2008 Buick Lacrosse Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about electrical and airbag-related trouble: instrument panel and headlight lighting dropping out, and the passenger-side airbag indicator switching itself to off with someone seated. Headlamp complaints — low beams failing or lights going out altogether — are also frequent and often show up well under 100,000 miles. Other recurring themes are door locks that stop working and occasional engine stalls.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag indicator shows airbag off

   • 75 complaints (30%)
   • median 48,800 mi at 7.0 yrs old (65 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   The airbag warning light or the passenger-side indicator comes on intermittently, sometimes showing the passenger airbag as off even with an adult seated and belted. Owners say it happens at speed and fluctuates. According to complaints, dealers often diagnosed the passenger presence system or sensor and quoted several hundred to over a thousand dollars; in some cases the light returned after the repair. Appears from very low mileage up past 150,000 miles, with many reports between roughly 30,000 and 90,000 miles.

   Recall 14V355000

   What to check: With the engine running, sit in the front passenger seat and watch whether the airbag indicator stays on; ask whether the passenger presence sensor or module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2008 Buick Lacrosse cxl which I purchased 04/29/2008. At about 3,000 miles I noticed the passenger air bag light would come on intermittently showing the bag was off even though my wife was in the seat and buckled up. I took the unit into the local dealer and the service advisor told they couldn't check for a code unless the off light was showing when someone was in the seat. Later the indicator lamp started coming on and would stay on (showing the air bag was off) for miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10332211, filed 2010-05, 3,000 miles

   “A few days after purchasing a 2008 Buick Lacrosse from the local dealer, the dashboard air bag light came on. Didn't think much about it until it happened several more times, so I headed to the dealership for help. They instructed me not to put anything in the front passenger seat because the car would sense the weight and think there is a person there. So I didn't, but I did notice the indicator above the radio that senses a person in the passenger seat didn't turn red during this time. Then the game began. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10629438, filed 2014-08, 91,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and low beams fail or go out

   • 76 complaints (30%)
   • median 57,351 mi at 7.3 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2024

   Complaints describe low-beam headlights stopping working with no warning, sometimes one side and sometimes both, and in several cases the lights cut out while driving at night while the high beams still work. Owners often report replacing bulbs repeatedly, or being told by a dealer that the bulb failed; some say the headlamp driver module was replaced. Several mention they were told the vehicle was not covered by the headlamp recall or could not get the recall work done because parts were unavailable. Reported across a wide spread, from about 20,000 to 160,000 miles, with many between roughly 50,000 and 75,000 miles.

   Recall 15V5190001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check that both low beams and high beams work, and ask whether the headlamp driver module or bulbs have been replaced and whether the headlamp recall (15V519000) was performed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The drivers side low beam headlight keeps going out. I did look up any recalls, which there was for this, but it shows that it was fixed. We didn't have an issues for the first 9 months and have now replaced the bulb several times. I am concerned that it is happening while my daughter is driving this at night in a rural area with a lot of deer and other animals running into the roads.”

   NHTSA complaint #11378403, filed 2020-12, 120,000 miles

   “Head lights on car will intermittently go out while driving. Many times it will just be for a few seconds. However can last for several minutes. I now know that the brights continue to work. Although did not know this at the time I was left stranded in the desert with children and no cell phone service. I also don't feel comfortable driving with brights on all the time due to the brights being so bright and fear I might cause an accident for another driver.”

   NHTSA complaint #10748972, filed 2015-08, 55,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 27 complaints (11%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2020

   Several owners describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving, sometimes at highway speed or on a grade, leaving them to coast to the shoulder; a few say it would not restart and had to be towed. Complaints mention the ignition control module or ignition coil being diagnosed and replaced. One owner also reported sudden unintended acceleration on a downhill road. Reported mostly between roughly 27,000 and 73,000 miles.

   Recall 14V3550001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition recall (14V355000) has been completed and whether the ignition control module or coils have been replaced; note any history of stalling or hard starting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling up a gradual hill on a local street my car stopped running. Fortunately no one was behind me and I was able to roll over to the side. The car had to be towed to my mechanic. He found the ignition coil burnt and a fuse blown. He replaced the coil and found that the ignition module was also faulty. In light of the recent ignition recalls, can faulty modules or coils also be a problem?”

   NHTSA complaint #10608230, filed 2014-07, 48,876 miles

   “While driving north on alternate 69 highway at 65 MPH at 5:00 p.m., my vehicle abruptly loss power even though I tried to accelerate. The engine shut off suddenly and without warning. Vehicle slowed to a complete stop. I was driving in the middle lane and was unable to get in the shoulder lane because I had no pickup (unable to give gas to accelerate) so my husband and I were caught in five 5:00 traffic with cars whipping around us on both sides and many exceeding 65 MPH. I put on my emergency lights and immediately called on-star. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10616120, filed 2014-07, 72,851 miles
4. 4
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door locks stop locking or unlocking

   • 36 complaints (14%)
   • median 51,004 mi at 6.6 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $921 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2021

   Complaints describe door locks that quit working with the key fob, the interior lock button and by hand, sometimes on one door and sometimes on all of them. One owner reported being unable to get out of the vehicle. Dealers are said to have diagnosed failed lock actuators or sensors, with quoted repairs ranging from several hundred to around $1,600 for all four doors. Mostly reported between roughly 10,000 and 107,000 miles, often around 50,000 to 70,000 miles.

   What to check: Test each door with the fob, the interior button and the manual lock, and ask whether any lock actuators have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “All four door lock latches failed at around 70,000 miles. The local Buick dealership stated that all 4 sensors were bad and repair them for $1,600. Buick has a parts quality issue or a design problem. Poses a safety issue if in an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10875596, filed 2016-06, 70,000 miles

   “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 complaint #10896583, filed 2016-08, 107,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Instrument panel lights dim or go out

   • 12 complaints (5%)
   • median 46,854 mi at 5.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2017

   Owners report the instrument panel and radio display lights dimming or shutting off intermittently, making gauges hard to read at night. Some describe the lights returning on their own; others say dealers could not duplicate or diagnose the problem and the vehicle was not repaired. A few were told the dimming was within the vehicle's design. Reported from very low mileage up to around 78,000 miles, often under 50,000.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: At night, watch the instrument panel and radio display over a drive to see whether brightness fluctuates; ask the seller whether the issue has been checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Instrument panel lights and radio display lights go dim, very hard to read. Does not correct if car is turned off then back on. Does not correct if battery is disconnected then re-connected. Does not happen at any certain time, just happens.”

   NHTSA complaint #10356385, filed 2010-09, 74,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that the lights con the instrument panel would fail sporadically, causing limited visualization of the gauges when driving at night. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer but the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 47,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10425813, filed 2011-09, 47,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for the recall history on this vehicle, particularly the ignition and headlamp campaigns, since both come up repeatedly in owner complaints. A night-time test drive, a check of the passenger airbag indicator with someone seated, and a check of every door lock will cover the most common reported problems.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.