2009 Buick Lacrosse Airbags Problems

The passenger airbag light started coming on and going off intermittently. After several weeks of this, it was on every time the car is driven. Testing by an ASE certified mechanic revealed that the permanent light results in no front seat airbags. The failed part is the seat presence sensor. The part is - and hasn't been for quite a while - manufactured by GM. Aftermarket parts are costly and the installation cost is in the hundreds of dollars. Research indicates that this is a well-known and long reported issue. Why not a recall years ago? Other than brakes and steering, could there be any more unsafe components than those affecting airbags? The only remedy other than continuously replacing the faulty part, is a bypass module. If it functions correctly, the airbag will deploy regardless of passenger weight. This puts any child or underweight rider in danger. And, of course, considering the expense, many owners will do nothing with possibly grave consequences. I think you "dropped the ball" big time on this one!

NHTSA ID

11593279

Incident

Apr 30, 2024

The air bag light on the dashboard is on all the time.It is available for inspection at any time. I do not know if the bag will go off at any time or does it mean that it won't go off on impact. I am nervous about having someone for a passenger. I have informed the dealership of the problem and they did confirmed the problem, it has not been inspected by the manufacturer or others. The light came on the day after I bought the car from the dealership and it has been on every cents.

NHTSA ID

11532167

Incident

Jul 13, 2023

Passenger airbag intermittently turns on and off when passenger is seated.

NHTSA ID

11499186

Incident

Nov 21, 2018

ABOU 50,XXX MILES THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE DASH BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. IT WOULD OCCUR ONCE A MONTH OR SO. THE DEALER WANTED $1200 TO REPLACE THE AB CONTROL MODULE. FOR THE NEXT 46,XXX MILES IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONTINUALLY, MEANING THE AIRBAGS ARE INOPERATIVE. SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME!

NHTSA ID

11010813

Incident

Jun 10, 2013

Mileage

51,000 mi

THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT BLINKS AND THEN REMAINS ON WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON AND WHEN DRIVING REGARDLESS OF SPEED. THIS CONDITION HAS RESULTED IN THE REPLACING OF THE RELEVANT PART TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2009 ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND ONCE OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS RECURRING PROBLEM COMPROMISES THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAGS IN THIS VEHICLE HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED SINCE IT HAS BEEN ACCIDENT FREE SINCE PURCHASED NEW.

NHTSA ID

10983661

Incident

May 5, 2017

Mileage

88,000 mi

THE SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WORKS ERRATICALLY, AND GENERALLY DOES NOT ENABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. THIS OCCURS WITH A FULL SIZE ADULT IN THE SEAT. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO OCCUR REGARDLESS OF IDLING OR DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT GENERALLY REPORTS THROUGH INDICATORS THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF AND THE AIRBAG READINESS INDICATOR IS LIT TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10928806

Incident

Mar 15, 2016

Mileage

47,000 mi

MY 2009 LACROSSE WILL INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAY THE AIR BAG INDICATOR. I NOTICED THIS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AROUND TOWN AND THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. IT WILL EITHER STAY ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN DISAPPEAR OR WILL JUST BE ON FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY STATED IT WAS A SENSOR MODULE AND WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1300 TO REPLACE. AS OF THIS DATE, I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000 MILES. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE MIGHT BE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE AND THERE WERE NONE. BUT IN CHECKING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MANY BUICKS ESPECIALLY THE 2008. TO ME THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID

10925090

Incident

Jun 15, 2016

Mileage

24,000 mi

SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON DASH ON; NO AIRBAG LIGHT ALSO ON FOR PASSENGER SIDE. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED SOMEONE EXITED PASSENGER SEAT WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK. INTERMITTENT CHIME WHETHER SEAT BELT WAS IN USE OR NOT; WHETHER SOMEONE WAS IN PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. THAT HAS SINCE CEASED TO HAPPEN. DEALER STATES DASH LIGHT ON ALSO MEANS NO AIRBAG FOR DRIVER SIDE. FIX IS OVER $1500. HAVE READ MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ALL OVER AMERICA WITH OTHER BUICK VEHICLES AND YEARS. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL/SAFETY ISSUE?

NHTSA ID

10901937

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED OFF EVEN WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 11/21/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

10884027

Incident

Jun 20, 2016

Mileage

6,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10874591

Incident

Mar 2, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,975.....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF IT WAS DETERMINED, THE PASSENGER AIR MODULE HAD AN INTERMITTENT INTERNAL FAILURE. UPDATED 07/14/16. *JB

NHTSA ID

10869978

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

38,975 mi

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL DISPLAY AN OFF INDICATION MANY TIMES WHEN THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. I WOULD GUESS ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE TIME. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS OFF AND ON, DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS MOVING OR STOPPED OR TYPE OF ROAD. BELOW ASK WHEN THIS CONDITION HAPPENED. IT HAPPENS ANYTIME WE DRIVE THE CAR, NOT A SPECIFIC DATE.

NHTSA ID

10855572

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ACTIVATING THE SEAT HEATER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 1/21/16 *SS *JS

NHTSA ID

10786255

Incident

Oct 16, 2015

Mileage

47,000 mi

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE IS OFF 50% OF TIME WHEN CARRYING A PASSENGER ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO OPERATE ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND ON OCCASIONS WHEN THEY WORK YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS

NHTSA ID

10767456

Incident

Jul 15, 2015

Mileage

51,200 mi

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $1300 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS SAME ITEM. I'VE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS. IT INITIALLY STARTED WITH THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR, AND HAS NOW PROGRESSED TO ALL THE DOORS. THE PRICE I WAS GIVEN TO REPAIR THIS WAS $1600. AGAIN, I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS ITEM. THIS IS MY 3RD BUICK, AND I DO NOT INTEND TO BUY ANOTHER ONE. IT SEEMS ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES, SEVERAL COSTLY REPAIRS ARE INCURRED.

