← New search

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

Electrical System complaints

84 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2021
Electrical System

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.

NHTSA ODI #11428220

125,000 miles · Jan 21, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11389290

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…

Read full complaint

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

100,600 miles · Nov 19, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR LAST WEEK AND I NOTICED WHEN I HIT THE LOCK ON THE FOB, MY ALARM WOULD SOUND, BUT MY DOOR LOOKS WOULDN'T CLOSE. SO I TRIED IT IN MY CAR AS WELL WITH THE LOCKS ON THE DOOR AND NOTHING. THE UNLOCK WORKS PERFECT BY THE WAY (FOB & DOOR LOCKS). I MANUALLY LOCK MY DOORS AT NIGHT AND IN THE MORNING, THE LOCK…

Read full complaint

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR LAST WEEK AND I NOTICED WHEN I HIT THE LOCK ON THE FOB, MY ALARM WOULD SOUND, BUT MY DOOR LOOKS WOULDN'T CLOSE. SO I TRIED IT IN MY CAR AS WELL WITH THE LOCKS ON THE DOOR AND NOTHING. THE UNLOCK WORKS PERFECT BY THE WAY (FOB & DOOR LOCKS). I MANUALLY LOCK MY DOORS AT NIGHT AND IN THE MORNING, THE LOCKS WILL WORK A FEW TIMES, AND THEN STOP AGAIN. ALSO THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK WHEN YOU TAKE THE CARE OUT OF PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11281227

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…

Read full complaint

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

50,912 miles · Aug 18, 2019
Electrical System

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY EVEN WHEN USING THE INTERIOR SWITCHES. MOST OF THE TIME, DOORS MUST BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED MANUALLY ! OUR 2008 BUICK LACROSSE CXL HAS LESS THAN 51,000 MILES AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I'VE READ THAT PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED/ UNABLE TO GET OUT…

Read full complaint

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY EVEN WHEN USING THE INTERIOR SWITCHES. MOST OF THE TIME, DOORS MUST BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED MANUALLY ! OUR 2008 BUICK LACROSSE CXL HAS LESS THAN 51,000 MILES AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I'VE READ THAT PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED/ UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR LACROSSE WHEN TRIP WAS DONE.

NHTSA ODI #11244775

50,000 miles · Sep 7, 2018
Electrical System

CAR IS STATIONARY. AT APPROXIMATELY 50000 MI. (AND 6 YRS OF AGE) ALL FOUR DOOR LOCKS STARTED RANDOMLY AND INTERMITTENTLY STICKING. SYMPTOM IS THAT, ONCE INSIDE THE CAR AND DOORS ARE LOCKED, DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND HANDLES DO DO NOT OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. SOLUTION WAS TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND ATTEMPT TO OPEN FROM …

Read full complaint

CAR IS STATIONARY. AT APPROXIMATELY 50000 MI. (AND 6 YRS OF AGE) ALL FOUR DOOR LOCKS STARTED RANDOMLY AND INTERMITTENTLY STICKING. SYMPTOM IS THAT, ONCE INSIDE THE CAR AND DOORS ARE LOCKED, DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND HANDLES DO DO NOT OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. SOLUTION WAS TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND ATTEMPT TO OPEN FROM OUTSIDE WHICH SOMETIMES WORKED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR PASSENGERS ARE OTHERWISE IN DISTRESS, CANNOT EXIT THE CAR. HAVE SEEN REPEATED REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11128045

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2018
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

I SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY SENIOR CITIZEN MOTHER WHO IS 75 YEARS OLD. MY MOM HAD A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE & GOT LOCKED INSIDE OF HER BUICK CAR FOR OVER 1/2 HOUR & COULD NOT UNLOCK ANY OF 4 CAR DOORS FROM INSIDE TO ESCAPE OUT OF HER CAR. PLUS, KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION & CAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. IT WAS WINTER SEASON …

