Is the 2005 Buick LaCrosse a bad year?
315 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other LaCrosse years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2005 Buick LaCrosse are in line with other LaCrosse years. Exterior lighting and electrical system stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 LaCrosse owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 90,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 82 (26%) | 61k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 80 (25%) | 60k–131k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 34 (11%) | 54k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 19 (6%) | 38k–92k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 16 (5%) | 34k–112k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 51 (16%) | 24k–69k miles · mostly behind | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 34 (11%) | 5k–77k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 13 (4%) | 21k–82k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 16 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 90,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 315 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 3 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2005 Buick LaCrosse: 5
In the affected vehicles, the headlamp driver module (HDM) may overheat and fail, causing the headlamps and daytime running lights to not illuminate. Headlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's visibility to oncoming vehicles, both of which increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. 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.
A potential material or design defect could result in the steering knuckle breaking in the hub area. A broken steering knuckle could result in loss of steering control and a possible crash without warning.
Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction. If the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side may be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled.
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. A bent clip may come off, allowing the brake booster pushrod to separate from the brake pedal. Pushing on the pedal will not apply the brakes and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Buick: 167
Repair instructions Buick sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 Buick LaCrosse. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Neighbouring years
2006 LaCrosse: 300 complaints, keep it.
Every Buick LaCrosse year
2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All LaCrosse years side by side
Other Buick models: Buick Century · Buick Enclave · Buick Encore · Buick Encore GX · Buick Envision · Buick LeSabre · Buick Lucerne · Buick Park Avenue · Buick Rainier · Buick Regal · Buick Rendezvous · Buick Terraza · Buick Verano. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2005 Buick LaCrosse a bad year?
315 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other LaCrosse years. At 90,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Buick LaCrosse?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (82), electrical system (80), air bags (34), transmission and drivetrain (19), engine (16).
How many recalls does the 2005 Buick LaCrosse have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 15V-519), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-355), Steering (NHTSA 09E005000), Air bags (NHTSA 06V-417) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.