This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Buick LaCrosse airbags problems
moderate 65 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
65
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 65 airbags complaints filed for the 2008 Buick LaCrosse, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 12 model years of Buick LaCrosse we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 65.
Owners have filed 65 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to complete a terminal replacement or connector re connection to correct a condition of Diagnostic Information for Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) System, Intermittent AIR BAG Indicator/Lamp Illuminated with DTC(s) B0012, B0013, B0015, B0016, B0019, B0020, B0022, B0023, B0026, B0033, B0040, B0042 or B0044 Set (Inspect and Replace Connector Position Assurance (CPA) Retainer)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides Information on Passenger Presence Sensing System (PPS or PSS) Concerns with Custom Upholstery, Accessory Seat Heaters or Other Comfort Enhancing Devices
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗GENERAL MOTORS: DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT RESTRAINTS, AIR BAG (SIR) INDICATOR/LAMP ON WITH DTC(S) B0012, B0013, B0016, B0016, B0019, B0020, B0022, B0023, B0026, B0033, B0040, B0042 OR B0044 SET. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A LOOSE, MISSING, OR BROKEN CONNECTOR POSITION ASSURANCE (CPA) RETAINER AT THE AIR BAG FOR THE SET DTC. INCLUDES TRAILBLAZER EXT. UPDATED 8/16/10. UPDATED 3/12/12.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗AIR BAG INDICATOR ON WITH DTC B0077, B0078, OR B0092. UPDATED 6/4/10.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 LaCrosse exhibits a persistent malfunction in the passenger presence detection system. Most commonly, the airbag "OFF" indicator lamp illuminates intermittently while a passenger is seated and belted, signaling that the airbag is disabled when it should be armed. The light may toggle on and off repeatedly during a single trip or remain lit for extended periods. Some owners report the warning light comes on with empty seats or when only lightweight objects are placed on the passenger seat—the opposite problem—indicating the sensor cannot reliably distinguish occupancy from non-occupancy.
Owners cite mileages from 3,000 miles to 140,000 miles, with the issue appearing both early and late in vehicle life. Dealers have pinpointed the culprit as the Passenger Presence Module, weight sensor, or pressure sensor, quoting replacement costs of $850 to $2,000. Several owners report paying for repairs twice on the same vehicle—the same failure recurred months or years after the first replacement, suggesting either defective parts or a design flaw. Temporary workarounds—pressing the seat, sliding the seat forward and back, or unfastening and refastening the seat belt—provide brief relief but do not fix the underlying issue.
One owner reported an airbag failure to deploy during a frontal collision, resulting in a fatality. Buick issued Service Bulletin SB-08-09-41-002C blaming loose or broken connectors, but owners report that connector checks do not prevent recurrence. No recall has been issued; warranty coverage was applied only on early failures, leaving many owners with out-of-pocket repair costs.
Same Buick LaCrosse airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent passenger airbag off indicator with occupant seated
Passenger airbag indicator lamp illuminates (showing 'OFF') intermittently while passenger is seated and belted, indicating airbag disabled when it should be active. Pattern is erratic—may occur every trip or sporadically over months. Occurs at any vehicle speed or while parked. Some owners report toggling between 'ON' and 'OFF' repeatedly during single trip.
When: Reported from as early as 3,000 miles; most common at 20,000–60,000 miles; some at 80,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag 'OFF' indicator illuminates when passenger is seated and seat belt fastened; Dashboard airbag warning light illuminates simultaneously; Indicator toggles on and off unpredictably during driving; Occurs regardless of vehicle speed, road conditions, or driving pattern; May persist for minutes to hours per occurrence; Some owners report temporary relief from pressing seat stitching, sliding seat forward/backward, or disconnecting/reconnecting seat belt
Codes mentioned: Passenger Presence Module fault, Passenger side weight sensor failure
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger Presence Module replacement cost reported at $855–$1,250; right front seat mat assembly replacement $710; passenger seat replacement attempted but failures recurred; labor and parts typically $1,000–$2,000 depending on dealer and whether module is new or remanufactured
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Buick Service Bulletin SB-08-09-41-002C cites loose, missing, or broken connector position assurance (CPA) retainer as root cause. Some owners report dealer connector checks; some failures recur despite repairs. No official recall issued; warranty coverage applied in some early cases but owner-pay after warranty expiration.
Airbag warning light illuminating with no occupant or with light objects on seat
Airbag warning indicator comes on when passenger seat is empty or when only lightweight objects (lunch box, 6-pack of beer, items under 80 lbs) are placed on seat, triggering false detection of occupancy and disabling airbags unnecessarily.
When: From early ownership; mileage range varies widely but reported at low miles (under 10,000) and throughout vehicle lifespan
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates with empty passenger seat; Light comes on when light objects (less than 80 lbs) placed on seat; Indicator may show airbag disabled when no passenger present; Erratic response to same object—sometimes triggers light, sometimes does not; Delay in light response when adding or removing light objects from seat
Codes mentioned: Passenger weight sensor malfunction, Passenger detection system error
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; owners reported temporary workarounds (pressing seat stitching, performing quick stop). One owner reported dealer advised not to place anything in seat.
