Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2008 Buick Lacrosse — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Buick Lacrosse year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model (naming may differ or it predates EPA records).
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: 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 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the headlamp driver module (HDM) may overheat and fail, causing the headlamps and daytime running lights to not illuminate.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14291.
Campaign 15V519000
Issue: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 14V355000
NHTSA frontal crash test
1 open NHTSA investigation into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2008 Buick LaCrosse 4-DR
The parts named most often across 250 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
1 crash
1 crash
4 fires
2 fires
2 crashes · 1 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
Air bag light comes on is also intermitt some times stays on and someimes on only for a minute or two
On three occasions, when driving at night, both headlights suddenly went out. The next day the headlights were working normally. The dealer's service department could not find anything wrong. Later, we found out there was a "Safety Recall" (#14291),but it expired one year before our car developed the problem. We have contacted the dealership and Buick, neither one will help us. They expect us to pay for the replacement of the defective part (Headlamp Driver Module).
My vehicle has been parked for the better of about two years due to head lamp failure and engine shutting off without warning at any particular time. Steps were made to fix the issue but the problem continues still to this day.
The contact owns a 2008 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the headlights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the headlamps had failed. The headlamps were replaced and the failure was remedied however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V519000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 41,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the airbag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Door locks somtimes would lock or unlock and other times not work at all. Made it a issue when parking or entering the car. I had to replace the lock mechanism in the doors. The car has 99135 miles on it but should not have a problem especally the back doors since they are not used very often.
THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 30196 MILES ON IT.THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. I NOTICED THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL BUICK LACROSSE.WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED ON THESE VEHICLES.
DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WITH EITHER THE FOB OR THE INTERIOR LOCK BUTTON ON EITHER DOORS. I'M READING ON LINE OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL WHERE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK!
THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS JUST GO OFF FOR NO REASON. WHEN DRIVING HOME ON NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF FOR NO REASON. THE NEST DAY, THEY WORKED. THEY CONTINUE TO WORK, BUT THE NIGHT THEY WENT OUT WAS VERY DISTURBING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON STATE HGWY, GETTING READY TO TURN TO THE RIGHT.
THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I DID LOOK UP ANY RECALLS, WHICH THERE WAS FOR THIS, BUT IT SHOWS THAT IT WAS FIXED. WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ISSUES FOR THE FIRST 9 MONTHS AND HAVE NOW REPLACED THE BULB SEVERAL TIMES. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS HAPPENING WHILE MY DAUGHTER IS DRIVING THIS AT NIGHT IN A RURAL AREA WITH A LOT OF DEER AND OTHER ANIMALS RUNNING INTO THE ROADS.
THE HDM FAILED LEAVING ME WITH ONLY HIGH BEAMS, HAVE BEE TOLD THEY ARE NOT UNDER RECALL. SHAMROCK SERVICE CENTER, SPENT 1 AND 1/2 HRS DIAGNOSING AND FOUND NO RECALL. MANY OTHER MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I AM RETIRED AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR. WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME. WHEN I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS TO GO HOME LAST WEEK, THERE WERE NO LIGHTS BUT HIGH BEAMS. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BULBS, SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND I AM WAITING FOR THE PART TO COME IN. I KNOW THIS WILL BE EXPENSIVE AS I THINK ITS AROUND $100.00 PER HR. IT WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHERE I DISCOVERED IT. HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE HIGH BEAMS.
ONCE IN A WHILE IT ACTS UP WHERE IT STATES THAT IT'S GOT LOW OIL PRESSURE EVEN THO IT'S GOT PLENTY OF OIL,ALSO IT HAS MISFIRED DURING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT'S LIKE THIS: I'M DRIVING. EVERYTHING IS FINE UNTIL ALL OF THE SUDDEN I NOTICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ALSO THE T/C LIGHT COMES ON AND IT ALSO STATES THE LOW OIL PRESSURE AND THE ACCELERATION PEDAL IT ACTS UP. FOR EXAMPLE, I'M GIVING GAS AND IT ISN'T ACCELERATING AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD BE AND IT TOTALLY FLUCTUATES. I'VE ALSO HAD THE CAR MISFIRE AND SHUT OFF DURING ONE OF THESE EPISODES AS WELL. THESE EPISODES OF WHAT I HAD JUST DESCRIBED COMES AND GOES AND ACTUALLY IT STAYED GONE FOR A GOOD WHILE NOW UNTIL JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO. THE GUY WHO SOLD ME THIS CAR TOLD ME THAT THERE'SA RECALL ON WHATEVER ISSUE I'M HAVING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL (I PLUGGED IN FIXD TOOL WHICH TELLS ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR AND GIVES ME TWO CODES THE CODES BEING: P: 2138 AND CODES P: 1125.
Showing 12 of 250 complaints.