Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
525–50K
350–75K
275–100K
8100–150K
3150K+
36 reports with mileage · 13 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
49 reports
17,000 miles · Apr 27, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashInjury
2011 BUICK LUCERNE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND DESCRIBES A CRASH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH LASTED ABOUT 30 TO 60 SECONDS. TWO DAYS LATER, THE NOISE RETURNED, BUT IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH STEEL WAS BREAKING. A WEEK LATER, THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE WERE INVOLV…
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2011 BUICK LUCERNE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND DESCRIBES A CRASH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH LASTED ABOUT 30 TO 60 SECONDS. TWO DAYS LATER, THE NOISE RETURNED, BUT IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH STEEL WAS BREAKING. A WEEK LATER, THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE POLICE STATED THE CONSUMER MADE AN ILLEGAL U-TURN AND THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HE AND HIS WIFE WERE INHALING TOXIC FUMES AND POSSIBLY PASSED OUT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS A MUFFLED EXPLOSION THAT CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10457272
Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
2011 BUICK LUCERNE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A SHIFT CONTROL LINKAGE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF JERKING WHEN THE ENGINE SHIFTED AND THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN.
NHTSA ODI #10440793
688 miles · Nov 13, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BROKE 11-13-2011 WITH 688 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10435381
6,500 miles · Sep 20, 2011
Steering
WHILE DRIVE ON FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH; WENT INTO A SLIT LEFT CORNER AND UPON EXITING THE CORNER THE STEERING HUNG UP AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO THE RIGHT. WITH MUCH PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT THERE WAS A POP IN THE STEERING AND THE CAR RESPONDED TO THE RIGHT. WITH IN A MINUTE ON THE NEXT CORNER THE SAME THING H…
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WHILE DRIVE ON FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH; WENT INTO A SLIT LEFT CORNER AND UPON EXITING THE CORNER THE STEERING HUNG UP AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO THE RIGHT. WITH MUCH PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT THERE WAS A POP IN THE STEERING AND THE CAR RESPONDED TO THE RIGHT. WITH IN A MINUTE ON THE NEXT CORNER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 10 MILES AND PARKED ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WHILE DRIVING THOUGHT THE PARKING LOT ON A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN IT HAPPENED A 3RD TIME AND TOOK MORE FORCE TO GET THE STEERING TO FREE UP TO THE RIGHT. IT HAPPENED ONE MORE TIME BEFORE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD THE CAR TO USE WAS ACROSS THE STREET AND THE CAR WAS LEFT WITH THEM FOR REPAIR. THE DEAL WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO DO IT WHILE TEST DRIVING. BUICK AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO INVEST THE TIME TO OR MONEY TO GIVE US A ROOT CAUSE OR CORRECTIVE ACTION. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS PERMANENT OR WE CAN BRING IT IN AND THEY CAN SIMULATE IT IN THE SHOP. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT HUMAN SAFETY IS NOT THEIR CONCERN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10426438
5,000 miles · Jun 20, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NEW BUICK LUCERNE DOES NOT HAVE ROOM FOR A SIZE 12 SHOE TO PROPERLY OPERATE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE PANEL UNDER THE DASHBOARD IS IN THE CORRECT POSITION. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. AT TIMES, THE SITUATION PREVENTS PROPER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10407622
5,000 miles · Jun 20, 2011
Visibility
NEW BUICK LUCERNE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR DOES NOT COVER BLIND SPOTS. DEALER SAYS IT WORKS AS DESIGNED, AND "TO BE HONEST, YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT". IT WAS NOT CORRECTED. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10407619
5,500 miles · Mar 9, 2011
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE WITH CUSTOM BUILT VOGUE RADIAL IX TIRES, LINE SIZE P235/55/R17 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ABOVE, THE TIRES WOULD WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING FLAT SPOTS AND WOULD NEED REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE WITH CUSTOM BUILT VOGUE RADIAL IX TIRES, LINE SIZE P235/55/R17 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ABOVE, THE TIRES WOULD WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING FLAT SPOTS AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500. UPDATED 04/5/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE HAVE BEEN REPLACED NINE TIMES UPDATED 04/05/11
NHTSA ODI #10387000
4,600 miles · Feb 23, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARK ASSIST WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD NO LONGER BEEP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARK ASSIST WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD NO LONGER BEEP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY YET AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,600.
NHTSA ODI #10384175
50 miles · Jan 24, 2011
Visibility
NEW 2011 BUICK LUCERNE WAS DELIVERED WITH WINDSHIELD GLASS SEVERELY DISTORTING IN BOTTOM TWO INCHES CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD, INCLUDING NAUSEA WHEN DRIVING. OTHER CARS ON THE LOT WERE NOTED WITH THE SAME DEFECT. GM REPRESENTATIVE STATES THAT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAYS OTHER CARS HAVE IT, THEREFORE IT IS NOT UNSAFE AND WILL N…
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NEW 2011 BUICK LUCERNE WAS DELIVERED WITH WINDSHIELD GLASS SEVERELY DISTORTING IN BOTTOM TWO INCHES CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD, INCLUDING NAUSEA WHEN DRIVING. OTHER CARS ON THE LOT WERE NOTED WITH THE SAME DEFECT. GM REPRESENTATIVE STATES THAT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAYS OTHER CARS HAVE IT, THEREFORE IT IS NOT UNSAFE AND WILL NOT BE FIXED. *TR
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 & remedy
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.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 DTS AND BUICK LUCERNE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES. THE STARTER OR ALTERNATOR CABLE IS IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE. IF EITHER THE STARTER OR ALTERNATOR CABLE IS CONTACTING THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE, THE CABLE COULD WEAR THROUGH THE LINE, CAUSING A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A POWER STEERING LEAK COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, AND/OR THE LEAK ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SECURE AND IF NECESSARY REROUTE THE LINES TO PREVENT CONTACT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2011 Buick Lucerne Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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