AIR BAG INDICATOR ON WITH DTC B0077, B0078, OR B0092. UPDATED 6/4/10.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Buick LaCrosse airbags problems
severe 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 28 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Buick LaCrosse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 12 model years of Buick LaCrosse in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. UPDATED ON 12/13/07.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗AIRBAG READINESS LIGHT ON WITH DTC B0081 OR B0092 SET IN PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM (PPS) SDM.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a widespread pattern of passenger-side airbag malfunctions in the 2005 LaCrosse. The most common complaint is an intermittently illuminated airbag warning light, often triggered by bumps in the road, vehicle startup with an occupant already seated, or simply driving at normal speeds. The light frequently flashes on and off without a clear cause and sometimes disappears when the seat is tapped or adjusted.
A second major issue involves the occupant sensor failing to activate the airbag for lighter passengers—typically those under 90 pounds. Owners report the system refuses to arm when a lighter-weight person sits in the front right seat, even with the seatbelt on, leaving that occupant unprotected. The sensor also malfunctions when objects (purses, medical cushions) are placed on the seat, triggering false warnings.
Several owners documented repeated airbag module failures under the driver's seat, with replacements needed every 30,000–40,000 miles after the initial failure. One owner suspected wiring corrosion from seat track movement. Additionally, two owners reported complete deployment failure during actual side-impact collisions, resulting in serious injury and vehicle totaling.
Dealers largely could not diagnose or repair these issues. Manufacturer responses were limited—some vehicles fell outside NHTSA recall 06V417000, and GM offered warranty extensions or cost-sharing rather than identifying root causes. Some owners were told the problems were by design and unfixable.
Same Buick LaCrosse airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger airbag sensor deactivation at light weights
The occupant-detection sensor in the passenger seat fails to register occupants below a certain weight threshold, or registers them intermittently. Owners report the airbag disables when lighter-weight passengers sit in the front right seat, even with the seat belt on. The manufacturer attributed some cases to 'magnetic field' interference and could not provide a remedy.
When: Varies; some cases cited 53,000–89,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag light illuminates or flashes on/off with light-weight occupants (under ~90 lbs); Airbag remains disengaged despite passenger presence; Light behavior is intermittent and unpredictable
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection performed in multiple cases; no effective repair identified. One owner reported GM offered no assistance.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 06V417000 (Airbags) mentioned but some vehicles excluded from recall. Some VINs not eligible for recall coverage. Manufacturer stated inability to fix design issues; one case resulted in GM agreeing to repurchase the vehicle.
Airbag module repeated failure
The airbag module under the driver's seat fails repeatedly at relatively short intervals. One owner documented four module failures across 117,647 miles. The owner suspects wiring shorting on the seat track, which correlates with the red airbag indicator turning off when the seat is adjusted.
When: First failure ~40,000 miles; subsequent failures ~40,000–37,000 mile intervals thereafter
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated; Module fails repeatedly despite replacement; Red indicator light goes out within one minute of seat adjustment
Repairs/costs cited: Module replacement performed multiple times at owner expense ($900 per replacement after warranty expiration). GM contributed $500 toward one replacement. Owner suspects seat-track wiring short.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage for first failure; GM offered $500 cost-share on subsequent repairs. No investigation into root cause.
Airbag warning light intermittent illumination with road conditions
The airbag warning light illuminates intermittently when the vehicle is driven over bumps or rough road surfaces. Owners report the light flashes on and off during normal driving, sometimes multiple times per trip. The trigger is motion-related rather than occupancy-related.
When: Occurs from 75,000 miles onward; mileage varies
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light flashes on/off over bumps in the road; Light illuminates at speeds 25–65 mph during driving; Intermittent behavior regardless of seat occupancy
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis identified malfunctioning front passenger seat sensor in some cases. Repair estimates ranged to $2,000 in one case. Many vehicles not repaired due to diagnostic uncertainty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 06V417000 referenced; some vehicles excluded. One dealer offered no repair recommendation.
Occupant sensor fails to detect when vehicle is already running
The passenger airbag sensor does not activate the presence indicator light if a passenger enters the vehicle after the ignition is already started. The system works correctly only if the occupant is in the seat before engine start. This occurs intermittently.
When: Occurs after vehicle startup; mileage not specified in reports
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light does not illuminate when passenger boards running vehicle; Light works normally if passenger is seated before startup; Behavior is intermittent; sensor occasionally works when tested at dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attempted repair in the past; problem recurred. Recent dealer visit found sensor functional during test, so no repair performed.
Airbag deployment failure in collision
Two owners report airbag failure to deploy during actual side-impact collisions at highway speeds. One incident resulted in serious injury (neck injury, loss of consciousness) requiring medical attention. The other collision totaled the vehicle. In both cases, the passenger-side airbag did not deploy despite impact force.
When: Occurred at approximately 100,000 miles in one documented case; second case mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag system did not deploy during side-impact collision; Collision occurred at 45 mph and higher speeds; Impact was sufficient to total or severely damage the vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle was repaired; second information limited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failures.
Horn function loss after airbag work
After airbag replacement performed by the dealer, the horn on the right side of the steering wheel became inoperative. Dealer replaced the airbag twice and could not resolve the horn issue, suggesting potential wiring or connector damage during airbag service.
When: Occurred after multiple airbag replacements
Symptoms owners cite: Right-side horn non-functional; Problem persisted after two airbag replacements; Issue emerged post-service
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspected four times, replaced airbag twice, unable to correct.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered warranty extension for airbag and horn (insufficient from owner's perspective).
Airbag light illumination with sensor obstruction
The airbag warning light illuminates when objects (purse, cushion, or other items) are placed on the passenger seat, or when the seat condition changes. The sensor detects pressure from items but does not distinguish between an object and a person, triggering false warnings.
When: Occurs intermittently with seat use and object placement
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light illuminates when purse or cushion placed on passenger seat; Light flashes on/off intermittently; Tapping or smacking the seat bottom temporarily disables the light; Pressure-relief cushions (medical) cause sensor deactivation
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer advised not to place purse on seat. No repair performed in most cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners indicate replacement parts unavailable.
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick lacrosse. The contact stated that the front passenger side air bag light illuminated upon starting the vehicle with a passenger seated in the front seat. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that a mechanism within the front passenger seat needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer offered no…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick lacrosse. The contact stated that the passenger side presence system module failed causing the air bag warning light to illuminate. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure…
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Buick LaCrosse?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Buick LaCrosse?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 57,513 and 104,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 57,513; a quarter make it past 104,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Buick/LaCrosse.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.