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KLUNK
KLUNK

2008 Buick Lacrosse

The Verdict

48 Proceed with Caution

The 2008 Buick Lacrosse has 250 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (184 complaints) and body (34 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 48/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Buick Lacrosse, consider the 2019 model year which has 97% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2019 has 97% fewer complaints

View the 2019 Buick Lacrosse dashboard →

48

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200581301642217
2006429228146
2007416175188
20083411184192
20093486103
20105913475713
20116914343714
20127011485616
201349136347
20142942144
20151651742
2016242776
2017121966
201820370
201930030

By Category

Electrical
184
Body
34
Engine
19
Brakes
11
Transmission
2

By Severity

1
111
2
121
4
18

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 1

Air bag light comes on is also intermitt some times stays on and someimes on only for a minute or two

21mo ago
Electrical 2

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).

27mo ago
Electrical 1

My vehicle has been parked for the better of about two years due to head lamp failure and engine shutting off without warning at any particular time. Steps were made to fix the issue but the problem continues still to this day.

35mo ago
Electrical 1

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.

51mo ago
Electrical 2

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.

57mo ago
Electrical 2

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.

60mo ago
Electrical 2

THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 30196 MILES ON IT.THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. I NOTICED THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL BUICK LACROSSE.WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED ON THESE VEHICLES.

64mo ago
Body 1

DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WITH EITHER THE FOB OR THE INTERIOR LOCK BUTTON ON EITHER DOORS. I'M READING ON LINE OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL WHERE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK!

66mo ago
Electrical 1

THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS JUST GO OFF FOR NO REASON. WHEN DRIVING HOME ON NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF FOR NO REASON. THE NEST DAY, THEY WORKED. THEY CONTINUE TO WORK, BUT THE NIGHT THEY WENT OUT WAS VERY DISTURBING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ON STATE HGWY, GETTING READY TO TURN TO THE RIGHT.

66mo ago
Electrical 1

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.

68mo ago
Electrical 2

THE HDM FAILED LEAVING ME WITH ONLY HIGH BEAMS, HAVE BEE TOLD THEY ARE NOT UNDER RECALL. SHAMROCK SERVICE CENTER, SPENT 1 AND 1/2 HRS DIAGNOSING AND FOUND NO RECALL. MANY OTHER MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I AM RETIRED AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR. WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME. WHEN I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS TO GO HOME LAST WEEK, THERE WERE NO LIGHTS BUT HIGH BEAMS. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BULBS, SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND I AM WAITING FOR THE PART TO COME IN. I KNOW THIS WILL BE EXPENSIVE AS I THINK ITS AROUND $100.00 PER HR. IT WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHERE I DISCOVERED IT. HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE HIGH BEAMS.

69mo ago
Body 2

ONCE IN A WHILE IT ACTS UP WHERE IT STATES THAT IT'S GOT LOW OIL PRESSURE EVEN THO IT'S GOT PLENTY OF OIL,ALSO IT HAS MISFIRED DURING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT'S LIKE THIS: I'M DRIVING. EVERYTHING IS FINE UNTIL ALL OF THE SUDDEN I NOTICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ALSO THE T/C LIGHT COMES ON AND IT ALSO STATES THE LOW OIL PRESSURE AND THE ACCELERATION PEDAL IT ACTS UP. FOR EXAMPLE, I'M GIVING GAS AND IT ISN'T ACCELERATING AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD BE AND IT TOTALLY FLUCTUATES. I'VE ALSO HAD THE CAR MISFIRE AND SHUT OFF DURING ONE OF THESE EPISODES AS WELL. THESE EPISODES OF WHAT I HAD JUST DESCRIBED COMES AND GOES AND ACTUALLY IT STAYED GONE FOR A GOOD WHILE NOW UNTIL JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO. THE GUY WHO SOLD ME THIS CAR TOLD ME THAT THERE'SA RECALL ON WHATEVER ISSUE I'M HAVING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL (I PLUGGED IN FIXD TOOL WHICH TELLS ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR AND GIVES ME TWO CODES THE CODES BEING: P: 2138 AND CODES P: 1125.

