2009 Buick LUCERNE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
128 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 107 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 128 complaints (51.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 55 | 43.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 10.9% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 7.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 66 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 36 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 7 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
Electrical System: 66; Fuel/Propulsion System: 36; Structure:Body: 8; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 7; Engine: 7; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 6; Steering: 6; Air Bags: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 33 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 21 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2009: 4; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 5; 2014: 9; 2015: 20; 2016: 17; 2017: 19; 2018: 14; 2019: 11; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 55 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 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 10680899 · 2015-02-03 (February 3, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING IN PETOSKEY THE CAR STARTED TO MISS AN BACKFIRING THEN THE MOTOR STOP RUNNING. I COULDN'T STOP OR STEER THE CAR. AFTER I GOT THE CAR FINELY STOPPED THE CAR WOULDN'T START UP AN I COULD SMELL LIKE WIRE BURNING. I HAD THE CAR DELIVERED TO AN AUTO SHOP BROWN MOTORS IN HARBOR SPRINGS MI. AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS THEY FOUND THAT THE FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS BURNED UP AT THE FUEL PUMP FUSE, AN WAS ON FIRE AT ONE TIME.. THE FUSE BLOCK WAS BEYOND FIXING AN NEEDED A NEW ONE INSTALLED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH, B…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,290 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10690563 · 2015-02-25 (February 25, 2015)
AFTER RETURNING FROM A TWO HOUR TRIP I PARKED MY CAR AT HOME. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD ONLY TURN OVER.A MECHANIC FOUND THE FUEL PUMP DEFECTIVE, FUEL PUMP RELAY BURNT AND THE POWER PANEL BURNT AS WELL.
Owner-reported narrative. 84,453 miles reported. Look up ODI 10690563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565651 · 2014-02-24 (February 24, 2014)
RED LIGHT WARNING INDICATED THAT AIRBAG NEEDED SERVICING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THIS. SEEMS STRANGE THAT A 5 YR. OLD AUTOMOBILE WITH LOW MILEAGE SHOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW SYSTEM OR HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 39,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10636903 · 2014-09-17 (September 17, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10636903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644473 · 2014-10-14 (October 14, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680853 · 2015-02-03 (February 3, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL OF WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT REAR FUSE BOX HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 7/7/15*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342180 · 2010-07-09 (July 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. WHEN ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO TIGHTENED THE BOLTS IN THE SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR AND BOTH FRONT END STRUTS WERE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR AND AN AUTH…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546718 · 2013-10-04 (October 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THEY DID REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE STEERING GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000. ...UPDATED 11-18-13 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 23,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280416 · 2009-08-14 (August 14, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND DAMAGED THE FRONT END WHEN IT CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT REFUSES TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WILL TEST DRIVE IT THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10311418 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
MY WIFE WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR A CAR TO LEAVE A PARKING SPOT. SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE READY TO PUT IT IN PARK. THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND SHE COULD NOT STOP IT WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. SHE HIT A BUILDING AND 3 VEHICLES BEFORE SHE WAS STOPPED BY THE 3RD VEHICLE. SHE WAS HEADED FOR ANOTHER PART OF THE BUILDING WHEN SHE STOPPED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.THERE WAS LESS THAN 600 MILES ON THE CAR. FORTUNATELY NO WAS INJURED BADLY. MY WIFE HAS DRIVEN 31 YEARS WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THIS WAS NOT HER FAULT. SOMEONE COULD HAVE EASILY…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10374595 · 2011-01-05 (January 5, 2011)
2009 BUICK LUCERNE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDING BRAKE ROTOR ISSUES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED AND THE FRONT PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED NOT LESS THAN A MONTH PRIOR, EVERYTHING CHECK OUT FINE AND NOW 536 MILES LATER THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE CONSUMER NOT DOWN SHIFTING PROPERLY WHILE …
Owner-reported narrative. 23,094 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374595 at NHTSA ↗