2005 Buick Lacrosse Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Buick Lacrosse.

< older2006
Complaints
411
Crashes
13
Fires
8
Injuries
8
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2005 Buick Lacrosse Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#173 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:95,042 mi
Fires:3
#268 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:108,183 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:4
#348 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:48,939 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Buick Lacrosse.

Headlight/Taillight Failures
73
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
95,042
Electrical Faults
68
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Avg Miles
108,183
Steering Defects
48
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
48,939
Airbags
27
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
89,526
Brakes
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
68,358
Transmission / Drivetrain
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
92,260
Suspension Failures
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
46,427
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,432
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,501
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
2,000
Structural Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
4,625
Engine Problems
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
116,365
Automatic Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
22,054
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
12,223
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
56,750
Instrument Cluster
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,818
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Interior Lighting
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Buick Lacrosse. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2005 Buick Lacrosse

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,570,901 vehicles.

15V519000Exterior Lighting:headlights
~429,170 affected

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.

14V355000Electrical System:ignition
~3,141,731 affected

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.

Other Buick Lacrosse Years

2005 Buick Lacrosse — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2005 Buick Lacrosse reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2005 Buick Lacrosse has 411 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Headlight/Taillight Failures with 73 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2005 Buick Lacrosse?
Top reported problems: Headlight/Taillight Failures (73 complaints, avg 95,042 mi); Electrical Faults (68 complaints, avg 108,183 mi); Steering Defects (48 complaints, avg 48,939 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Buick Lacrosse?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 76,729 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2005 Buick Lacrosse?
NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Buick Lacrosse include 13 crash-related reports, 8 fire reports, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2005 Buick Lacrosse have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,570,901 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2005 Buick Lacrosse?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (headlight/taillight failures) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Buick Lacrosse reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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