NHTSA ID

10750371

Incident

Aug 21, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi

I AM A USED CAR DEALER AND SELL A LOT OF BUICK LACROSSES AND HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 7 BAD PASS. SEAT SWITCHES IN THE SEAT VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY GM,THIS WILL TURN THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON

NHTSA ID

10749230

Incident

Aug 10, 2015

I WISH TO FORMALLY COMPLAINT THAT BUICK HAS BEEN REMISS IN ITS SERVICE TO ITS CUSTOMERS. AFTER A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM OF MALFUNCTIONING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE (PASSENGER PRESENCE IS NOT DETECTED WHEN THE PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AND SHOWS MALFUNCTION ON THE DASHBOARD) IS PRETTY COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM VERY SURPRISED BUICK IS NOT AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS FLAW AND DID NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. INSTEAD THE CUSTOMER IS BESET WITH HIGH REPAIR COSTS EACH TIME THIS MODULE FAILS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW THAN DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

NHTSA ID

10733535

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

CONSUMER FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR DOES NOT DISPLAY WHEN PASSENGER IS SITTING THE IN SEAT.*TA THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A LOCAL GARAGE MECHANIC, THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $500. *JB

NHTSA ID

10661707

Incident

Feb 1, 2009

CAR WAS TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. HAVE HAD FOUR DIAGNOSTICS PERFORMED AND PROBLEM NOT FOUND. ADVISED A COMPLETE TEAR DOWN OF PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE TO LOCATE ISSUE WHICH IS COSTING ME AN EXUBERANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FIXED ON A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664280

Incident

Dec 3, 2014

Mileage

67,252 mi

RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG TURNS ITSELF OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITH PASSENGER SEATED AND BUCKLED. DEALER REMOVED AND REINSTALLED SEAT AND REPLACED FAULTY PPS MODULE AND CUSHION ASSEMBLY 06/18/2012, 48,072 MILES. PROBLEM RECURRED, DEALER REZEROED SYSTEM AND RECHECKED OK, 02/20/13, 62,481 MILES. PROBLEM RECURRED, DEALER REPLACED PPS SENSOR 03/13/2013, 63,441 MILES. PROBLEM IS NOW RECURRING 10/07/2014, MILEAGE 96,956, AND HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, WITH A PASSENGER ALWAYS SEATED AND BUCKLED, WT. 135 LBS. OR MORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641962

Incident

Jun 18, 2012

Mileage

48,072 mi

LEFT HOME FOR LOCAL RESTAURANT ABOUT 7:AM ON MAY 8. TRAVELING DOWN HWY 2 LANE, MUST HAVE DROPPED WHEEL OFF PAVEMENT AND THE CAR WENT CRAZY. I DO NOT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. THE ACCIDENT REPORT SAYS VEHICLE CROSSED THE ROAD, HIT A BANK HEAD FIRST AND FLIPPED THE VEHICLE. ONE CAR ACCIDENT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL, THEN TRANSPORTED TO ANOTHER STATE TO A TRAUMA CENTER. MULTIPLE INJURIES. I WAS IN HOSPITAL FOR 12 DAYS AND THEN A NURSING REHAB FOR 2 WEEKS. I DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE UNTIL THIS MONTH AUGUST 2014. NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628166

Incident

May 8, 2014

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ID

10618584

Incident

May 15, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 09/11/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER HAS RECALLED THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. UPDATED 1/13/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10615040

Incident

May 7, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE AIR BAG INDICATOR HAS EITHER BLINKED, HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY ON OR HASN'T BEEN ON AT ALL. INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY, IE: MILEAGE INDICATOR, TEMPERATURE DISPLAY, TRIP INDICATOR HASN'T WORKED ON OCCASION, RADIO AND/OR INTERIOR TEMPERATURE DISPLAY DOESN'T COME ON UNTIL YOU DRIVE FOR FIVE TO FORTY FIVE MINUTES. DOOR LOCKS HAVE ACTUATED EITHER UP OR DOWN WHILE DRIVING. REMOTE DOOR LOCKS EITHER DON'T WORK AT ALL OR ONE OR MORE DOES, ONE OR MORE DOESN'T WORK, WHEN MANUALLY USING A KEY SECURITY SYSTEM HAS ACTIVATED THUS SOUNDING THE HORN. MANY OF THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED WITH MY DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD BY THEM THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THERE ISN'T A FIX AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607213

Incident

Nov 3, 2009

Mileage

5,000 mi

MY 2009 BUICK LACROSSE CX AT 23,129 MILES HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKING FROM OFF TO ON, IT ALSO HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ICON ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO THE PPS MODULE WAS REPLACED, THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN APRIL 2014 WITH UNDER 34,000 MILES. AGAIN THE PPS MODULE WAS REPLACED. COUNTING THE PPS MODULE THAT CAME IN THE CAR WHEN IT WAS NEW THAT BURNED OUT, THE ONE THAT REPLACED THAT BURNED OUT , IT NOW HAS IT'S 3 RD. PPS MODULE. I BELIEVE IT IS CAUSED BY THE AFTER MARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS THAT WERE PUT ON AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE WERE RECALLS IN THE PAST FOR THAT VERY PROBLEM. I HAVE ASK GM TO BUY BACK THE SEAT COVERS BUT, THEY SEEM TO BE IGNORING ME. IT SEEMS NO ONE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604919

Incident

Oct 5, 2012

Mileage

23,129 mi