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Buick · NHTSA safety record

2011 Buick Lucerne

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

49

Complaints

3

Crashes

3

Fires

5

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Buick Lucerne have filed 49 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2011 and April 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 23 of them (47%). The typical failure was reported at 38,740 miles, the median across the 36 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

14V355000 · June 23, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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 LLC · up to 3,141,731 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

10V553000 · November 5, 2010

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

GENERAL MOTORS CORP. · up to 13,780 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 49.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23 47%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 8%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 8%
ENGINE 3 6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 6%
POWER TRAIN 3 6%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2 4%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2 4%
STEERING 2 4%
STRUCTURE 2 4%
TIRES 2 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2011 at 8.

2011 2026
2011 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

2 injured · crash · 17,000 miles

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 complaint 10457272. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 injured · crash · 42,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA complaint 10672176. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 injured · crash · 17,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT 3 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. HE MADE A ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DEGREE TURN AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT INJURED HIS KNEE AND HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. A REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA complaint 10459092. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

fire · towed · 160,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY HAD OVERHEATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA complaint 11011904. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle purchased used through Carvana. Battery installed at purchase was approximately 10 years old and later failed, causing starting issues and an instance of power loss while driving that left the vehicle stranded. Battery has been replaced and original battery retained.

NHTSA complaint 11732618. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
The vehicle’s instrument cluster appears to be a non-original unit that may not be correct for the model year. The cluster is responsible for displaying the odometer and communicating with other vehicle systems. After purchase, I observed that diagnostic scan tools could not consistently access or communicate with multiple modules, and an experienced mechanic indicated the instrument cluster may be incompatible with the vehicle’s configuration. Because the odometer reading is displayed through this component, there is concern that the mileage may not be independently verifiable. The vehicle otherwise operates, but diagnostic communication inconsistencies raise questions about the

NHTSA complaint 11732305, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel pump relay is overheating to dangerously high temperatures. At least 211 F degrees. Causes the fuel pump fuse to melt leaving me stranded. Immediate replacement of the 20 AMP fuse is necessary to get the car running again. The fuel pump relay gets really hot even if the AC is not on. Waited for hour and a half in near 100 F degree heat for a tow truck to it home. I’m lucky the car did not catch on fire. I know quite a few of the Buick Lucerne’s have had recalls regarding this item. Picture of the actual car is included. No police report was necessary as this was a breakdown situation. This has utterly disrupted my life because I do not have access to a car with good air conditioning

NHTSA complaint 11727683, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:INTERIOR

28,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that while using the front driver's side interior door handle to exit the vehicle, there was an abnormal cracking sound coming from the door. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the front driver's side door handle was replaced approximately 4-5 times. The vehicle was recently repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

NHTSA complaint 11713841. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES:SIDEWALL
Passenger rear tire blew out the side wall all around the tire. The dealer that installed the tire has it for warranty. It was an large noise and I was able to pull to the side of the road immediately without loosing control. Yes the problem was reported to the dealer that put the new Falken tires on my car in September of 2025. The tires only had about 2,000 miles. My tire has tire pressure monitors on it, they did not alert me to a low tire pressure. I do have a few pictures of the tire showing the whole side wall blew out all around the tire. I am concerned for the safety of my family and anyone else that has this tire. I still have 4 of these tires on my car and I am worried that if

NHTSA complaint 11709739, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Several malfunction indicator lights in dash appeared suddenly. Car would not start after shutting off. Finally started and drove to repair shop. Diagnosed as faulty ride height sensor. Shop searched for part at several dealers and online and found the part was discontinued in 2021. I contacted Buick and was offered $1500 off on a new GM car. I have not received any suggestions on how to repair the car or remove malfunction indicator lights which I specifically asked for. The repair shop is waiting for me to find the part and I have not been able to find one. Dealers have no answer and neither does Buick. The repair shop says it will start if sensor is unplugged but suspension will not work

NHTSA complaint 11579026, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Buick Lucerne

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2010 54 2 —

Other 2011 Buick models

Regal 279 Enclave 211 Lacrosse 169

Every Buick on this site — 60 vehicles, 172 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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Independent developer and analyst