Continuous or persistent airbag warning light illumination
Airbag warning light remains continuously illuminated on dashboard, indicating system-wide malfunction or sensor failure. Light does not respond to normal reset procedures and may indicate all airbags disabled.
When: Reported at various mileages, including 48,600 miles, 51,097 miles, 140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Red airbag warning light illuminated and stays on; Light may come on at start-up and persist for trip duration; Affects ability to determine current system status; Dealer scan may show no recoverable code or code clears temporarily then returns
Codes mentioned: Airbag readiness system malfunction, Passenger presence module fault
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger presence module replacement reported at $1,000–$1,540; some dealers attempted code clearing without lasting fix
Airbag sensor failure on occupant detection—repeated failures
Passenger presence sensor or weight sensor fails to detect occupant correctly, requiring replacement. Some owners report sensor replacement at one mileage, then identical failure recurs months or years later at higher mileage, indicating either defective replacement parts or systemic design issue.
When: First failure reported at 18,500–24,000 miles in early documented cases; second failure at 42,600–46,713 miles; recurrence reported at 18 months post-repair
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag indicator shows 'OFF' when occupant present and belted; System malfunction occurs after previous repair of same issue; Light may come on when passenger exits vehicle; Occupant weight (125+ lbs, 150+ lbs) insufficient to keep system armed despite exceeding threshold
Codes mentioned: Inflatable Restraint Passenger Seat Suppression Module 19124100 fault, PPS (Passenger Presence System) Module 19258127 fault
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger seat suppression module or PPS module replacement cost $855–$2,000+. Owner reported first replacement covered under warranty, second replacement customer-paid. Remanufactured modules used in some repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls; initial warranty coverage applied in some cases; subsequent failures deemed customer responsibility
Pressure sensor failure—passenger side
Passenger side pressure sensor within seat cushion/bladder assembly fails, causing airbag warning light to toggle on and off intermittently. No visible damage to seat or sensor, suggesting defect in part manufacturing or design.
When: Reported at various mileages; one case at 81,737 miles (first occurrence during 12-month warranty period)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light toggles between on and off while driving or at rest; Passenger airbag status shifts from 'ON' to 'OFF' unpredictably; Pressure sensor shows failure on dealer diagnostic; No obvious physical damage to seat cushion or sensor
Codes mentioned: Passenger side pressure sensor failure
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost reported at $2,000; entire seat assembly replacement ($710 in one case for mat assembly); dealers unable to pinpoint why sensor failed without damage history
Temperature-dependent airbag system malfunction
Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently, with pattern correlating to ambient temperature. Symptoms appear or worsen in warmer weather and improve or disappear in cold weather, suggesting thermal expansion/contraction issues in electrical connections or sensor components.
When: Seasonal pattern noted; symptoms resolved in cold months (September–winter), returned when warm weather resumed (June)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates erratically in warm weather; Light stops appearing or appears less frequently in cold months; Sensor issues appear more likely in warmer conditions; No clear pattern tied to vehicle speed or occupancy in warm months
Codes mentioned: Passenger presence sensor intermittent fault, Electrical connection thermal sensitivity
Repairs/costs cited: One case noted dealer replaced sensor with same recurrence; pressing seat or adjusting passenger position temporarily resolved light in warmer months
Airbag system failure—crash non-deployment
Critical failure mode: airbag did not deploy during frontal collision when occupant was present, resulting in serious injury or death. Occurs when warning light was illuminated (system showed disabled) at time of crash. Root cause not investigated by manufacturer in reported case.
When: Failure occurred during collision; vehicle model year 2008
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag between roof and window failed to deploy on driver side during side-impact collision with tree; Driver fatality; passenger severe injuries (broken back, pelvis, collar bone)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted; ongoing investigation by law firm
Small occupant detection issue—seat cushion triggers false disable
Passenger airbag disables when person using seat cushion (for medical/mobility reasons) occupies passenger seat, even though total weight exceeds 80 lb threshold. System cannot distinguish between pressure from human occupant versus pressure from cushion.
When: Evident from very low mileage (200 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag disables when occupant uses seat cushion due to health condition; Cushion weight/pressure pattern misinterpreted as non-occupancy or improper occupancy; Airbag cannot be used safely by occupant with cushion
Repairs/costs cited: Manufacturer unable to provide assistance; sensor not deactivated
Synthesized from 65 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
2008 Buick lacrosse. Air bag light comes on constantly and has been coming on since the vehicle was purchased. *ta
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Buick lacrosse. The contact stated that while having repairs performed for NHTSA campaign number: 14v355000 (electrical system), the technician notified the contact that the air bag light was sporadically illuminating. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage of the vehicle was 140,000.
Had airbags trouble with your 2008 Buick LaCrosse?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2008 Buick LaCrosse?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 65 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 53 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 33,000 and 68,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 33,000; a quarter make it past 68,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Buick/LaCrosse.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.