69mo ago
Electrical 2

I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND THE HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T WORK WHEN I GOT IT. THE HI BEAMS AND YELLOW MARKER LIGHTS DO WORK. JUST NOT THE LO BEAMS. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 9/28/20, IT HAD 124,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT

70mo ago
Electrical 1

RED AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. MANY OWNERS OF THESE CARS HAVE COMPLAINED. IT IS A POOR DESIGN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, THERE IS NO AIR BAGS THAT WORK. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE WIRING AND IN THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM WHICH COSTS NEARLY 1K FOR A NEW SEAT BLADDER WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MANY OWNERS OF THESE MODELS ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN THESE VEHICLES. WHY HASN'T GM BEEN ORDERED TO REPAIR ALL OF THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE SYSTEMS? NEVER HAD AN AIR BAG PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE. LIGHT IS ON STEADY NOW AND ALL AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED DUE TO THIS ONE PROBLEM. NOT A GREAT DESIGN AND AS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT SHOULD BE A MANDATORY REPAIR BY GM. NONE OF MY OTHER BRANDS-FORD, NISSAN, OR HONDAS HAVE EVER HAD AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. THIS IS ANOTHER IGNITION KEY DESIGN TYPE LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ORDERED? OVER 70 COMPLAINTS RIGHT HERE FOR SAME ISSUES. WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE BEFORE DEATHS OCCUR DUE TO NON DEPLOYMENT?

71mo ago
Electrical 4

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT ROUGHLY 30 MILES AN HOUR AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

76mo ago
Engine 1

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND I'VE HAD CLOSE CALLS. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SIDE STREET WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

79mo ago
Electrical 1

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY, BUT MAINLY DURING HOT SUMMER DAYS AND HAS CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MARCH OF 2019. THE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN WE ARE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DOING RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER CONSUMERS VEHICLES. I HAD READ IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND IN MY OPINION THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. ANOTHER ISSUE WE HAVE THAT I ALSO SEEN WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH LACROSSE OWNERS, IS THE POWER LOCKS. NONE OF MY LOCK WORK PROPERLY, ALL OF THEM HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. TODAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019, WE NOTICED THAT WHEN I TRIED GETTING OUT OF THE CAR THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. DOOR WAS UNLOCKED AND HAD BEEN UNLOCKED. MY BOYFRIEND TRIED OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED TO LOCK IT AND UNLOCK IT AGAIN, I TRIED PUSHING THE DOOR REALLY HARD TO SEE IF IT WOULD POP OPEN AND NO LUCK. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A LOT MORE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AS I'VE HAD THIS ISSUES AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS.

80mo ago
Electrical 2

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR LAST WEEK AND I NOTICED WHEN I HIT THE LOCK ON THE FOB, MY ALARM WOULD SOUND, BUT MY DOOR LOOKS WOULDN'T CLOSE. SO I TRIED IT IN MY CAR AS WELL WITH THE LOCKS ON THE DOOR AND NOTHING. THE UNLOCK WORKS PERFECT BY THE WAY (FOB & DOOR LOCKS). I MANUALLY LOCK MY DOORS AT NIGHT AND IN THE MORNING, THE LOCKS WILL WORK A FEW TIMES, AND THEN STOP AGAIN. ALSO THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK WHEN YOU TAKE THE CARE OUT OF PARK.

81mo ago
Electrical 2

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. NEXT PROBLEM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON GOES OFF COMES ON GOES OFF AND THEREFORE I CANNOT USE MY REMOTE START IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON IT HAS BEEN CHECKED THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR NOTHING SHOWS UP IF YOU CHECK THE GAUGES I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR MY REMOTE START CANNOT USE IT AND I'M IN MINNESOTA. I NEED MY CAR FIXED IT'S RELIABLE IT'S A GOOD CAR IT'S WHAT I DRIVE IT'S MY CAR I HAVE A DAUGHTER'S LIFE AT STAKE IN MY CAR I EXPECT IT TO BE TRUSTED IN THE CAR THAT I BOUGHT AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE SITE REGARDING THE SAME ISSUES THAT MY CAR IS HAVING I AM HOPING LITERALLY HOPING THAT YOUR COMPANY IS WILLING TO FIX THESE ISSUES IN MY CAR AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING IN LINE CUZ THIS IS RIDICULOUS

82mo ago
Brakes 4

SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE CAR DOES NOT COME TO A SMOOTH STOP, BUT RATHER JERKS AHEAD AND TAKES A VERY LONG DISTANCE TO STOP. THIS OCCURS OFTEN ON SNOW COVERED ROADS BUT ALSO OCCURS ON DRY ROADS. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A SMALL ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME. THE MESSAGE TO CHECK THE ABS OFTEN SHOWS. I HAVE JUST HAD A NEW BRAKE JOB WITH NEW ROUTERS BUT STILL GET THE MESSAGE TO CHECK AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND IT SEEMS THAT NOTHING WILL FIX IT. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS A 2008, IT ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 80,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED BOTH ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. (SINCE THE PROBLEM IS ON-GOING, SOME OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS DO NOT APPLY. HOWEVER SINCE THE FIELDS ARE REQUIRED, I WILL HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING DOWN.)

83mo ago

250 total

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