Buick Lacrosse Electrical System Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 10, 2026 · 590 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 590 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Buick Lacrosse across 15 model years. The 2008 model year has the most (84). The words owners use most often: “low beam” (7% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Low beam: mentioned in 41 of 590 complaints (7%)
  • Door locks: mentioned in 30 of 590 complaints (5%)

How much does it cost to fix?

Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Buick Lacrosse at $1,350, and half of them between $590 and $2,100.

Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2017), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.

At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?

Based on 391 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles37 · 9%
10k–25k miles22 · 6%
25k–50k miles75 · 19%
50k–75k miles88 · 23%
75k–100k miles69 · 18%
100k–150k miles68 · 17%
150k+ miles32 · 8%

How serious are the reports?

Of 590 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 44 a fire, 6 an injury.

Buick Lacrosse electrical system complaints by model year

Peak: 2008, with 84 complaints
2005: 802005802006: 83832007: 752007752008: 84842009: 312009312010: 46462011: 322011322012: 62622013: 542013542014: 14142015: 9201592016: 332017: 112017112018: 552019: 120191

n = 590 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearElectrical System complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2019 Lacrosse114%56,000
2018 Lacrosse542%100,000
2017 Lacrosse1131%10,000
2016 Lacrosse36%99,000
2015 Lacrosse920%7,000
2014 Lacrosse1422%27,000
2013 Lacrosse5442%62,750
2012 Lacrosse6230%66,000
2011 Lacrosse3219%55,355
2010 Lacrosse4624%63,000
2009 Lacrosse3129%64,500
2008 Lacrosse8434%55,850
2007 Lacrosse7530%78,250
2006 Lacrosse8328%77,000
2005 Lacrosse8025%100,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2014, with 148 complaints
2005: 120052006: 32007: 320072008: 92010: 1620102011: 132012: 1120122013: 302014: 14820141482015: 1042016: 5120162017: 372018: 2120182019: 362020: 1720202021: 212022: 1620222023: 142024: 1720242025: 102026: 122026

n = 590 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (4)

Electrical system:ignitionJun 23, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V355000 · 3,141,731 vehicles

Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Electrical systemJun 12, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V317000 · 14,765 vehicles

Model years: 2014

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick LaCrosse vehicles manufactured April 30, 2013, to September 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a wiring splice in the driver's door may corrode and break, resulting in the absence of an audible chime to notify the driver if the door is opened while the key is in the ignition. Additionally, the Retained Accessory Power (RAP) module may stay active for ten minutes allowing the operation of the passenger windows, rear windows, and sunroof. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention," and 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

Risk: Without an audible indicator, the driver may not be aware that the driver's door is open while the key is in the ignition, increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway. If the passenger windows, rear windows, and sunroof can function when the vehicle is turned off and the driver is not in the vehicle, there is an increased risk of injury if an unsupervised occupant operates the power closures.

Fix: GM will notify owners and dealers will inspect the driver door window motor harness, and replace the electrical splice, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. General Motors number for this recall is 14235.

Electrical systemMay 6, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V173000 · 42,904 vehicles

Model years: 2012, 2013

Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.

Risk: If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.

Fix: GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.

Electrical system:software; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)Mar 15, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V097000 · 26,582 vehicles

Model years: 2013

Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012, through February 18, 2013 for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." A software problem may cause the transmission to inadvertently shift to Sport mode removing any transmission-related engine braking effect.

Risk: If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2013. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. Buick owners may call 1-866-694-6546.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

**Subject:** Formal Safety Defect Complaint: Premature Failure of Completed Recall Remedy (NHTSA Campaign 13V173000 / GM Recall 13136) Resulting in Sudden Loss of Power Steering **VEHICLE INFORMATION** * **Year/Make/Model:** 2012 Buick LaCrosse Hybrid (eAssist) * **VIN:** [XXX] * **Current…

Received Sep 17, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11765050

The volt meter on the dashboard keeps dropping below 14 volts and 13.5 volts. The car has been checked by Buick and my mechanic no issues found. Buick has no idea why it keeps doing it neither does my mechanic. The problem is if there is a voltage drop, the computer will shut down the engine…

Received Aug 19, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11757843

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Buick LaCrosse on March 3, 2024. The vehicle was purchased from the dealer. The odometer was reported at 118,000 during the sale. The vehicle was recently taken to an independent mechanic for service. The contact was provided with an auto report in which…

Received Aug 17, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11757506

Shows service stability track

Received Jul 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11753857

The contact owns a 2013 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced starting failures and was taken to Piedmont Tire & Auto, where the battery was replaced. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound, and felt like the…

Received Jul 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11750562
Buick Lacrosse
BUICK LACROSSE FOURTH GENERATION China. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Buick Lacrosses have electrical system problems?

No. NHTSA has 590 owner complaints about electrical system for the Buick Lacrosse. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the Buick Lacrosse electrical system?

Yes: 4 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Buick Lacrosse?

Owners report a typical cost of $1,350 (half paid between $590 and $2,100), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.

What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Buick Lacrosse?

The most frequent phrase is “low beam”, in 41 of 590 complaints, followed by “door locks” (30).

Other Buick Lacrosse problems

See all Buick Lacrosse problems.