2009 Buick LUCERNE: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. AFTER JUST PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WITH 400 MILES, IT DEVELOPED HEADLIGHT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND KEPT FLIPPING THE SWITCH UP AND DOWN UNTIL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVING HOME WITHIN A 45 MILE RADIUS. ONLY THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ACTIVATED ALL NIGHT. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK ON JANUARY 9, 2008 TO CHECK THE LIGHTS. THE FAILUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253995 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN MY DAUGHTER UNSTRAPPED HER SEATBELT SHE ASKED, "WHAT'S THIS MOM?" IT WAS THE BOLT AT THE END OF THE SEATBELT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO THE CAR. IT JUST HAPPENED ONCE BECAUSE WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET FIXED. THE BOLT WAS ATTACHED AND THE OTHER SEATBELTS IN THE BACK SEAT WERE ALSO CHECKED AND THEY WERE FINE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 805 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259425 at NHTSA ↗

DOOR STOPPERS DONT HOLD DOOR IN OR ON SMALL INCLINE CAUSES DOOR TO CLOSE ON LEG OR LEGS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265910 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS FRONT HEAD REST WERE NOT ALIGNED WITH THE SEATS. IF THE SEAT WAS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, THE HEAD REST WOULD UNCOMFORTABLY PUSH THE OCCUPANTS HEAD FORWARD. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD REST WERE DESIGNED EXTREMELY BIG WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE CHANGING LANES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329698 at NHTSA ↗

OUR NEW 2009 BUICK LUCERNE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR IT KEPT GOING FASTER FINALLY WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE LANES AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL STILL IT WAS ACCELERATING FULL AND I THOUGH IT WOULD BLOW A ROD THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS THE TURN OFF THE KEY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,114 miles reported. Look up ODI 10332684 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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.