CONSUMER FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR DOES NOT DISPLAY WHEN PASSENGER IS SITTING THE IN SEAT.*TA THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A LOCAL GARAGE MECHANIC, THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $500. *JB
2009 Buick LaCrosse airbags problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$1,100
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
CAR WAS TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. HAVE HAD FOUR DIAGNOSTICS PERFORMED AND PROBLEM NOT FOUND. ADVISED A COMPLETE TEAR DOWN OF PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE TO LOCATE ISSUE WHICH IS COSTING ME AN EXUBERANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FIXED ON A RECALL. *TR
2009 BUICK LACROSSE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AIR BAGS. CONSUMER STATES IT WOULD SHOW AIR BAGS OFF ABOUT ONCE A WEEK OR SO FOR A SHORT TIME AND KEEPS GETTING WORSE MORE OFTEN.*TGW
THE SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WORKS ERRATICALLY, AND GENERALLY DOES NOT ENABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. THIS OCCURS WITH A FULL SIZE ADULT IN THE SEAT. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO OCCUR REGARDLESS OF IDLING OR DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT GENERALLY REPORTS THROUGH INDICATORS THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF AND TH…
MY 2009 LACROSSE WILL INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAY THE AIR BAG INDICATOR. I NOTICED THIS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AROUND TOWN AND THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. IT WILL EITHER STAY ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN DISAPPEAR OR WILL JUST BE ON FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY STATED IT WAS A SENSOR MODULE AND WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1300 TO REPLACE. AS OF THIS DA…
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2009 Buick LaCrosse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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