10184797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185074 · 2007-03-14 (March 14, 2007)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN. THE NOISE GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GRINDING NOISE WAS DUE TO THE STEERING SHAFT. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE GRINDING NOISE RECURRED WITHIN 4 MONTHS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151064 · 2006-02-23 (February 23, 2006)
COLLISION RESULTED WHEN BRAKES APPARENTLY FAILED. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE PUSHROD. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10151064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168624 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)
IT HAD RAINED EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THE ROADS WERE STILL WET. I WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH IN A 40 MPH ZONE. I APPLIED MY BRAKES APPROX. 200 FEET PRIOR TO THE TRAFFIC AND STOP LIGHT. THE CAR SKIDDED. AT 150 FEET I BROKE HARDER AND THE ABS ENGAGED. THE HARDER I PUSHED THE MORE THE CAR SKIDDED. THE BRAKES NEVER STOPPED THE CAR -- IT ONLY SLOWED IT DOWN. THE ONLY TIME THE CAR STOPPED WAS WHEN IT HIT THE SUV IN FRONT OF IT, CAUSING $3,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR. EITHER THE BRAKES DON'T WORK PROPERLY, OR THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TRACTION WITH THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10537237 · 2013-08-26 (August 26, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576362 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386465 · 2011-03-04 (March 4, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 BUICK LACROSSE CX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE GEAR SELECTOR FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS A COMMON ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,00…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10592841 · 2014-05-20 (May 20, 2014)
WHILE TURNING CORNERS, CAR JERKS FORWARD AND WHEELS SEEMINGLY STICK TO GROUND AND SQUEAL. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN STOPPING AT RED LIGHTS AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE OR WHEN ACCELERATING WHEN ON A HILL OR INCLINE. I'VE HAVE GOTTEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD BE BUT NOTHING DEFINITIVE. WAS TOLD MAKE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, OR SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE 4TH CLUTCH PISTON AND FRICTION PLATES. ALSO WHEN DRIVING CAR IS ABLE TO BE MOVED INTO DIFFERENT GEARS, GEAR BOX SHOULD NOT MOVE WHEN CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN PLACED INTO THE APPROPRIATE GEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10592841 at NHTSA ↗