2006 Buick LACROSSE: complaints, problems and recalls

THE LOW OIL PRESSURE ALARM RANG AFTER ONLY 1542 MILES DEALER MADE APPT FOR 2/21 - WASN'T WORRIED "PROBABLY ONLY A FALSE ALARM". THE ALARM RANG AGAIN AT 1550 MILES. I MADE THE DEALER TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER. GM HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE DUE TO METAL IN OIL PAN. I'VE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT AND DON'T FEEL THE CAR IS WORTH A NEW CAR PRICE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149586 at NHTSA ↗

WE HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THIS MODEL HAS A PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR WHICH DETECTS WHETHER A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE SEAT OR NOT. IF IT DETECTS NO PASSENGER, THE PASSENGER AIR-BAG IS TURNED "OFF." AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 55. THIS PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR DOES NOT WORK! MY WIFE FIRST NOTICED IT ON A COLD MORNING, I HAD HER BOUNCE UP AND DOWN ON THE SEAT - NO RESPONSE. THE AIR-BAG REMAINED "OFF." THIS HAPPENED EVERYTIME THE TEMPERATURE AS INDICATED ON THE DASH WAS 55 OF OR LOWER. ONLY AFTER THE HEATER WAS O…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149808 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, INTERMITTENTLY, SHOW THE ILLUSION OF VENETIAN BLINDS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD HAS LARGE REFLECTIONS OF APPROACHING VEHICLES. THE CONTACT WAS TOO NERVOUS WHEN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. WANTED TO HAVE THE MONEY REFUNDED SINCE THE CONTACT REFUSED TO RIDE IN THE CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153501 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT A BUICK LACROSSE VIN [XXX] ON MARCH 30, 2006. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON MARCH 31, 2006, AND HAD A PROBLEM WITH A LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT THAT DAY. I WAS SICK AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR BUT ATTEMPTED TO USE ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC WHICH THEY WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM AND I E-MAILED THE DEALER CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. UPON MY RECOVERY, I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON APRIL 7, 2006. ON APRIL 10, 2006, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONTACTED AND INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR NEEDS A REPAIR TO THE CAMSHAFT ASSEMBLY. THIS DEFECT EXISTED…

Owner-reported narrative. 87 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157626 at NHTSA ↗

WE HAVE A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. AT COOL/COLD TEMPERATURES (BELOW 57 OF) THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT WORK! THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. HAVING THE PASSENGER JUMP UP AND DOWN IN THE SEAT DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE SENSOR/AIRBAG. THE DEALER SO FAR HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEVICE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158264 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2006 BUICK LACROSSE HAS A CENTER ARM REST. THE TOP OF THE ARM REST LIFTS UP TO REVEAL A STORAGE COMPARTMENT, WHICH CONTAINS STORAGE SLOTS FOR CD'S. ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE TOP OF THE ARM REST IS A FOAM PAD, WHICH I ASSUME WAS PUT THERE TO PREVENT THE CD'S FROM RATTLING AND MAKING NOISE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE STORING CD'S AND LIFT THE TOP OF THE ARM REST TO GET AT THE STORAGE AREA, THE CD'S STICK TO THE FOAM PAD AND GET LIFTED OUT OF THE STORAGE AREA. THE RESULT IS CD'S SPILLED ALL OVER THE FRONT PASSENGER AREA. BESIDE BEING A …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10165115 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2006-10-31 (October 31, 2006)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2014-06-23 (June 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: 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.

Reported: 2015-08-14 (August 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: 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.