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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.

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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

Engine complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR GOES REAL SLOW, THEN IT WONT MOVE. DOORS WONT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH REMOTE AND THEY WONT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK/UNLOCK IN PARK OR WHEN YOU START DRIVING. AIR BAG LIGHT FOR PASSENGER SIDE COMES ON AND OFF, WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING THERE. BACK TIRES WORE OFF ON INSIDES HAD TO REPLACE THEM. I DON'T FEEL SAFE ANY…

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ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR GOES REAL SLOW, THEN IT WONT MOVE. DOORS WONT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH REMOTE AND THEY WONT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK/UNLOCK IN PARK OR WHEN YOU START DRIVING. AIR BAG LIGHT FOR PASSENGER SIDE COMES ON AND OFF, WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING THERE. BACK TIRES WORE OFF ON INSIDES HAD TO REPLACE THEM. I DON'T FEEL SAFE ANYMORE. DEALER SAID I SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF RECALLS SO IT CAN GET MY BUICK REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619167

72,851 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON ALTERNATE 69 HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AT 5:00 P.M., MY VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOSS POWER EVEN THOUGH I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE SLOWED TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND WAS UNABLE TO GET IN THE SHOULDER LANE BECAUSE I HAD NO PICKUP (UNABLE T…

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WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON ALTERNATE 69 HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AT 5:00 P.M., MY VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOSS POWER EVEN THOUGH I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE SLOWED TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND WAS UNABLE TO GET IN THE SHOULDER LANE BECAUSE I HAD NO PICKUP (UNABLE TO GIVE GAS TO ACCELERATE) SO MY HUSBAND AND I WERE CAUGHT IN FIVE 5:00 TRAFFIC WITH CARS WHIPPING AROUND US ON BOTH SIDES AND MANY EXCEEDING 65 MPH. I PUT ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED ON-STAR. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THANK GOD FOR ON-STAR BECAUSE FROM THAT POINT ON, I WAS IN TERROR WITNESSING CARS COMING UPON US NOT SLOWING UNTIL THEY REALIZED I WAS AT A STAND STILL WITH LIGHTS FLASHING. THE CARS WOULD SWERVE TO KEEP FROM HITTING US. IT TOOK THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND POLICE 15 MINUTES TO GET TO US BUT DURING THAT TIME, I RELIVED VISIONS OF US BEING KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY. I CAN'T DESCRIBE THE HORROR, LOOKING OUT MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, WITNESSING OUR DEMISE TIME AFTER TIME. THOSE 15 MINUTES SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY. WHEN THE HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED THEY CLOSED LANES AND ASSISTED IN PUSHING CAR OUT OF THE HIGHLY TRAFFIC LANES. IT TOOK MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH TO TURN THE STEERING WHILE IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO CONKLIN FANGMAN KC DEALERSHIP AND I HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION COIL AND MODULE THAT COST ME $933.16. THEY SAID THESE PARTS WERE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, WHICH I HAVE FOUND OUT SINCE THEN GM HAS PUT DEALERSHIPS ON NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SUPPLYING ENOUGH MANUFACTURED PARTS TO TAKE CARE OF RECALL. IF I COULD AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR I WOULD BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE ANY LONGER IN THIS CAR. EMOTIONALLY I AM STILL SUFFERING FROM THE TRAUMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616120

48,876 miles · Jul 4, 2014
Engine

WHILE TRAVELING UP A GRADUAL HILL ON A LOCAL STREET MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME AND I WAS ABLE TO ROLL OVER TO THE SIDE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. HE FOUND THE IGNITION COIL BURNT AND A FUSE BLOWN. HE REPLACED THE COIL AND FOUND THAT THE IGNITION MODULE WAS ALSO FAULTY. IN LIGHT OF…

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WHILE TRAVELING UP A GRADUAL HILL ON A LOCAL STREET MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME AND I WAS ABLE TO ROLL OVER TO THE SIDE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. HE FOUND THE IGNITION COIL BURNT AND A FUSE BLOWN. HE REPLACED THE COIL AND FOUND THAT THE IGNITION MODULE WAS ALSO FAULTY. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT IGNITION RECALLS, CAN FAULTY MODULES OR COILS ALSO BE A PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608230

70,308 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE ENGINE DIED, STEERING FAILED; I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. LATER FOUND OUT THE IGNITION COIL WAS CRACKED (PART # 10472401) , IGNITION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED (PART # 19245558) & 15A FUSE WERE REPLACED. I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A…

