← 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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
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…

Read full complaint

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

35,000 miles · May 27, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED AN INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL EVEN THOUGH FUEL WAS IN THE FUEL TANK. THEN, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED AN INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL EVEN THOUGH FUEL WAS IN THE FUEL TANK. THEN, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE TECHNICIAN DISPENSED ONE GALLON OF FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK AND WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE HAD NOT YET RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ UPDATED 07/18/11

NHTSA ODI #10402969

7,837 miles · Dec 13, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK HAS FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. EACH TIME THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. THIS HAS OCCURRED FIRST IN DEC. 2008 (7574 MILES), THEN NOV. 2009 (21145 MILES), AND NOW DEC. 2010 (37344 MILES). THE SERVICE TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THIS PROBL…

Read full complaint

THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK HAS FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. EACH TIME THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. THIS HAS OCCURRED FIRST IN DEC. 2008 (7574 MILES), THEN NOV. 2009 (21145 MILES), AND NOW DEC. 2010 (37344 MILES). THE SERVICE TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON (IN FACT, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR THIS TIME, THERE WAS A PONTIAC AZTEC WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BEING REPAIRED). THE TECH ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CAUSE IS SULFUR IN THE GAS CAUSING THE SMALL WIRES IN THE SENSOR TO CORRODE AND EVENTUALLY BREAK. THE MODULE ERROR CODE ERROR IS P0463.

NHTSA ODI #10371320

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.