2007 Buick LUCERNE: complaints, problems and recalls

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE PRESENTED A PERMANENT PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH DID NOT ILLUMINATE PROPERLY DURING THE DAY WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN TURNING RADIUS WAS PROBLEMATIC WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM A U-TURN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND EXPRESSED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN FEATURE THAT COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10173575 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN DAYLIGHT, THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION WAS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. THE DEALER DETERMINED IT OPERATED AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 2/20/2007 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 1,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176226 at NHTSA ↗

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 2007 BUICK LUCERNE IN DAYLIGHT, THE DASHBOARD INTERIOR INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT ILLUMINATING PROPERLY. IN THE DAYTIME THE CONTACT CAN BARELY SEE THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL OR TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THE CONTACT HAS TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A REMEDY TO REPAIR FAILURE; THEY ARE HOPING TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURE. *NM UPDATED 02/22/07.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178553 at NHTSA ↗

AIR BAG & AIR CURTAIN ARE INOPERABLE DUE TO MASH SWITCH IN SEAT THAT CANNOT ACCOMMODATE A PASSENGER IN THE 100 LB. RANGE. BUICK CLAIMS THERE HANDS ARE TIED AND CANNOT MODIFY BECAUSE OF FEDERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES BUT THAT LEAVE THE RIGHT SIDE SAFETY ACCOMMODATIONS UNUSABLE AND DOES NOT PROTECT THE PASSENGER. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178914 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER SAFETY COMPLAINT: I HAVE A NEW 2007 LUCERNE AND I JUST USED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A SNOWFALL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER IS AIMED ABOVE THE WIPER BLADES, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE IS NO DEFROSTING OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE WIPER BLADES. AS THE SNOW IS WIPED DOWNWARDS FROM THE WINDSHIELD BY THE BLADES, IT RESULTS IN THE FORMATION OF A LARGE CLUMP OF ICE FORMING IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE WIPERS, TO WHICH THE WIPERS THEN FREEZE SOLID TO THE ICE. SINCE THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER IS AIMED ABOVE THE WIPER BLADES, THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182400 at NHTSA ↗

DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING, INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN NOT BE SEEN DUE TO SHADOWS AND NO LIGHTING. THIS INCLUDES THE SPEEDOMETER, SO THAT CAR SPEED IS QUESTIONABLE. DEALER AND GM TECHNICAL CENTER HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183605 at NHTSA ↗

2007 BUICK LUCERNE CXL CUSTOMER HAS CONCERNS WITH SAFETY FACTORS**NAR**CC THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS DEEPLY RECESSED. THE PANEL SHOWING THE MILES PER HOUR IS DARK COLORED WITH A DARK BACKGROUND, AND A DARK RED NEEDLE, WHICH IS THE SAME FOR THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE AND FUEL LEVEL INDICATORS. DURING THE DAY LIGHT HOURS, THE LIGHT SHINING ON THE MILES PER HOUR DOES NOT SHINE ON THESE AREAS AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY TO MAKE THE PANEL LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME . *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10185816 at NHTSA ↗

BUICK LUCERNE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DASH IS TO DIFFICULT TO READ IN THE DAYLIGHT**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS RECESSED DEEPLY. THE PANEL SHOWING THE MILES PER HOUR IS DARK COLRORED, WITH A DARK BACKGROUND, AND A DARK RED NEEDLE, WHICH IS THE SAME ON THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE AND FUEL LEVEL INDICATORS. *JB UPDATED *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10186875 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-10-04 (October 4, 2007)

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 118, 'POWER OPERATED WINDOW, PARTITION, AND ROOF PANEL SYSTEMS.' UNDER THE STANDARD, THE SUNROOF MAY ONLY BE CLOSED WHEN THE IGNITION IS ON, OR AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, BUT BEFORE EITHER OF THE FRONT DOORS ARE OPENED. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE SUNROOF CAN BE CLOSED AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND THE DOORS ARE OPENED.

Consequence: THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES REQUIREMENTS FOR POWER OPERATED WINDOW, PARTITION, AND ROOF PANEL SYSTEMS TO MINIMIZE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DEATH OR INJURY FROM THEIR ACCIDENTAL OPERATION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 29, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

Reported: 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)

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: 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.