2005 Buick Lacrosse: clunking or noise when steering

6 of the 315 complaints about the 2005 Buick Lacrosse describe clunking or noise when steering.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 2%
typical mileage: 35,500
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 10 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Clunking or noise when steering by model year

2012
1
2008
1
2007
3
2006
2
2005
6

What owners say

Filed Nov 6, 2015 · Steering · 50,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 buick lacrosse. While backing out of the driveway and turning the steering wheel, there was an abnormal noise that came from the steering column without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the knuckle at the bottom of the steering column was not equipped with a grease fitting and was the cause of the abnormal noise. The entire steering column would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Aug 27, 2014 · Steering · 64,000 miles · AK

Pulled into parking lot and lost power steering. Lots of clunking and grinding just prior. Mechanic says power steering hoses, rack and pinion and tie rods. Yet another problem with this vehicle. Gm was aware enough of the problem that they put a supervisor on the line but said that it is out of warranty now, so it's not their problem. Going to try to work with local guys to get out of it. Not sinking another penny into this car. If this had happened on the highway, I'd be dead.

Filed Dec 28, 2010 · Steering · 35,500 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 buick lacrosse. The contact was driving approximately 15 MPH when the steering wheel exhibited an unusual clicking noise. In addition, when applying the brakes there was a slight jerk felt in the steering wheel and brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that he was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to a different dealer for a second opinion where the technician stated that the steering column would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 35,500.

Filed Aug 22, 2010 · Steering · 34,020 miles · MI

I have a noisy steering column, took it to the dealer this is what I was told: lube lower steering shaft rubber seal, slight improvement. Will have to disassemble steering column to eliminate all noises." there was no improvement and the noise seems to be getting worse. Of course that dealer is out of business due to gm elimination of dealerships. Not sure what my next recourse should be, I just hope it is safe to drive. Have about 40,000 miles on a 2005 buick lacrosse cxs.

Filed Oct 1, 2009 · Steering, Transmission · TX

2005 buick lacrosse was bought used with slightly over 44,000 miles back in may of 2008 and was taken to the dealership for acceleration and transmission shifting issues several times since purchase. Car would not accelerate, losing power while going up hills, bogging down while slightly accelerating to pass, and the transmission would shimmy between 1st and 2nd gears, and clunk when coming to a stop. Naturally, the dealership played the guessing game replacing the catalytic converter, the torque converter and sensor, and even re-programmed the computer, and could no longer duplicate any problems once they had run out of their options two months ago the car developed a clicking noise while turning the steering wheel either direction, the dealer was able to determine within an hour that it was the intermediate steering shaft and proposed lubrication to resolve the issue for a cost of over $300. Sounds like they were already aware of this popular issue.

Filed Feb 24, 2009 · Steering · 27,000 miles · FL

I own a 2005 buick lacrosse with 27,000 miles. Another owner with same car warned me to watch out for steering problems. I paid little attention and within one month my car's steering was making a grinding noise when turning in either direction. I took my car to a local repair shop and they quickly diagnosed the problem as a defect in the intermediate shaft in the steering column. They stated there was a tsa bulletin on this issue with the buick lacrosse. About two weeks later while casually discussing this with a neighbor she described the same problem in her buick lacrosse repaired by local buick dealer. From my perspective, hearing of this problem from three sources in one month I believe the problem is pervasive and has yet to result in a tragedy because the owners took preventive measures. I could find nothing about this intermediate shaft defect in buicks 2005 or newer in my research, no accident reports nor recalls. There is however a danger here that is not being disclosed and is quite expensive to repair.