2009 Buick LACROSSE: complaints, problems and recalls

PURCHASED A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE IN FEB 09 FOR MY WIFE - AT VARIOUS TIMES ABOUT 6 EVENTS HAVE HAPPENED ALL TOGETHER WITH A STRONG ALCOHOL ODOR COMING INTO THE INTERIOR. THE SMELL IS STRONG AND CAUSES HER NOSE, EYE AND THROAT TO BURN. THIS PAST WEEKEND - SHE DROVE IT TO VA BEACH, VA WITH FAMILY AND IT HAPPENED TWICE ON SUNDAY - JUNE 7, 2009. MY CONCERN IS IF THE BUILD UP OF THIS STRONG ALCOHOL ODOR COMES INTO THE CAR - CAN THE ODOR CAUSE A FIRE? I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY SAID UNTIL IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME - T…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273283 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

2009 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AIR BAGS. CONSUMER STATES IT WOULD SHOW AIR BAGS OFF ABOUT ONCE A WEEK OR SO FOR A SHORT TIME AND KEEPS GETTING WORSE MORE OFTEN.*TGW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10439609 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC DEFROSTER DID NOT FUNCTION ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT UPON ACTIVATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496685 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 5 MONTHS AND I BOUGHT IT AT 55K MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 11:00PM ON A RAINY NIGHT I WAS STOPPED BY A STATE TROOPER WHO SAID MY HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE GOOD PART IS- THE TROOPER ACTUALLY SAW MY HEADLIGHTS WERE ORIGINALLY ON BUT HE STATED THAT AS I APPROACHED HIM "THEY JUST WENT OFF". HE PULLED ME OVER JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS OK, BUT HE SAID THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I COULD CAUSE A COLLISION WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. FUNNY THING IS, THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WORKED JUST FINE, BUT …

Owner-reported narrative. 68,173 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525869 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10541993 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BEAMS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK BUT NOT LOW. TAKEN TO DEALERS(TWO DIFFERENT GM DEALERS) TWICE (STILL UNDER WARRANTY) BUT COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND WOULD NOT WORK ON IT IF NOT HAPPENING AT TIME WE BRING IT IN. THEIR REPAIR DEPARTMENT CLOSED AT 6 SO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BRING IT IN WHEN HAPPENS AFTER DARK. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS BUT GM DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING.

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544716 at NHTSA ↗

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.