2006 Buick LaCrosse Problems, Recalls & Reliability
383 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Buick LaCrosse, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 85,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2006 Buick LaCrosse sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2015–2017.
Avoid
Where 2006 sits among all LaCrosse years
What owners report
“The headlamps on the vehicle began to dim occasionally when i would come to a complete stop then when my vehicle hit 140000 miles the front headlights stopped working even after i changed the bulbs. Now only my high beams work, this is not safe.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 LaCrosse
“Air bag light comes on at different times. Was worked on by dealership for probably a year in ? 2013 and 2014.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 LaCrosse
“The steering is tight, hard to turn the front wheels. It makes a whining & grinding noise when turning. It sounds like it's rubbing against something in the steering column. I've had it to 3 mech's, plus i called buick. They all said they didn't know what the problem was. It seems this is a problem…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 LaCrosse
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 278 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 78,123 miles. Half of those reports fall between 56,000 and 113,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2006-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL, 2006-2008 Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7x…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HDM, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Pontiac customer service at…
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.…
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.…
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL…
Fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
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…
Fix: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
713 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2006 Buick LaCrosse. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2006 LaCrosse TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Buick LaCrosse reliable?
The 2006 Buick LaCrosse drew 383 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).
What are the most common 2006 Buick LaCrosse problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Buick LaCrosse are electrical (241 complaints), airbags (38), and steering (26).
At what mileage do 2006 Buick LaCrosse problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Buick LaCrosse problems around 78,123 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 56,000 and 113,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Buick LaCrosse have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Buick LaCrosse. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.