2009 Buick Lacrosse Owner Complaints

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

My headlamps have been going out sporadically and until recently I was able to

NHTSA ID

11558096

Incident

Nov 27, 2023

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

REDUCED POWER/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY AND REDUCED CAR POWER IMMEDIATELY. THIS MADE FOR A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE PASSING A TRUCK AND ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR DROPPED SPEED VERY QUICKLY MAKING FOR A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES WITH NO WARNING UNTIL IT HAPPENS. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR GM VEHICLES ESPECIALLY THE 2009 BUICK LACROSS MODELS. IT'S A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP.

NHTSA ID

11258915

Incident

Sep 29, 2019

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE TRAC SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 15 TO 20 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STARTED AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

11194921

Incident

Apr 8, 2019

Mileage

99,000 mi

WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD GOT TO MY DESTINATION PARKED IT AND WHEN I CAME OUT IT WOULD NOT START FOUND A BURNT FUEL PUMP RELAY CHANGED IT AND DROVE IT HOME. 20 MIN LATER I DROVE IT AGAIN AND MADE IT 2 MILES SAME THING HAPPENED TO RELAY ONLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT.

NHTSA ID

11161487

Incident

Dec 14, 2018

Mileage

134,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL.. ALL OF MY WARNING DASH LIGHTS ARE ON AT TIMES OR THE WHOLE DASH, RADIO AND EVERYTHING GO OUT THEN COMES BACK, THE IGNITION HAS BEEN PAUSING BEFORE IT TURNS OVER, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR RATTLES, ABS, T/C AND AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS ON.. I HAVE REPLACED 1000.00S OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING CHANGES. I HAVE REPLACED THE WHEEL HUBS, IGNITION MODULE, THE 700.00 PART FOR THE ECBM, NOTHING CHANGES, I BELIEVE ITS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN TO FIND. IT DOESNT MATTER IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION OR WHERE I AM DRIVING. I NEED HELP WITH MY CAR, PLEASE. I DONT HAVE PICTURES , CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME

NHTSA ID

11152270

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE THROTTLE BEGAN TO FAIL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,648.

NHTSA ID

11071765

Incident

Jan 25, 2018

Mileage

92,648 mi

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

AT 80XXX MILES THE DRIVERS FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME INOPERATIVE. AT 90XXX MILES THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME INOPERATIVE. AT 96XXX MILES THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BECAME INOPERATIVE. EACH RUNS $250-300 TO REPAIR. NOT REPAIRING LEAVES THE DOOR UNLOCKED (WHILE DRIVING) OR UNLOCKED (WHILE PARKED AND VEHICLE BECOMES ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE) OR THE DOOR REMAINS LOCKED WHEN TRYING TO EXIT OR ENTER. IN AN EMERGENCY, THIS MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE LACROSSE.

NHTSA ID

11002722

Incident

Jun 29, 2017

Mileage

80,000 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

ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF VEHICLE WITH UNDER 120,000 MILES AND HAVE A "REDUCED POWER / ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR" PROBLEM AS RECALLED BY GM FOR SOME MAKE AND MODELS AS SAME, BUT NOT MINE AS IT DID NOT MANUFACTURED AT SAME PLANT AS OTHERS (AS I WAS TOLD)? I'M FINDING IT COINCIDENTAL THAT I WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID

10937879

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

100,000 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

WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT VERY HIGH RPMS AND JUMPED THE CURB HITTING A TREE, EXTREME PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE.. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 DAYS THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED..

NHTSA ID

10899007

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

WHILE ENTERING INTERSTATE OFF RAMP I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A VERY HIGH SPEED. WITH EXTREME BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WAS NOT ABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS. I HAD TO CHANGE 3 LANES TO AVOID COLLIONS WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT.

NHTSA ID

10898985

Incident

Aug 14, 2016

Mileage

55,012 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 09/28/16*LJ UPDATED 03/14/17*JB

NHTSA ID

10889202

Incident

Jul 28, 2016

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. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 08/17/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10881809

Incident

Jun 30, 2016

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 THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 07/13/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LETTERING/DECALS HAD WORN OFF THE CONTROL PANEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONTROL HEAD. THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED AGAIN. UPDATED 09/22/16. *JB

NHTSA ID

10870962

Incident

May 10, 2016

Mileage

60,000 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10863401

Incident

Jan 23, 2015

Mileage

52,000 mi