YearToAvoid

2009 Buick LaCrosse Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#8 most-complained of 15 LaCrosse years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Buick LaCrosse has 106 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 50 out of 100 — #8 highest of 15 LaCrosse model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is electrical system (70 complaints, 66% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes, 4 fires, and 2 injuries.

Complaints
106
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 4
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2009 Buick LaCrosse problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System70 (66%)
  2. Airbags27 (25%)
  3. Engine12 (11%)
  4. Brakes6 (6%)
  5. Fuel System5 (5%)
  6. Structure & Body5 (5%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain3 (3%)
  8. Other2 (2%)
  9. HVAC1 (1%)
  10. Steering1 (1%)
2009 Buick LaCrosse complaints: complaints filed per month11Jun 2009Sep 2013Oct 2014May 2015Nov 2015Jun 2016Jul 2017Dec 2022
132 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2009 to Jun 2024; peak Nov 2015 (11).

2009 Buick LaCrosse recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Caution642503—
2008Avoid862502—
2009Caution501062—
2010Avoid931892—
2011Avoid79169420

All Buick LaCrosse years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Buick LaCrosse a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Buick LaCrosse ranks #8 of 15 among LaCrosse model years (Complaint Index 50/100, verdict: Caution). It has 106 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Buick LaCrosse?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (70 complaints), airbags (27 complaints), and engine (12 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 55,006 miles.
Does the 2009 Buick LaCrosse have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2009 Buick LaCrosse, most recently reported 2015, covering electrical system.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.