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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

14 reports
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73,000 miles · Apr 17, 2017
Unknown Or Other

I WRITE TO LODGE A SAFETY COMPLAINT ON GM. THIS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE CENTERS ON THE DETACHMENT OF THE REAR SPOILER WHILE OPERATING MY 2008 BUICK LACROSSE, MY ARGUMENT IS THAT ENGINEERS, BOTH LICENSED AND UNLICENSED, ARE EMPLOYED BY VEHICLE MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONS. THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING VEHICLES THAT …

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I WRITE TO LODGE A SAFETY COMPLAINT ON GM. THIS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE CENTERS ON THE DETACHMENT OF THE REAR SPOILER WHILE OPERATING MY 2008 BUICK LACROSSE, MY ARGUMENT IS THAT ENGINEERS, BOTH LICENSED AND UNLICENSED, ARE EMPLOYED BY VEHICLE MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONS. THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING VEHICLES THAT ARE PLACE INTO OPERATION ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS. THEIR WORK DIRECTLY AFFECTS PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE THAN THEIR LICENSED COLLEAGUES IN CONSULTING ENGINEERING. THESE ENGINEERS AND THEIR CORPORATIONS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND PRODUCT LIABILITY. THIS HAS BEEN CLEARLY DOCUMENTED BY CASES SUCH AS MACPHERSON V. BUICK. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS A NUMBER ONE CONCERN THIS IS CODIFIED IN TITLE 49 USC. VEHICLE MANUFACTURES HAVE THE INHERENT RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE FOR VEHICLE SAFETY AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF DEFECTS AND NONCOMPLIANCE ISSUES. US FEDERAL REGULATIONS THROUGH THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS (FMVSS) SPECIFY DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE, AND DURABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND REGULATED AUTOMOBILE SAFETY-RELATED COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND DESIGN FEATURES. THIS INCLUDES ENGINEERING DESIGN AND ENGINEERING MANUFACTURING DEFECTS, SHORTFALLS, AND SHORTCOMINGS. I WAS COMMUTING TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WORK TO OBTAIN AN ANNUAL VIRGINIA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE SOUTHBOUND, AT A SPEED OF 60-65 MPH, AROUND THE 147 MILE-MARKER, THE REAR SPOILER DETACHES FROM MY VEHICLE CAUSING AT LEAST TWO TRAILING VEHICLES TO OPERATE THEIR VEHICLES ERRATICALLY IN AN AVOIDANCE MANEUVER. THE REAR SPOILER DETACHED AND SKIDDED TO A HALT ON THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I THEN SIGNALED TO THE LEFT SHOULDER TO STOP RETRIEVE THE DETACHED SPOILER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN EGREGIOUS OUTCOME.

NHTSA ODI #10978809

107,000 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Unknown Or Other

WHILE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB, UNLOCK BUTTON ON DOOR PANEL, OR BY HAND. ALL THREE METHODS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.

NHTSA ODI #10896583

40,000 miles · May 4, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WARNING CAME ON, AND CAR SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP, GOT MESSAGE ON DASH THAT TRACTION STABILITY WAS A PROBLEM. PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, CAR SLOWED DOWN ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, HAD TO LEAVE THE ROAD , THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE OF A PROBLEM AS THE MONTHS WENT BY, TOOK TO …

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DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WARNING CAME ON, AND CAR SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP, GOT MESSAGE ON DASH THAT TRACTION STABILITY WAS A PROBLEM. PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, CAR SLOWED DOWN ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, HAD TO LEAVE THE ROAD , THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE OF A PROBLEM AS THE MONTHS WENT BY, TOOK TO THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE SENSOR, IT MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE KEY PROBLEM, WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY THE DEALER SO FAR SO GOOD. NOW THE DOOR LOCKS ARE FAILING, REAR PASSENGER WAS THE FIRST TO GO, NOW FRONT LOCKS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS BUICK I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER 50,0000 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10714297

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2009
Unknown Or Other

2008 BUICK LACROSSE HAS A BAD ODOR AND CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE IS GETTING SICK FROM THE ODOR IN HER CAR. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO RUN THE AC ALL THE TIME, BUT THE ODOR WAS STILL PRESENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10279988

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.