Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 2 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

2 total · 2 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Electrical system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 14V355000 · Jun 2014

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.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Electrical system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 10V553000 · Nov 2010

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.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

49 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
12

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 3 mention an injury.

transmission slipping 3unintended acceleration 3electrical shorts 2
A recent report: Fuel pump relay is overheating to dangerously high temperatures. At least 211 F degrees. Causes the fuel pump fuse to melt leaving me stranded. Immediate replacement of the 20 AMP fuse is necessary…
Read full complaint

Fuel pump relay is overheating to dangerously high temperatures. At least 211 F degrees. Causes the fuel pump fuse to melt leaving me stranded. Immediate replacement of the 20 AMP fuse is necessary to get the car running again. The fuel pump relay gets really hot even if the AC is not on. Waited for hour and a half in near 100 F degree heat for a tow truck to it home. I’m lucky the car did not catch on fire. I know quite a few of the Buick Lucerne’s have had recalls regarding this item. Picture of the actual car is included. No police report was necessary as this was a breakdown situation. This has utterly disrupted my life because I do not have access to a car with good air conditioning until this problem is repaired.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11727683 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
22

Most reports here involve electrical shorts.

electrical shorts 11sudden stalling 5
A recent report: Vehicle purchased used through Carvana. Battery installed at purchase was approximately 10 years old and later failed, causing starting issues and an instance of power loss while driving that left…
Read full complaint

Vehicle purchased used through Carvana. Battery installed at purchase was approximately 10 years old and later failed, causing starting issues and an instance of power loss while driving that left the vehicle stranded. Battery has been replaced and original battery retained.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11732618 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
4

Most reports here involve loss of braking.

loss of braking 3corrosion 1
A recent report: ABS LIGHT AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ON. SO I HAVE NO ABS FUNCTION OF THE BRAKES. HAD FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED BUT DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE LIGHT STILL ON.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11402622 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
4

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 1loss of steering 1sudden stalling 1
A recent report: Passenger rear tire blew out the side wall all around the tire. The dealer that installed the tire has it for warranty. It was an large noise and I was able to pull to the side of the road…
Read full complaint

Passenger rear tire blew out the side wall all around the tire. The dealer that installed the tire has it for warranty. It was an large noise and I was able to pull to the side of the road immediately without loosing control. Yes the problem was reported to the dealer that put the new Falken tires on my car in September of 2025. The tires only had about 2,000 miles. My tire has tire pressure monitors on it, they did not alert me to a low tire pressure. I do have a few pictures of the tire showing the whole side wall blew out all around the tire. I am concerned for the safety of my family and anyone else that has this tire. I still have 4 of these tires on my car and I am worried that if another one blew out, it could end up in a serious crash.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11709739 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
2

Most reports here involve unintended acceleration. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

unintended acceleration 1software faults 1
A recent report: THE SEAT BELT WARNING BELL SOMETIMES DOES NOT BEEP UNTIL YOU ARE ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, THIS HAPPENS ON BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, THAT BELL SHOULD…
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THE SEAT BELT WARNING BELL SOMETIMES DOES NOT BEEP UNTIL YOU ARE ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, THIS HAPPENS ON BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, THAT BELL SHOULD RING IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO GEAR!

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10967930 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
4

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2011 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that while using the front driver's side interior door handle to exit the vehicle, there was an abnormal cracking sound coming from the door…
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The contact owns a 2011 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that while using the front driver's side interior door handle to exit the vehicle, there was an abnormal cracking sound coming from the door. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the front driver's side door handle was replaced approximately 4-5 times. The vehicle was recently repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11713841 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
1

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1
A recent report: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING ASSIST WOULD ONLY ALERT HIM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN FOUR AND A HALF FEET OF AN OBJECT. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SPECIFIED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING ASSIST WOULD ONLY ALERT HIM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN FOUR AND A HALF FEET OF AN OBJECT. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SPECIFIED THAT THE PARKING ASSIST SHOULD ALERT THE DRIVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN EIGHT FEET OF AN OBJECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE DEALER COMPARED THE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER ONE, AND RECEIVED THE SAME RESULTS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE SAME INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. UPDATED 07/13/12 *BF

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10461221 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 49 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2011 and 2026, roughly 3 a year, which is fewer than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2011 has 49 complaints on file, fewer than the 2010 (54). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.