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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE ENGINE DIED, STEERING FAILED; I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. LATER FOUND OUT THE IGNITION COIL WAS CRACKED (PART # 10472401) , IGNITION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED (PART # 19245558) & 15A FUSE WERE REPLACED. I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A GASOLINE SMELL IN THE VEHICLE FOR MONTHS. I HAD IT INTO A GM DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR STATION THAT THEY WERE AMAZED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON BEFORE THE FAILURE. APPARENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY FIRING ON 4 CYLINDERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605134

73,438 miles · Jun 20, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE (NOT THE IGNITION SWITCH) FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING DOWNHILL, SO THE INITIAL INDICATION WAS LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THEN REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE HAD DIED AND…

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THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE (NOT THE IGNITION SWITCH) FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING DOWNHILL, SO THE INITIAL INDICATION WAS LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THEN REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE HAD DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WHILE NO CRASH OR INJURY OCCURRED, THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS CRASH WAS QUITE HIGH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604820

41,796 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Air BagsEngine

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH COLUMBUS,OHIO ON NOVEMBER 13, 2013, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH TO STOP. THE MOTOR STOPPED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A MUFFLER REPAIR AND THE TOLD ME ABOUT A DEALERSHIP A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY AND WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED IN WORTHINGTON, OHIO. …

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WHILE DRIVING THROUGH COLUMBUS,OHIO ON NOVEMBER 13, 2013, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH TO STOP. THE MOTOR STOPPED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A MUFFLER REPAIR AND THE TOLD ME ABOUT A DEALERSHIP A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY AND WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED IN WORTHINGTON, OHIO. AFTER A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD THAT A FAULTY ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $102..61 PLUS LABOR OF $384.00 AND SHOP CHARGES OF $15.00 AND TAX OF $35.11 FOR A TOTAL OF $536.72. THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM OF THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF WHILE NO ONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND WHEN A PERSON IS SEATED AND BUCKLED UP ACCORDING TO THE LAW.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598509

53,718 miles · Sep 5, 2013
EngineService BrakesSteering

I TURNED RIGHT ONTO A VERY STEEPLY GRADED RURAL ROAD. THE ROAD HAS 3 SERVICE RAMPS TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY, RT 28N. IT ALSO HAS 1 ROAD THAT ALLOWS A R/L ACCESS TO BURTON AND A CROSS TRAFFIC ACCESS TO 28N. I HAD JUST STARTED THE DESCENT DOWN BURTON WHEN I NOTICED THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKE TWICE TO REDUCE SPEED;…

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I TURNED RIGHT ONTO A VERY STEEPLY GRADED RURAL ROAD. THE ROAD HAS 3 SERVICE RAMPS TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY, RT 28N. IT ALSO HAS 1 ROAD THAT ALLOWS A R/L ACCESS TO BURTON AND A CROSS TRAFFIC ACCESS TO 28N. I HAD JUST STARTED THE DESCENT DOWN BURTON WHEN I NOTICED THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKE TWICE TO REDUCE SPEED; IT WAS NON-RESPONSIVE. THE CAR CONTINUE TO SPEED DOWN THE HILL FOR APPROXIMATELY 3/4 MILE. THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN ABOUT 1/2 MILE BEYOND THE ACCESS ROAD TO 28 N. WHEN I TRIED TO PULL OVER TO A GRAVEL/WEED "SHOULDER" I FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS ALSO OUT. I COULD NOT PULL COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD, THUS CREATING A DANGER TO ANY CAR ON BURTON ROAD. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY INOPERABLE. IT HAD TO BE TOWED 20 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP LATE AT NIGHT. THE CAR HAD JUST PASSED THE 50K MILE BUICK INSPECTION. ON THREE PRIOR OCCASIONS, THOUGH, THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH A WINDOW MALFUNCTION, AND TWO DOORS LATCHES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE SERVICE REPORT STATES THAT THE ENTIRE IGNITION COIL AND MODULE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE IGNITION MODULE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SAME ASSEMBLY DESIGN WAS USED IN THE BUICK LESABRE, THE CHEVY IMPALA, AND ONE OTHER BUICK MODEL. BUICK APOLOGIZED FOR THE FAILURE OF THESE COMPONENTS AND FOR PUTTING ME AND MY PASSENGERS INTO WHAT WAS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF BAIERL CHEVROLET (A QUALITY DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE ORGANIZATION) THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER OWNERS, BUT NONE HAD BEEN IN THE SITUATION I WAS IN. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE I FOUND NO INDICATIONS ON THE BUICK WEBSITE THAT SUCH FAILURES WERE POSSIBLE. HAVING LOST TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR AND ITS DESIGN, THAT I TRADED IT IN FOR ANOTHER CAR AND TOOK ON EXPENSES THAT I HAD NOT BUDGETED FOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10542083

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.