NHTSA vehicle safety data
2008 Buick Lacrosse Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2008 Buick Lacrosse has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 251 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Buick dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Buick Lacrosse, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2008 Buick Lacrosse owner complaints
Owners have filed 251 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Buick Lacrosse, describing incidents dated November 1, 2007 to October 29, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Electrical System 85 complaints
- Air Bags 77 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 62 complaints
- Engine 17 complaints
- Latches/Locks/Linkages 14 complaints
- Steering 14 complaints
Of the 251 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 251 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11774332 · Filed
High beam headlights stopped working and the ignition control module connector with a burnt power supply.
ODI #11617267 · Filed
Air bag light comes on is also intermitt some times stays on and someimes on only for a minute or two
ODI #11583392 · Filed
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…
Owner-reported
2008 Buick Lacrosse mileage at failure
199 of the 251 complaints on file for the 2008 Buick Lacrosse give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | Median 55,000 miles | Middle half 35,000–80,000 miles | Based on 62 complaints |
| Air Bags | Median 50,000 miles | Middle half 30,000–75,000 miles | Based on 65 complaints |
| Exterior Lighting | Median 60,000 miles | Middle half 50,000–85,000 miles | Based on 43 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2008 Buick Lacrosse in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Recall Query RQ17-002: Loss of Headlights
Closed March 29, 2021
Headlamps may Fail
NHTSA #15V519000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice
Reported August 14, 2015 · General Motors LLC
Potentially affected: 429,170 vehicles
Repair completion: 51.17% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 14291 · Owners notified May 17, 2016 · Vehicles built May 31, 2004 – January 27, 2009 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Ignition Switch may Turn Off
NHTSA #14V355000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice
Reported June 23, 2014 · General Motors LLC
Potentially affected: 3,141,731 vehicles
Repair completion: 67.7% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 14299 · Owners notified September 23, 2014 · Vehicles built May 15, 2007 – July 25, 2008 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other Buick Lacrosse model years
Check your 2008 Buick Lacrosse VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Buick Lacrosse at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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