Buick Lacrosse 2005–2009
1st generation · GM W-body
NHTSA data through 13 August 20261,613 complaints, 1,210 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 1,210
- Median of reported failures
- 65,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Exterior lighting (29.4%)
- Recalls
- 2
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 39,451 and 94,500 miles.
Figure 1 · Buick Lacrosse 2005–2009 · 1,210 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 79 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 15 complaints (1.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 15,000
- 25%
- 39,451
- Median
- 65,000
- 75%
- 94,500
- 90%
- 130,675
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 63 | 5.2% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 29 | 2.4% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 28 | 2.3% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 23 | 1.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 32 | 2.6% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 43 | 3.6% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 32 | 2.6% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 53 | 4.4% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 43 | 3.6% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 68 | 5.6% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 57 | 4.7% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 53 | 4.4% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 79 | 6.5% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 54 | 4.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 58 | 4.8% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 41 | 3.4% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 60 | 5.0% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 43 | 3.6% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 49 | 4.0% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 27 | 2.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 36 | 3.0% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 25 | 2.1% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 35 | 2.9% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 18 | 1.5% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 23 | 1.9% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 10 | 0.8% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 17 | 1.4% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 13 | 1.1% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 11 | 0.9% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 7 | 0.6% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 14 | 1.2% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 12 | 1.0% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 11 | 0.9% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 9 | 0.7% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 15 | 1.2% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,613 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005–2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 1,210 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 39,451 and 94,500 miles. The median is 65,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the exterior lighting (29.4% of complaints, typically around 79,000 miles), the electrical system (22.3% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), the airbag system (12.0% of complaints, typically around 54,000 miles).
2 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2005–2009 Buick Lacrosse last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2005–2009 Buick Lacrosse were filed by 65,000 miles and 90% by 131,000 miles — figures drawn from 1,210 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
15 reports (1.2%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Lacrosse reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2005–2009 Lacrosse: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,210 mileage-tagged complaints, 2 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine - timing chain on 2005–2009 (3.6L LY7) cars. 3.6L LY7 DOHC V6 timing chain stretch from wear on the chains, guides and tensioners, setting P0008/P0009/P0011/P0016 correlation codes with a cold-start rattle; aggravated by extended oil change intervals. GM issued…
- Check transmission on 2005–2009 cars. 4T65-E 4-speed automatic pressure-control solenoid and 3-4 clutch wear causing harsh or delayed shifts, particularly on higher-torque 3.6L and 5.3L applications.
- Check engine - cooling on 2005–2009 (3.8L) cars. 3.8L Series III V6 upper/lower intake and plenum sealing leaks are a lower-frequency issue than on earlier GM 3.1L/3.4L V6s; the Series III is generally the durable choice in this generation.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 39,000 and 94,000 miles, with a median of 65,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the exterior lighting and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 70,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Buick Lacrosse 2005–2009
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Steering114 reports50,00027,000–82,000Steering: 114 reports, median 50,000 miles, middle half 27,000 to 82,000 miles.
- Airbag system194 reports54,00033,000–78,000Airbag system: 194 reports, median 54,000 miles, middle half 33,000 to 78,000 miles.
- Brakes40 reports57,00040,000–100,000Brakes: 40 reports, median 57,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline44 reports61,00022,000–81,000Transmission and driveline: 44 reports, median 61,000 miles, middle half 22,000 to 81,000 miles.
- Electrical system359 reports70,00047,000–107,000Electrical system: 359 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 47,000 to 107,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting474 reports79,00056,000–108,000Exterior lighting: 474 reports, median 79,000 miles, middle half 56,000 to 108,000 miles.
