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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

61 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ...UPDATED 03-10-16 *BF *CN

NHTSA ODI #10816522

145,000 miles · Dec 20, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

ON DEC. 18TH MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING AT NIGHT GOING TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY WHEN THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING.I SWITCHED TO THE HIGH BEAMS AS THEY WERE STILL FUNCTIONING. WE WENT THE LAST MILE TO OUR DESTINATION ON THE HIGH BEAMS. I TURNED OFF THE CAR TO SEE IF THAT WOULD RE;SET THE LIGHTS, IT DID NOT. WE WE…

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ON DEC. 18TH MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING AT NIGHT GOING TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY WHEN THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING.I SWITCHED TO THE HIGH BEAMS AS THEY WERE STILL FUNCTIONING. WE WENT THE LAST MILE TO OUR DESTINATION ON THE HIGH BEAMS. I TURNED OFF THE CAR TO SEE IF THAT WOULD RE;SET THE LIGHTS, IT DID NOT. WE WENT TO THE PARTY AND CAME BACK TO THE CAR APX. 3 HOURS LATER. I STARTED THE CAR AND THE LOW BEAMS CAME ON..AFTER ABOUT 1/2 MILE THEY WENT OUT AGAIN..SO I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE CAR TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COME ON UPON RE-START,THEY DID NOT,SO WE CONTINUED ON WITH HIGH BEAMS. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE LOW BEAMS CAME ON FOR THE REST OF OUR TRIP HOME. THE NEXT DAY I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON-LINE AND DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM I CONTACTED THE LOCAL BUICK DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAD NO DIRECTION ON HOW TO FIX IT FROM G.M. MY WIFE CALLED ANOTHER AREA BUICK DEALER AND RECIEVED THE SAME REPLY..SHE WAS ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF G.M. AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WOULD GET BACK TO US.. WE NEVER R GOT ANY RECALL NOTICE FROM G.M. I HAD TO PRINT ALL THE FORMS FROM THE NHTSA WEB SITE.. SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR LAW SUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN AFTER SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPENS (IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME). THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST WITH TE BUICK LACROSSE THERE ARE OTHER MODELS INVOLVED.. SO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET G.M. AND THEIR DEALERS TO FIX THIS?

NHTSA ODI #10811304

63,866 miles · Dec 11, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULB FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULB FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,866. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10809707

35,000 miles · Nov 23, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADSLIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY OF 2015. AF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADSLIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V519000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10806165

57,337 miles · Nov 20, 2015
Exterior Lighting

IN JANUARY OF 2015 WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM CONCERNING THE HEADLIGHT DRIVER MODULE (GM SAFETY RECALL 14291). WE CALLED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO BE TOLD THEY WERE WAITING FOR PARTS. WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING A "HEADLIGHTS RECOMMENDED" SIGNAL SEVERAL TIMES IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, BUT LIVED WITH IT. WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPIT…

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IN JANUARY OF 2015 WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM CONCERNING THE HEADLIGHT DRIVER MODULE (GM SAFETY RECALL 14291). WE CALLED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO BE TOLD THEY WERE WAITING FOR PARTS. WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING A "HEADLIGHTS RECOMMENDED" SIGNAL SEVERAL TIMES IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, BUT LIVED WITH IT. WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN OCTOBER RECOVERING FROM CANCER SURGERY MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A HEADLIGHT FAILURE WHEN DRIVING HOME ALONE AT NIGHT. A NEIGHBOR TOOK THE CAR TO THE BUICK DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A RELAY, PART #15016745. WE THEN NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT AND THE RIGHT REAR TAILIGHT WERE NOT LIT. AS SOON AS I WAS CLEARED TO DRIVE I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY INSISTED THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THEIR FAULT, THAT IT WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT IT HAPPENED AT THAT TIME. I PAID THE $68.93 FOR NEW BULBS. TODAY I LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE, WWW.MYGM.COM/RECALLS AND IT SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS PENDING FOR OUR VEHICLE. WHEN I CALLED THE TELEPHONE NUMBER GIVEN ON THAT WEBPAGE, THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT WAS A MISTAKE, BUT HE COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION ON WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE OR WHY THE WEBSITE DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO THE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE WHERE GM'S STRATEGY WAS TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM, HOPING IT WOULD GO AWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10795185

54,134 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE PART…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,134. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ; UPDATED 04/24/18*JB *CN

NHTSA ODI #10783583

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ UPDATED 03/17/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10783424

58,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Exterior Lighting

WAS DRIVING 50 MILES HR ON OLDLANDIS AVE HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF TWICE WENT ON TO SHOULDER ALMOST CRASHED IN DITCH HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH HIGH BEAMS

NHTSA ODI #10782597

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10782045

56,000 miles · Sep 24, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #10776303

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.