Read full complaint

I SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY SENIOR CITIZEN MOTHER WHO IS 75 YEARS OLD. MY MOM HAD A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE & GOT LOCKED INSIDE OF HER BUICK CAR FOR OVER 1/2 HOUR & COULD NOT UNLOCK ANY OF 4 CAR DOORS FROM INSIDE TO ESCAPE OUT OF HER CAR. PLUS, KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION & CAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. IT WAS WINTER SEASON !! CAR WAS STATIONERY. ALL CAR WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP SO MY MOM COULD NOT GET ANY HEAT NOR FRESH AIR. MY MOM COULD HAVE FROZE TO DEATH INSIDE OF HER CAR !! MORE SCARY -- WE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN NOR HOW LONG THE NEXT LOCKOUT WILL LAST !! CLEARLY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE !! ESPECIALLY FOR A SENIOR CITIZEN PERSON. WE ARE AMAZED THAT BUICK DID NOT YET ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. I FOUND BUICK FORUMS ON THE INTERNET WHERE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINED OF SAME RELATED PROBLEMS !! I EMAILED ALL 7 WEBSITES TO BCR. SOME PEOPLE CANNOT EVEN UNLOCK DRIVER CAR DOOR TO INTO GET INTO DRIVER'S SEAT !! THEY HAVE TO ENTER THEIR CARS THRU PASSENGER & CRAWL OVER TO PASSENGER CAR SEAT OR ENTER FROM BACKSEAT OF THE CAR !! OBVIOUSLY BUICK & GM NEVER DID ANYTHING YET ABOUT THIS SCARY & ANNOYING PROBLEM !! ON MARCH 16 2018 I OPENED A NEW CASE #8-4000469674 WITH BUICK CUSTOMER RELATIONS (BCR). THEY FLAGGED THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE !! BCR SAID BUICK WILL ONLY WORK WITH A BUICK CAR DEALER ON THIS ISSUE IF MY MOM BRINGS HER CAR TO A BUICK CAR DEALER. SO WE MADE AN APPT FOR THIS MONDAY, APRIL 16 8:30AM AT FOX VALLEY BUICK (FVB) IN ST. CHARLES, IL TO GET HER BUICK CAR DIAGNOSED !! BCR WILL WORK WITH FVB & CEM (CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER). CLEARLY -- THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE !! IN HOT HEAT OR WINTER COLD -- A PERSON CAN LITERALLY SUFFOCATE OR FREEZE BEING A TRAPPED PRISONER INSIDE OF THEIR CAR !!! 2 BCR REPS FAILED TO CALL ME BACK OVER 4 DAYS. ONE BCR REP WAS SUPERVISOR. BUT I WAS DILIGENT & I FOLLOWED UP WITH BCR !!

NHTSA ODI #11085106

99,545 miles · Oct 30, 2017
Electrical System

I HAD DRIVEN TO THE STORE, WHEN I TRIED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED IN A WAY THAT PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM OPENING. I TRIED USING THE INNER AND OUTER HANDLES, I ALSO TRIED USING THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH AND THE MANUAL LOCK NOB. I HAD TO EXIT T…

Read full complaint

I HAD DRIVEN TO THE STORE, WHEN I TRIED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED IN A WAY THAT PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM OPENING. I TRIED USING THE INNER AND OUTER HANDLES, I ALSO TRIED USING THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH AND THE MANUAL LOCK NOB. I HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CRAWLING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE TO USE THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR THE NEXT DAY BY RAPIDLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOOR USING THE MANUAL LOCK NOB A GOOD 30 TIMES. THE CAR IS A FOUR DOOR AND NONE OF THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS WORK. THE CAR ALSO HAS 99500 MILES. THE FACT THAT ALL FOUR LOCKS HAVE FAILED IS ONE THING, IT'S THE FACT THAT THEY CAN LEAVE YOU UNABLE TO USE YOUR DOOR IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THAT IS THE MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. FIXING JUST THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS COSTING ME $525.00 AT A LOCAL BUICK DEALERSHIP. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ACROSS ALL GM W-BODY CARS FROM ABOUT 2006 TO 2009.

NHTSA ODI #11041065

89,900 miles · Oct 17, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE HEADLAMPS WERE OPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE HEADLAMPS WERE OPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AT KENDALL CHEVROLET OF EUGENE (846 GOODPASTURE ISLAND RD, EUGENE, OR 97401(855) 982-8922). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,900.

NHTSA ODI #11034066

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.