2009 Buick LaCrosse Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Buick LaCrosse carries a complaint index of 50 and ranks 8th worst out of 15 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Electrical system problems dominate, with 70 complaints (66% share) and 3 reported fires, plus 2 recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #8 of 15 LaCrosse years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 106
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Electrical System
Top 2009 Buick LaCrosse problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System70 (66%)
- Airbags27 (25%)
- Engine12 (11%)
- Brakes6 (6%)
- Fuel System5 (5%)
- Structure & Body5 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (3%)
- Other2 (2%)
- HVAC1 (1%)
- Steering1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report fuse block fires with smoke and burning odor coming from the dashboard or engine bay wiring.
- Airbag warning lights turn on and off intermittently, sometimes worsening over time, and in one case airbags failed to deploy in a crash.
- Electrical faults trigger multiple dashboard warning lights at once, including ABS, seat belt, and tire pressure indicators.
- Headlights fail intermittently without warning during driving.
- A brake-related complaint describes ABS and stability lights coming on along with loss of power steering and braking while the car was still moving.
- Engine surges to high RPM unexpectedly at low speed, making the vehicle difficult to stop even with heavy brake pressure.
2009 Buick LaCrosse recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V519000Aug 14, 2015Electrical System429,170 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 14V355000Jun 23, 2014Electrical System3,141,731 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
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.
Risk: 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.
2009 compared with other LaCrosse years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Buick LaCrosse reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 106 complaints for the 2009 LaCrosse, a complaint index of 50, and a Caution verdict, ranking 8th worst among 15 model years for this model.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2009 Buick LaCrosse?
- The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 70 of 106 complaints (66% share), including 3 reported fires, at a median mileage of 60,000.
- Does the 2009 Buick LaCrosse have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2009 LaCrosse, both tied to the Electrical System, including a headlamp module replacement and a key-ring/ignition fix affecting airbag operation.
- How does the 2009 LaCrosse compare to other LaCrosse years?
- With a complaint index of 50, the 2009 model sits in the middle of the pack; 2006 (index 100), 2008 (86), 2010 (93), and 2011 (79) rank worse, while 2013 through 2019 all score lower and rate Good or Best.