- Engine45 reports86,00060,000–110,000Engine: 45 reports, median 86,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 110,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 474 | 29.4% | 79,000 | 56,000–108,000 |
| Electrical system | 359 | 22.3% | 70,000 | 47,000–107,000 |
| Airbag system | 194 | 12.0% | 54,000 | 33,000–78,000 |
| Steering | 114 | 7.1% | 50,000 | 27,000–82,000 |
| Engine | 45 | 2.8% | 86,000 | 60,000–110,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 44 | 2.7% | 61,000 | 22,000–81,000 |
| Brakes | 40 | 2.5% | 57,000 | 40,000–100,000 |
| Suspension | 36 | 2.2% | 60,000 | 16,000–81,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 34 | 2.1% | 40,000 | 23,000–84,000 |
| Body structure | 33 | 2.0% | 59,000 | 26,000–82,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Buick Lacrosse 2005–2009 · 1,210 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 43% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 71% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 87% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.2% of reports (15) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
43% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Exterior lighting — middle half 56,000–108,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 47,000–107,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 33,000–78,000 mi
- Steering — middle half 27,000–82,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 60,000–110,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 22,000–81,000 mi
- Brakes — middle half 40,000–100,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
71% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Airbag system — median 54,000 mi
- Steering — median 50,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 61,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Exterior lighting — middle half 56,000–108,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 47,000–107,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 60,000–110,000 mi
- Brakes — middle half 40,000–100,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
87% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Exterior lighting — median 79,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 70,000 mi
- Airbag system — median 54,000 mi
- Steering — median 50,000 mi
- Engine — median 86,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 61,000 mi
- Brakes — median 57,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 65,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The exterior lighting accounts for 29.4% of complaints (474 reports, 345 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 56,000 and 108,000 miles.
A single system taking 29.4% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 22.3% of complaints (359 reports, 235 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 47,000 and 107,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 12.0% of complaints (194 reports, 153 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 54,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 33,000 and 78,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 7.1% of complaints (114 reports, 99 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,000 and 82,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 2.8% of complaints (45 reports, 36 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 110,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 2.7% of complaints (44 reports, 37 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 61,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,000 and 81,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2005 model year drew the most — 414 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 146. The median year sits at 343.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 2 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,613 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 71 (4.4%)
- Fires
- 62
- Injury reports
- 35
- Fatality reports
- 0
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Engine - Timing Chain 2005–2009 (3.6L LY7)
3.6L LY7 DOHC V6 timing chain stretch from wear on the chains, guides and tensioners, setting P0008/P0009/P0011/P0016 correlation codes with a cold-start rattle; aggravated by extended oil change intervals. GM issued TSBs and special coverage on the 3.6L family.
Transmission 2005–2009
4T65-E 4-speed automatic pressure-control solenoid and 3-4 clutch wear causing harsh or delayed shifts, particularly on higher-torque 3.6L and 5.3L applications.
Engine - Cooling 2005–2009 (3.8L)
3.8L Series III V6 upper/lower intake and plenum sealing leaks are a lower-frequency issue than on earlier GM 3.1L/3.4L V6s; the Series III is generally the durable choice in this generation.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 414 | 298 |
| 2006 | 383 | 281 |
| 2007 | 327 | 238 |
| 2008 | 343 | 278 |
| 2009 | 146 | 115 |
Recalls (2) — is your car included?
May 2016 · 2005–2009 · Exterior LightingHeadlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. 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.
Sep 2014 · 2005–2009 · Electrical SystemIf the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash…
The defect. 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 caus
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. 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.
What owners reported
I was merging onto the nj tpk at 14a heading west, on the road for less than a minute, about 4 feet before merge, heard a clunking noise and my front passenger tire felt flat. I pulled over and called for help. The sunoco DOT came and said tire was good, but rim blew out. When changing original tire to the donut, my…
2005 · 30 miles · Wheels
Dt: the consumer complained about a problem with the air bag on the passenger's side. The air bag sensor was deactivating when his wife was in the passenger's side seat. The passenger weighed 121 pounds. The air bag will stay on and activate when the owner was in the seat weighing about 50 pounds more than the…
2005 · 40 miles · Airbag system
Dt*: the contact stated the horn on the right side of the steering wheel will not sound . The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership on four separate occasions. The dealer replaced the air bag twice and was unable to correct the problem. The manufacturer was alerted and offered to extend the warranty concerning…
2005 · 94 miles · Electrical system
Consumer noticed a soft spot located on the vehicle trunk lid. Took vehicle to the dealer. The dealer took consumer to inspect several other vehicles which had the same problem. Dealer informed the consumer that was the normal characteristic of that vehicle. *Ak trunk lid made noise when the consumer touched it. The…
2005 · 170 miles · Body structure
Built from 1,210 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page