2009 Buick LACROSSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
55,006 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 45 of 106 complaints (42.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 12.3% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 10.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 45 |
| Electrical System | 29 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
Exterior Lighting: 45; Electrical System: 29; Air Bags: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Engine: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Power Train: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 26 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 22; 2015: 44; 2016: 20; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10596330 · 2014-06-05 (June 5, 2014)
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WITHIN A 2 MONTH TIME FRAME THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING A "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM", "SERVICE THEFT SYSTEM", "ABS SYSTEM" ON MY ODOMETER. I HAD TO STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF. THEN THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL BARRING, THEN THEY DID THE ELECTRICAL AND TIRE AND NOW IT IS ACTING UP AGAIN AND THEY DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS THIS TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,144 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10610829 · 2014-07-15 (July 15, 2014)
THE OWNER HAD BEEN SMELLING A BAD ODOR WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT HER DESTINATION IN A MALL PARKING LOT. THE ODOR DID NOT FADE WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND SUBSEQUENTLY OPENED THE HOOD. BLACK SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE FUSE BLOCK. UPON REMOVING THE COVER TO THE FUSE BLOCK, THE OWNER OBSERVED A SMALL FIRE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING CONSULTANT WHO IDENTIFIED THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. THE ORIGIN WAS PLACED AT THE # 35 POSITION IN THE FUSE BLOCK WHICH WAS OCC…
Owner-reported narrative. 173,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10610829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10437362 · 2011-11-27 (November 27, 2011)
I HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED MY VEHICLE IN A PARKING AREA AT A CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX WHERE I WAS DELIVERING A MEAL TO MY NEPHEW WHO RESIDES THERE. BECAUSE I HAD JUST RECENTLY LEARNED THAT SOMEONE FROM MY COMMUNITY WAS DYING FROM AN ENCEPHALITIS-INFECTED MOSQUITO AND I AM VERY PRONE TO MOSQUITO BITES, I DECIDED TO RE-START MY CAR AND BACK INTO THE OPEN PARKING SPACE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE CONDO UNIT, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 40 FEET FROM MY ORIGINAL STOP. I PROCEEDED TO BACK UP VERY SLOWLY AND VERY CAREFULLY INTO THE PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE CONDOM…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445311 · 2012-01-24 (January 24, 2012)
2009 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN A PERSON WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON A TIMES AND SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T. THE CONSUMER STATED OVER THE YEARS, SEVERAL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, SUCH AS THE ABS, SEAT BELT, TIRE PRESSURE, AND RADIO, ETC. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR EIGHT DAYS. EVERYTHING SEEMED SATISFACTORY, BUT AFTER THREE DAYS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. *JB UPDAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10445311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10638373 · 2014-09-23 (September 23, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ UPDATED 8/4/2015*JS
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10638373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10722835 · 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE KEY PARTIALLY DISENGAGED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE INCLINE AND THEN RESTARTED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM 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 FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10722835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10789568 · 2015-11-10 (November 10, 2015)
ABS STABLILITY TRACTION LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR DIES I HAVE NO POWER STEERING OR BREAKING POWER AND MY CAR IS STILL MOVING. GM DID THE PETAL RECALL TO IT THINKING THAT WOULD FIX IT, IT DID AND HAS NOT. THIS IS A DEATH TRAP I HAVE LOST FAITH IN DRIVING THIS CAR. HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE??? HAS HAPPENED TWICE.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10789568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10794556 · 2015-11-18 (November 18, 2015)
ABS STABILITY TRACKING LIGHTS COME ON, CAR DIES NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE DRIVING A CAR THAT IS STILL MOVING WITH NO STEERING OR BRAKES. IN THE PAST THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MY ELECTRIC SEATS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND BURNT OUT.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11161487 · 2018-12-14 (December 14, 2018)
WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD GOT TO MY DESTINATION PARKED IT AND WHEN I CAME OUT IT WOULD NOT START FOUND A BURNT FUEL PUMP RELAY CHANGED IT AND DROVE IT HOME. 20 MIN LATER I DROVE IT AGAIN AND MADE IT 2 MILES SAME THING HAPPENED TO RELAY ONLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11161487 at NHTSA ↗