2011 Buick Lucerne problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (15) · Vehicle Speed Control (4) · Fuel/Propulsion System (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Buick Lucerne model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
36 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Electrical System:ignition 2014-06-23 · campaign 14V355000 · 3,141,731 vehicles
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 af
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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:cables 2010-11-05 · campaign 10V553000 · 13,780 vehicles
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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (1,138)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-20 · PIT5214G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of general motors technical assistance center. if va
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,138 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-04-21 · 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.…”
2026-04-20 · Unknown Or Other“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 experienc…”
2026-03-28 · 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 t…”
2026-01-28 · Structure:body:door:handle:interior · 28,000 mi“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…”
2026-01-08 · 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 onl…”
2024-03-23 · Suspension“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 hav…”
2022-12-13 · Electrical System · 198,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 buick lucerne. the contact stated that after several attempts the vehicle failed to start-up without warning. upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to the circuit board which was in the rear back seat. the contact stated that the rear seat latches had rubbed against the circuit box, causing the circuit to overhe…”
2021-03-12 · Service Brakes“abs light and stability control light on. so i have no abs function of the brakes. had front wheel bearing replaced but didn't fix the issue. abs and traction control module light still on. …”
2020-12-21 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings · 102,465 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2011 buick lucerne. the contact stated that the front driver's side brake line was fractured. the contact noticed the failure while his wife was reversing out of a parking space with the brake pedal depressed. the contact stated that the brake pedal went to the floorboard. the contact added brake fluid to the vehicle and drov…”
2020-07-27 · Service Brakes · 37,000 mi“brake line experienced a catastrophic failure resulting in a rapid loss of all brake fluid and complete loss of brakes while on a city street. car was towed to the repair shop where it was determined that all brake lines were severely rusted from the outside and one had failed. this car was always garage kept and very infrequently driven on salt…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.