Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2005-BUICK-LACROSSE
2005 · Buick

Buick LaCrosse problems

1 safety recall. 313 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
7.0 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

lighting
73 reports · avg $250
moderate
electrical
67 reports · avg $850
severe
steering
51 reports · avg $700
severe
airbags
28 reports · avg $1,100
severe
brakes
24 reports · avg $450
moderate
body
13 reports · avg $1,500
moderate
engine
11 reports · avg $3,100
moderate
powertrain
10 reports · avg $2,500
moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2005 LaCrosse · lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE…
12/31/2015 · NHTSA ODI #10817160.0
2005 LaCrosse · lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE HEAD LAMP CONTROL MODULE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAMS WERE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO VIEW THE ROAD WHEN THE…
12/31/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10669372.0
2005 LaCrosse · steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN WOBBLING EXCESSIVELY AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES AND ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE…
12/31/2007 · NHTSA ODI #10213286.0
2005 LaCrosse · lighting Fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A WIRE WAS BURNING AND WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN…
12/29/2015 · NHTSA ODI #10816842.0

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 05V156000 20/04/2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CLIP THAT SECURES THE BRAKE PUSHROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM PIN COULD HAVE BEEN BENT WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED

PUSHING ON THE PEDAL WILL NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD BUSHING AND RETAINING CLIP AND, IF THE CLIP WAS MISSING, A NEW BRAKE PEDAL ARM ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.

Common questions

Is the 2005 Buick LaCrosse reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 313 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Buick LaCrosse is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2005 Buick LaCrosse?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is lighting, with 73 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The lighting is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Buick LaCrosse has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2005 Buick LaCrosse?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 313 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $250, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Buick. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
Get a free warranty quote →