Most common 2008 Buick Lacrosse problems
Share of the 250 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Lacrosse complaints by model year
Best Lacrosse years: 2019, 2018, 2017. Years to avoid: 2007, 2008. Compare all years →
2008 Buick Lacrosse recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
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.
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.
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 Buick Lacrosse:
Loss 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.
What 2008 Buick Lacrosse owners say
Electrical system all 84 →
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.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Buick Lacrosse. While driving approximately 30 MPH and making a left turn, the power steering and brakes seized without warning. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a concrete pole, gas meter, and tree; however, the engine continued to rev. The contact had to make several attempts to turn off the vehicle. The air bags deployed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The driver received facial and hand injuries and the passenger received stomach injuries. Medical attention was required for the passenger. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact's insurance company believed the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 14V355000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 90,696.
Air bags all 77 →
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.
First issue car will shut off driving down the freeway doing 60 70 miles an hour it will just shut off and I have to coast to the side and wait and wait till it starts again very dangerous. Next issue is the airbag light flashes on and off I'm assuming do I do to a pressure sensor in the passenger seat which I have a daughter that sits in the passenger seat and I don't know if the airbag is working or not. Next problem are the door locks they lock they don't lock the left rear does not work I have to manually pull it up and push it down if I want it locked the key fob warning is always on my dash saying key fob battery is low I replaced it I replace the key fob itself it just works when it wants to. …
Lights all 61 →
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.
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).
2008 Buick Lacrosse engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 28 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Buick Lacrosse a good car?
Based on 250 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Lacrosse rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Lacrosse at the same age. It is one of the Lacrosse years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Buick Lacrosse?
The electrical system — 84 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the air bags (77) and lights (61).
How many recalls does the 2008 Buick Lacrosse have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2008 Buick Lacrosse, the most recent from August 14, 2015 (headlights). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Lacrosse?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2018 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007 and 2008. See the full Buick Lacrosse years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Buick Lacrosse problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 44% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.