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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Buick LUCERNE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

49 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

38,740 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 49 complaints (46.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1326.5%
Fuel system concerns1122.4%
Braking behavior612.2%
Engine operation36.1%
Steering behavior36.1%
Transmission and shifting24.1%

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.

Electrical System
23
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
Service Brakes
4
Vehicle Speed Control
4
Engine
3
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
2
Power Train
2
Steering
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System23
Fuel/Propulsion System4
Service Brakes4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Engine3
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump2
Power Train2
Steering2

Electrical System: 23; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Engine: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
15
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
8
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9998
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 13 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.

2011
8
2012
3
2013
2
2014
8
2015
3
2016
2
2017
3
2018
5
2019
4
2020
3
2021
1
2022
1
2024
1
2026
5
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20118
20123
20132
20148
20153
20162
20173
20185
20194
20203
20211
20221
20241
20265

2011: 8; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 8; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 5

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10378505 · 2011-01-24 (January 24, 2011)

NEW 2011 BUICK LUCERNE WAS DELIVERED WITH WINDSHIELD GLASS SEVERELY DISTORTING IN BOTTOM TWO INCHES CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD, INCLUDING NAUSEA WHEN DRIVING. OTHER CARS ON THE LOT WERE NOTED WITH THE SAME DEFECT. GM REPRESENTATIVE STATES THAT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAYS OTHER CARS HAVE IT, THEREFORE IT IS NOT UNSAFE AND WILL NOT BE FIXED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378505 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10384175 · 2011-02-23 (February 23, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARK ASSIST WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD NO LONGER BEEP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY YET AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,600.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10384175 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10387000 · 2011-03-09 (March 9, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE WITH CUSTOM BUILT VOGUE RADIAL IX TIRES, LINE SIZE P235/55/R17 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ABOVE, THE TIRES WOULD WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING FLAT SPOTS AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,500. UPDATED 04/5/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE HAVE BEEN REPLACED NINE TIMES UPDATED 04/05/11

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10387000 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10407619 · 2011-06-20 (June 20, 2011)

NEW BUICK LUCERNE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR DOES NOT COVER BLIND SPOTS. DEALER SAYS IT WORKS AS DESIGNED, AND "TO BE HONEST, YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT". IT WAS NOT CORRECTED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407619 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10407622 · 2011-06-20 (June 20, 2011)

NEW BUICK LUCERNE DOES NOT HAVE ROOM FOR A SIZE 12 SHOE TO PROPERLY OPERATE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE PANEL UNDER THE DASHBOARD IS IN THE CORRECT POSITION. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. AT TIMES, THE SITUATION PREVENTS PROPER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407622 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10426438 · 2011-09-20 (September 20, 2011)

WHILE DRIVE ON FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH; WENT INTO A SLIT LEFT CORNER AND UPON EXITING THE CORNER THE STEERING HUNG UP AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO THE RIGHT. WITH MUCH PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT THERE WAS A POP IN THE STEERING AND THE CAR RESPONDED TO THE RIGHT. WITH IN A MINUTE ON THE NEXT CORNER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 10 MILES AND PARKED ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WHILE DRIVING THOUGHT THE PARKING LOT ON A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN IT HAPPENED A 3RD TIME AND TOOK MORE FORCE TO GET THE STEERING TO FREE UP TO THE RIGHT. IT …

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10426438 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10435381 · 2011-11-13 (November 13, 2011)

FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BROKE 11-13-2011 WITH 688 MILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 688 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435381 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10440793 · 2011-12-21 (December 21, 2011)

2011 BUICK LUCERNE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A SHIFT CONTROL LINKAGE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF JERKING WHEN THE ENGINE SHIFTED AND THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10440793 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

10V553000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables

Reported: 2010-11-05 (November 5, 2010)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V355000 · Electrical System:Ignition

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