The 2008 Buick LaCrosse has 2 safety recalls and 250 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (85 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints250filed by owners
Crashes · fires12 · 6reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths6 · 0reported in complaints
2008 Buick LaCrosse in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 15V519000 · Aug 14, 2015 · 429,170 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system › Ignition
NHTSA recall 14V355000 · Jun 23, 2014 · 3,141,731 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash testNHTSA side pole crash test
2008 Buick LaCrosse 4-DR
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
2008 Buick LaCrosse 4-DR w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system Instrument cluster/panel; Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
85
1
7
2
55,850 mi
Air bags Frontal › Sensor/control module; Frontal
77
2
0
0
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting Headlights
62
1
2
0
61,000 mi
Engine
17
0
0
0
60,500 mi
Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch
15
0
0
0
55,000 mi
Unknown or other
14
0
0
0
76,500 mi
Steering Rack and pinion
14
3
0
3
72,851 mi
Vehicle speed control
10
1
0
0
53,718 mi
Service brakes
10
4
0
2
41,500 mi
Seats
6
1
0
0
47,765 mi
Suspension Rear
5
1
0
0
52,000 mi
Power train
5
0
0
0
60,000 mi
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Sep 29, 2024Air bags Air bag light comes on is also intermitt some times stays on and someimes on only for a minute or two
Apr 2, 2024Exterior lighting On three occasions, when driving at night, both headlights suddenly went out. The next day the headlights were working normally. The dealer's service department could not find anything wrong. Later, we found out there was a "Safety Recall" (#14291),but it expired one year before our car developed the problem. We have contacted the dealership and Buick, neither one will help us. They expect us to pay for the replacement of the defective part (Headlamp Driver Module).
Oct 21, 2021Exterior lighting My vehicle has been parked for the better of about two years due to head lamp failure and engine shutting off without warning at any particular time. Steps were made to fix the issue but the problem continues still to this day.
Dec 25, 2021 · 41,000 milesExterior lighting › Headlights The contact owns a 2008 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the headlights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the headlamps had failed. The headlamps were replaced and the failure was remedied however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V519000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 41,000.
Jun 1, 2021 · 50,000 milesAir 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.
Aug 8, 2021Electrical 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.
Mar 31, 2021 · 30,196 milesAir 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.
Feb 2, 2021 · 45,000 milesUnknown or other DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WITH EITHER THE FOB OR THE INTERIOR LOCK BUTTON ON EITHER DOORS. I'M READING ON LINE OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL WHERE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK!
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
RQ17002 · opened Apr 24, 2017 · closed Mar 29, 2021Loss of 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…
