2008 Buick LUCERNE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
218 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
66,386 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 158 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 107 of 218 complaints (49.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 68 | 31.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 44 | 20.2% |
| Braking behavior | 26 | 11.9% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 11.0% |
| Steering behavior | 22 | 10.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 107 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 50 |
| Engine | 24 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Seats | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 |
Electrical System: 107; Fuel/Propulsion System: 50; Engine: 24; Air Bags: 11; Structure:Body: 11; Steering: 9; Seats: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 37 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 30 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 37; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 30; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 60 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 6; 2009: 6; 2010: 10; 2011: 7; 2012: 11; 2013: 10; 2014: 42; 2015: 16; 2016: 13; 2017: 18; 2018: 13; 2019: 22; 2020: 9; 2021: 8; 2022: 4; 2023: 12; 2024: 6; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 68 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 44 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10298690 · 2010-01-08 (January 8, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH HIS VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 13,600. UPDATED 1/28/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED UPON ENTERING A HIGHWAY FROM AN ENTRANCE RAMP, AS HE TRIED TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, HE DISCOVERED HE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND COMPLETELY LOST POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR LIGHTS ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE CONS…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467588 · 2012-07-24 (July 24, 2012)
PURCHASED VEHICLE 4/2/12. 6/30/12 CAR WOULD NOT START. FULL POWER AND CRANK BUT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. CAR TOWED AND DIAGNOSED AS FUEL PUMP/RELAY. THE RELAY WAS MELTED. REPAIRED WITHOUT INCIDENT. JULY 23,2012 CAR REPEATED. NO START. CAR TOWED AGAIN AND RELAY IS MELTED AGAIN. RESEARCHING IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON EVENT OCCURRING IN 2008 V8. MECHANIC HAS DETERMINED IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM STEMMING FROM FUSE AND AMPS BEING DELIVERED TO RELAY. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED AND A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME ADDRESSING THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204154 · 2007-09-26 (September 26, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF A CRASH OCCURRED, BATTERY FUMES AND ACIDS COULD BE RELEASED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10204154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261553 · 2009-03-11 (March 11, 2009)
I TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE.LAST YEAR. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I HAD PROBLEMS. I PROCEEDED UNDER PA. LEMON LAW DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES (ENGINE LIGHT INDICATING A PROBLEM) REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND SETTLED FOR A FLAT AMOUNT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD ADDITIONAL ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES BUT THIS TIME IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED (AND DOCUMENTED) AS A PROBLEM COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THAT WHICH OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS WELL IN EXCESS OF FIVE TIMES AND CLOSE TO 30 DAYS DOWN TIME. THIS NEW PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233185 · 2008-07-04 (July 4, 2008)
THERE IS A CLUNKING OF THE DRIVERSIDE FRONT BRAKES FOLLOWED WITH A SCRAPING SOUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCOMPANIED WITH A HESITATION IN MAINTAINING DRIVING SPEED. THE CAR WILL THEN SHOW A WARNING TO SERVICE THE STABILITRACK SYSTEM. WHEN THIS OCCURS BRAKES FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING LOOSE THAT IS BETWEEN BRAKE PAD AND DISC. DEALERSHIP SAID IT NEEDED TO REPROGRAM THE MODULE. THEY DID BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. NOW MODULE NEEDS REPLACING. THE VEHICLE IS A HAZARD SHOULD BRAKES FAIL OR LOCK UP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346912 · 2010-08-02 (August 2, 2010)
THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER RECALL 10153 IS NOT SUFFICIENT. THEY ARE NOT OFFERING A REPAIR BUT TO DISABLE IT. I AND MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE THIS OPTION ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE RECALL DONE BECAUSE WE WANT THIS FEATURE TO WORK. BECAUSE OF THIS MANY ARE AT RISK. WHAT IF SOMEONE DOES NOT GET IT DONE AND PARKS THEIR VEHICLE UNDER AN APARTMENT COMPLEX GARAGE AND IT IGNITES? EVEN PEOPLE WHO THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS CAR ARE AT RISK. I BOUGHT A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE CAR THEN I REALLY NEEDED BECAUSE OF THIS FEATURE. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIND A NEW VENDOR TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496477 · 2013-02-05 (February 5, 2013)
AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER IN THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. AS I WAS ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED STREET INSIDE A DEVELOPMENT I WAS ABLE TO STOP NEAR THE CURB. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE AND A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK CAME AFTER 1 HOUR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A BUICK DEALER THAT I NORMALLY USE. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION MODULE AND 3 IGNITION COILS THAT WERE SUPPOSEDLY DAMAGED BY THE FAILING IGNITION COIL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AS THE SUDDE…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,871 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583797 · 2014-04-22 (April 22, 2014)
2008 BUICK LUCERNE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR LOCKING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOORS WOULD LOCK ON THEIR OWN. A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE DOORS LOCKED WITH THE CONSUMER STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT, EVEN THOUGH SHE PRESSED THE UNLOCK BUTTON. THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE IGNITION , MODULE WAS REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10583797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238469 · 2008-08-16 (August 16, 2008)
THIS IS A REPORT OF A DESIGN FLAW THAT MIGHT RESULT IN A SAFETY ISSUE. I RECENTLY TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE CXL. I PURCHASED THE OPTIONAL SIX-PASSENGER VERSION WHICH MEANS THAT THE GEARSHIFT LEVER IS MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN INSTEAD OF ON A FLOOR CONSOLE, LIKE MOST OTHER CARS. WHEN THE GEARSHIFT LEVER IS IN THE "DRIVE" POSITION, THE VIEW OF THE RADIO DISPLAY IS OBSCURED, CAUSING ME TO MOVE MY HEAD TO LOOK AROUND THE GEARSHIFT LEVER TO VIEW THE DISPLAY. AS A RESULT, MY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD IS MUCH MORE DISTRACTED THAN IF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10238469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10290149 · 2009-10-28 (October 28, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN SEVERE RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. SUDDENLY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER EXERTED GREATER EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SPEED WAS REDUCED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE GEAR SHIFT WAS PLACED INTO " NEUTRAL" POSITION AND THEN TO THE "DRIVE" POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE FAILURE OCCUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10594201 · 2014-05-27 (May 27, 2014)
WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE ON RAMP TO A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO FLOOR. (NO FLOOR MATS OR OTHER ITEMS WERE IN THE ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.) CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING, AND PEDAL CONTINUED TO STICK TO THE FLOOR DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO RELEASE. RPM'S WERE OVER 4500. SINCE I COULDN'T GET THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO RELEASE, I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. ABOUT 20 SECONDS AFTER SHIFTING, RPM'S WENT DOWN TO NORMAL AND PEDAL RELEASED. AT THAT TIME I COULD GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN TO A NORMAL SPEED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 81,997 miles reported. Look up ODI 10594201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10638961 · 2014-09-25 (September 25, 2014)
AS I BEGAN TO ENTER A MAJOR HIGHWAY MY TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD. I ALMOST WAS STRUCK MY AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER(TRACTOR-TRAILER). THE FORWARD DRIVE BAND COMPLETELY BROKE IN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING.
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10638961 at NHTSA ↗