Buick Lucerne Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Buick Lucerne model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2011 drew the fewest (49) and the 2006 the most (330).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Among the fewest complaints |
49 | 2 | Electrical system | 4★ | 18–21 |
| 2010 Among the fewest complaints |
54 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 18–20 |
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
128 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 18–21 |
| 2007 Among the most complaints |
164 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 18–20 |
| 2008 Among the most complaints |
218 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 18–19 |
| 2006 Among the most complaints |
330 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 18–20 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Buick Lucerne years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2006 Buick Lucerne: 330 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 101 (31%); Structure 59 (18%); Steering 43 (13%).
Reports mention 29 crashes, 2 fires, 23 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 51,193 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2008 Buick Lucerne: 218 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 121 (56%); Fuel/propulsion system 50 (23%); Engine 24 (11%).
Reports mention 13 crashes, 26 fires, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 66,900 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2007 Buick Lucerne: 164 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 59 (36%); Air bags 24 (15%); Engine 17 (10%).
Reports mention 21 crashes, 20 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 50,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
The Buick Lucerne years with the fewest complaints
2011 Buick Lucerne: 49 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 23 (47%); Service brakes 5 (10%); Vehicle speed control 5 (10%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 40,480 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2010 Buick Lucerne: 54 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 19 (35%); Fuel/propulsion system 12 (22%); Steering 9 (17%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 56,576 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2009 Buick Lucerne: 128 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 76 (59%); Fuel/propulsion system 36 (28%); Fuel system 9 (7%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 17 fires, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 79,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Buick Lucerne owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 49 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 40,480 |
| 2010 | 54 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 56,576 |
| 2009 | 128 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 79,000 |
| 2008 | 218 | 13 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 66,900 |
| 2007 | 164 | 21 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 50,000 |
| 2006 | 330 | 29 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 51,193 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Buick Lucerne recalls
- Ignition Switch may Turn Off (2006–2011 model years; 3,141,731 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2014; 14V355000)
- HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER MODULE SHORT CIRCUIT (2006–2009 model years; 1,365,070 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2010; 10V240000)
- HEATED WIPER WASHER SYSTEM (2006–2008 model years; 857,735 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2008; 08V441000)
- FMVSS 118/SUNROOF (2007 model year; 16,677 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2007; 07V468000)
- BATTERY CABLE ROUTING VARIATION (2010–2011 model years; 13,780 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2010; 10V553000)
All 6 Buick Lucerne recall campaigns · Buick Lucerne problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Buick Lucerne years FAQ
Which Buick Lucerne year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2011 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (49). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Buick Lucerne years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2006, 2008 and 2007 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Buick Lucerne problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (399 of 943 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Buick Lucerne have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the Buick Lucerne. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Buick Lucerne recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.