2008 Buick LACROSSE: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS AN INDICATOR LIGHT THAT IS EITHER OFF OR ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN AN OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGERS ARE NOT HEAVY ENOUGH AND SHOULD WEIGH AT LEAST 80 LBS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE WEIGHS MORE THAN 80 LBS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216856 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 10 MPH TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT DID NOT RESPOND AND DRIFTED INTO AN INTERSECTION, CAUSING A SEVERE CRASH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT, WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,700. UPDATED 03-11-08 *…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218147 at NHTSA ↗

INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL NOT LIGHT UP WHEN TURNED ON. CANNOT READ SPEED AND OTHER GAUGES DURING DAYTIME. THIS IS THE THIRD BUICK OF MINE SO AFFLICTED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 487 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220311 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING EXTREME DIFFICULTY WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SYSTEM SENSOR. HE HAS A HEALTH CONDITION THAT HAS AFFECTED HIS HEIGHT AND USES A SEAT CUSHION IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE IN THE DRIVER SEAT, THE CUSHION IS FINE BUT WHEN HE RIDES IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, HE IS UNABLE TO USE THE CUSHION BECAUSE IT SETS OFF THE SENSOR AND DEACTIVATES THE AIR BAG. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE HE IS UNABLE TO RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE WITH A WORKING AIR BAG. THE MANUFACT…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227997 at NHTSA ↗

ON 3 OCCASIONS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD HERE IN SACRAMENTO CA , EARLY MORNING HOURS , I DEPRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP FOR A STOP SIGN AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP JUST KEPT GOING , IT HAS DONE THIS 3 TIMES WHILE THE WEATHER WAS REALLY DAMP AND COLD , I TOOK IT TO A DEALER HERE IN SACRAMENTO AND THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE , BUT THEY ARE WRONG , THEY TESTED THE CAR AT MID AFTERNOON WHEN IS WAS WARM OUTSIDE , LIKE I SAID IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN ITS REALLY COLD I HAVE 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES AND IT'S LIKE THE BRAKES GRAB BUT DON'T STOP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248037 at NHTSA ↗

2008 BUICK LACROSSE DASHBOARD IS MALFUNCTIONING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10248151 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN AT LEAST TWICE AT THIS TIME, AND I AM TAKING IT AGAIN TODAY FOR THE DASH LIGHTS DIMMING. AT NIGHT IT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THEM. YESTERDAY, IN ADDITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SET ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY, WITHOUT THE DRIVER TOUCHING A BUTTON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN WHITE FOR SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE DASH LIGHT PROBLEM IS A "NORM". I DON'T THINK SO, EITHER YOU FIX THE PROBLEM, OR GIVE ME A NEW CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259999 at NHTSA ↗

2008 BUICK LACROSSE HAS A BAD ODOR AND CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE IS GETTING SICK FROM THE ODOR IN HER CAR. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO RUN THE AC ALL THE TIME, BUT THE ODOR WAS STILL PRESENT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10279988 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)

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.

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.

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.

Reported: 2015-08-14 (August 14, 2015)

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.

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.

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.