2008 Buick LaCrosse Reliability
The 2008 Buick LaCrosse has 251 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and air bags. Compared with other LaCrosse model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the LaCrosse's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
251
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
12
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Buick LaCrosse complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2008 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 85 | 34% |
| Air bags | 77 | 31% |
| Exterior lighting | 62 | 25% |
| Engine | 17 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 14 | 6% |
| Steering | 14 | 6% |
| Latches, locks & linkages | 14 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 5% |
2008 Buick LaCrosse recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2008 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V355000 | Jun 23, 2014 | 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.… |
| 15V519000 | Aug 14, 2015 | 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… |
How the 2008 compares with nearby LaCrosse years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year LaCrosse analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 299 | 4 | Exterior lighting | Caution |
| 2007 | 250 | 4 | Exterior lighting | Caution |
| 2008 (this page) | 251 | 2 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2009 | 106 | 2 | Exterior lighting | Solid |
| 2010 | 189 | 1 | Electrical system | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2008 Buick LaCrosse
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2008 Buick LaCrosse can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2008 Buick LaCrosse reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Buick LaCrosse reliable?
The 2008 Buick LaCrosse has 251 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and air bags. Compared with other LaCrosse model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the LaCrosse's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2008 Buick LaCrosse problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Buick LaCrosse are electrical system (85), air bags (77), exterior lighting (62), engine (17). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Buick LaCrosse have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 Buick LaCrosse, including 14V355000 (electrical system — ignition) and 15V519000 (exterior lighting — headlights). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2008 Buick LaCrosse compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 250 complaints and 4 recalls (caution); the 2009 has 106 complaints and 2 recalls (solid). The 2008 has 251 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 Buick LaCrosse?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Buick LaCrosse research
Other Buick LaCrosse model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2008 LaCrosse, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.