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2008 Buick Lacrosse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Buick Lacrosse do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

200 reports with mileage · 50 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

77 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2024
Air Bags

Air bag light comes on is also intermitt some times stays on and someimes on only for a minute or two

NHTSA ODI #11617267

50,000 miles · Oct 26, 2021
Air Bags

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.

NHTSA ODI #11438251

30,196 miles · Apr 1, 2021
Air Bags

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.

NHTSA ODI #11405955

150,000 miles · Aug 19, 2020
Air Bags

RED AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. MANY OWNERS OF THESE CARS HAVE COMPLAINED. IT IS A POOR DESIGN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, THERE IS NO AIR BAGS THAT WORK. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE WIRING AND IN THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM WHICH COSTS NEARLY 1K FOR A NEW SEAT BLADDER WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT FIX T…

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RED AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. MANY OWNERS OF THESE CARS HAVE COMPLAINED. IT IS A POOR DESIGN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, THERE IS NO AIR BAGS THAT WORK. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE WIRING AND IN THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM WHICH COSTS NEARLY 1K FOR A NEW SEAT BLADDER WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MANY OWNERS OF THESE MODELS ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN THESE VEHICLES. WHY HASN'T GM BEEN ORDERED TO REPAIR ALL OF THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE SYSTEMS? NEVER HAD AN AIR BAG PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE. LIGHT IS ON STEADY NOW AND ALL AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED DUE TO THIS ONE PROBLEM. NOT A GREAT DESIGN AND AS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT SHOULD BE A MANDATORY REPAIR BY GM. NONE OF MY OTHER BRANDS-FORD, NISSAN, OR HONDAS HAVE EVER HAD AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. THIS IS ANOTHER IGNITION KEY DESIGN TYPE LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ORDERED? OVER 70 COMPLAINTS RIGHT HERE FOR SAME ISSUES. WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE BEFORE DEATHS OCCUR DUE TO NON DEPLOYMENT?

NHTSA ODI #11350184

78,000 miles · Apr 19, 2020
Air BagsStructureSuspensionCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT ROUGHLY 30 MILES AN HOUR AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #11321576

61,000 miles · Jan 5, 2020
Air BagsEnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND I'VE HAD CLOSE CALLS. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SIDE STREET WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #11297251

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY, BUT MAINLY DURING HOT SUMMER DAYS AND HAS CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MARCH OF 2019. THE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN WE ARE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DOING RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER CONSUMERS VEHICLES. I HAD READ IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL IS…

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THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY, BUT MAINLY DURING HOT SUMMER DAYS AND HAS CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MARCH OF 2019. THE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN WE ARE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DOING RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER CONSUMERS VEHICLES. I HAD READ IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND IN MY OPINION THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. ANOTHER ISSUE WE HAVE THAT I ALSO SEEN WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH LACROSSE OWNERS, IS THE POWER LOCKS. NONE OF MY LOCK WORK PROPERLY, ALL OF THEM HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. TODAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019, WE NOTICED THAT WHEN I TRIED GETTING OUT OF THE CAR THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. DOOR WAS UNLOCKED AND HAD BEEN UNLOCKED. MY BOYFRIEND TRIED OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED TO LOCK IT AND UNLOCK IT AGAIN, I TRIED PUSHING THE DOOR REALLY HARD TO SEE IF IT WOULD POP OPEN AND NO LUCK. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A LOT MORE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AS I'VE HAD THIS ISSUES AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI #11288250

82,000 miles · Oct 23, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemUnknown Or Other

FIRST ISSUE CAR WILL SHUT OFF DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY DOING 60 70 MILES AN HOUR IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF AND I HAVE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND WAIT AND WAIT TILL IT STARTS AGAIN VERY DANGEROUS. NEXT ISSUE IS THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF I'M ASSUMING DO I DO TO A PRESSURE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH I HAVE A DAUGHTER TH…

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FIRST ISSUE CAR WILL SHUT OFF DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY DOING 60 70 MILES AN HOUR IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF AND I HAVE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND WAIT AND WAIT TILL IT STARTS AGAIN VERY DANGEROUS. NEXT ISSUE IS THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF I'M ASSUMING DO I DO TO A PRESSURE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAG IS WORKING OR NOT. NEXT PROBLEM ARE THE DOOR LOCKS THEY LOCK THEY DON'T LOCK THE LEFT REAR DOES NOT WORK I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL IT UP AND PUSH IT DOWN IF I WANT IT LOCKED THE KEY FOB WARNING IS ALWAYS ON MY DASH SAYING KEY FOB BATTERY IS LOW I REPLACED IT I REPLACE THE KEY FOB ITSELF IT JUST WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. NEXT PROBLEM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON GOES OFF COMES ON GOES OFF AND THEREFORE I CANNOT USE MY REMOTE START IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON IT HAS BEEN CHECKED THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR NOTHING SHOWS UP IF YOU CHECK THE GAUGES I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR MY REMOTE START CANNOT USE IT AND I'M IN MINNESOTA. I NEED MY CAR FIXED IT'S RELIABLE IT'S A GOOD CAR IT'S WHAT I DRIVE IT'S MY CAR I HAVE A DAUGHTER'S LIFE AT STAKE IN MY CAR I EXPECT IT TO BE TRUSTED IN THE CAR THAT I BOUGHT AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE SITE REGARDING THE SAME ISSUES THAT MY CAR IS HAVING I AM HOPING LITERALLY HOPING THAT YOUR COMPANY IS WILLING TO FIX THESE ISSUES IN MY CAR AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING IN LINE CUZ THIS IS RIDICULOUS

NHTSA ODI #11270382

84,741 miles · Jul 31, 2018
Air Bags

I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD TOGGLE BETWEEN ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE BUICK DEALER DIAGNOSTIC AND SCAN TEST REVEALED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED. COST OF REPAIR IS $2,000.00 WITH NO SAFETY WARRANTY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO OFFSET THE COST. NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE TO PRESSURE SENSOR OR PASSEN…

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I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD TOGGLE BETWEEN ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE BUICK DEALER DIAGNOSTIC AND SCAN TEST REVEALED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED. COST OF REPAIR IS $2,000.00 WITH NO SAFETY WARRANTY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO OFFSET THE COST. NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE TO PRESSURE SENSOR OR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CUSHION CONTAINING THE BLADDER AND PRESSURE SENSOR IN THE YEARS OF OWNING THIS CAR TO WARRANT FAILURE OF PRESSURE SENSOR. DUE TO ABSENCE OF REASON FOR THE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE PRESSURE SENSOR, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL FAULTY SAFETY SYSTEMS ON MY VEHICLE. A FAILURE PRESSURE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SIDE COULD MEAN THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY EVEN WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER SITTING THERE. THEREFORE, IT IS A SAFETY RISK AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT SINCE IT HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED DURING OWNERSHIP I AM LED TO SUSPECT THAT IT IS A FAULTY PRESSURE SENSOR.

NHTSA ODI #11114750

41,012 miles · Apr 7, 2018
Air Bags

PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY MAT/MODULE IN RIGHT FRONT SET CUSHION. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. WHEN PASSENGER IS IN RIGHT FRONT SEAT AIR MAG MESSAGE ON. MALFUNCTION. VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THAT'S WHAT THE TECH SAID AT THE DEALERSHIP

NHTSA ODI #11083803

Official recalls

2

15V519000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Aug 14, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

14V355000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jun 23, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights

Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.