About one year ago, I received a recall notice regarding the exterior light relay. Actually, this was an intent to recall since I'm still waiting for the actual recall. Had the relay replaced two week before the initial notice. Went to dealer, they said they couldn't do anything until I received an official notice to bring the car in. "still waiting. Replaced the unit a second time. It…
2007 Buick LaCrosse lighting problems
moderate 94 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
94
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
1crash
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 94 lighting complaints filed for the 2007 Buick LaCrosse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Lighting accounts for 38% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 94 lighting 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2007 Buick LaCrosse has a documented headlight failure problem affecting low beams, with two separate recalls issued (14V755000 and 15V519000). Owners report intermittent or complete low beam failures requiring repeated repairs, and at least one case of a melting relay and electrical fire; parts and permanent fixes remained unavailable for years after recall issuance.
Owners report low beam headlights shutting off unexpectedly while driving at speeds ranging from 10 to 70 mph, with high beams remaining functional. Failures are intermittent or permanent and recur despite bulb and module replacements—some owners replaced the relay multiple times in vain. Dealers and GM issued recalls (campaigns 14V755000 and 15V519000), but permanent repair parts were unavailable for months or years after the recall notice. One owner waited over a year for parts, another over five months with no response to a reimbursement claim. Several owners report attempting repairs themselves or through independent shops, with temporary success lasting days to weeks.
A serious electrical hazard emerged in at least one case: the headlight relay melted in the fuse box, creating smoke and a burning odor, and caused a fuse box fire during a jump-start attempt. One owner replaced the relay three times and added a battery shut-off switch—all failed within 24 hours. Another owner's headlight bulb exploded on startup. Dealers often denied the recall existed or claimed no permanent fix was available, leaving owners unable to pass inspection or drive safely at night. The problem persists across multiple years and mileage ranges, from 16,000 to 203,000 miles.
Same Buick LaCrosse lighting reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Low beam headlights fail intermittently or completely
Low beam headlights shut off without warning while driving at various speeds (ranging from 10 to 70 mph). Failures are intermittent or complete and unresponsive to switch adjustment. High beams typically remain functional. Multiple owners report the failure recurring repeatedly—some every 90 days, others continuously over months or years.
When: Mileage varies from 16,000 to 203,000; failures reported from 2013 through 2015
Symptoms owners cite: Low beams shut off randomly while driving; Low beams fail to illuminate when activated; Intermittent dimming or flickering of low beams; High beams unaffected and usable as workaround; Failure recurs after bulb or module replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Bulb replacement ineffective; headlight module/relay replaced multiple times without permanent fix. One owner replaced the headlight relay three times; another replaced a dim light sensor. Temporary remedies (module replacement) fail within days or weeks. One owner reports independent mechanic replaced part in 5 days; another cites fuse box replacement as necessary repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V755000 and 15V519000 (Exterior Lighting). Recall issued but permanent repair parts unavailable for extended periods (some owners waited months to years). Dealers offered no timeline for part availability. Some dealers denied recall existed or stated no permanent fix available. One owner received reimbursement claim denial until official authorization issued. One owner received temporary module replacement as interim remedy.
Headlight relay overheats, melts, and causes electrical fire
Headlight relay in the fuse box overheats and melts, causing smoking, burning odor, and in one documented case a fuse box fire. The failure destroys the relay and damages the fuse box, requiring replacement of the fuse box assembly. Melting occurs while vehicle is parked or shortly after a jump-start attempt.
When: Reported in April and May; one case at 16,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Relay becomes hot to the touch; Relay visibly melts or deforms; Smoke and burning odor from fuse box; Fuse box catches fire during jump-start attempt
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse box replaced after fire damage. Relay replaced multiple times; one owner replaced it three times plus added a battery shut-off switch, all failed within 24 hours. Owner noted melted relay evident on visual inspection.
Both headlights and tail lights fail simultaneously
Complete exterior lighting failure affecting both low beam headlights and tail lights at the same time. Failure occurs without warning while driving.
When: At 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights and tail lights inoperable simultaneously; Failure recurs within 24 hours after temporary dealer repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed temporary remedy; failure recurred within 24 hours. Permanent repair not detailed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V755000. Recall parts unavailable.
Headlight explosion
Passenger side low beam headlight exploded when vehicle was started, causing damage to the fixture.
When: At 108,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight bulb explodes upon startup
Repairs/costs cited: Headlight replaced by dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V755000. Recall parts unavailable and no solution determined by manufacturer at time of report.
Body control module failure affecting headlights
Faulty body control module causes low beam headlight failure. One independent mechanic diagnosed this as the root cause.
When: At 45,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Low beam headlights suddenly inoperable; High beams functional
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnostic performed by independent mechanic; vehicle not repaired per narrative.
Synthesized from 94 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
I received a recall notice in january 2015 that was discovered november 2014 according to gm recall info. It is gm safety recall 14291. I checked today, dec 21' 2015, and gm indicated there is no remedy yet. This seems like an excessive period of time. Maybe NHTSA should investigate
Low beam headlights can go out at any time while driving. Started happening about 7/2013. Would only drive during day/ had module replaced a year ago when recall notice came out and had lights for a about 6 months with no problem. Was driving going around a corner a couple of months ago, lights went out and I went into ditch causing a bad fender dent and breaking my windshield. Lights can come…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Buick lacrosse. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, both headlights failed without warning. The contact had to engage the high beam headlights in order to view the road. The contact stated that the high beam headlights had to be engaged each time the vehicle was driven at night. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number:…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Buick lacrosse. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the exterior head lights failed to illuminate. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Buick lacrosse. While driving approximately 45 MPH with the headlights activated, suddenly the headlights became inoperable. The contact was able to maneuver to the side of the road where the high beam headlights were engaged which allowed the contact to resume driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated the failure was related to the faulty…
My exterior lights went out twice last night, while driving down the interstate (approximately 70 MPH). I was able to put my flashers on and get off each time. After about 5 minutes they would come back on. I am not sure what caused the issue, but it is very concerning. I did a google search and apparently this is a common problem with the Buick lacrosse. But I can't seem to find any kind of…
Had lighting trouble with your 2007 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 lighting problem on the 2007 Buick LaCrosse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 94 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 65 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 55,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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/2007/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.