What breaks most · 2006 to 2011 model years
Buick Lucerne problems by year
Owners have filed 802 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Buick Lucerne across model years 2006 to 2011. Three years stand out: 2006 for electrical system complaints, 2008 for electrical system complaints and 2007 for electrical system complaints. The quietest years are 2009.
- Years to check closely: 2006, 2008, 2007
- Fewest complaints: 2009
- Complaints on file
- 8022006 to 2011, all trims
- Worst year
- 2006311 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 7331 fires · 57 injuries · 1 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 60kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 17Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 311 | 29 | 4 | Electrical system (92) | |
| 156 | 21 | 4 | Electrical system (58) | |
| 161 | 12 | 3 | Electrical system (82) | |
| 101 | 6 | 2 | Electrical system (56) | |
| 37 | 2 | 2 | Steering (7) | |
| 36 | 3 | 2 | Electrical system (16) |
What fails on the 2006 Buick Lucerne
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 30% |
92 | 5 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2006 Buick Lucerne |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 18% |
56 | 5 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2006 Buick Lucerne |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 12% |
38 | 5 | Shop steering parts for the 2006 Buick Lucerne |
| Air bags | 10% |
32 | 18 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Latches and locksDoor latches and actuators | 8% |
24 | 0 | Shop latches and locks parts for the 2006 Buick Lucerne |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 6% |
19 | 2 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2006 Buick Lucerne |
| Wheels | 6% |
18 | 3 | — |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 5% |
17 | 1 | Shop engine parts for the 2006 Buick Lucerne |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
I replaced my sensor and my thermostat because the dashboard said the car was overheating after replacing it the dashboard continues to say the car is overheating. It's doing it while driving on public street and highways
-
2008 buick lucerne. Consumer writes seeking reimbursement for vehicle repairs. *ld the consumer requested to be reimbursed for repairs to the rear electrical center. The vehicle exceeded the mileage parameters. *js
-
I have no heat coming out of the passenger side of the vents. The blower works but there is no heat had it flushed twice and put in a new thermostat no change
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Buick Lucerne years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2006, 2008, 2007 carry the most filings on the Buick Lucerne. The 2006 alone has 311 complaints, led by electrical system.
What is the most common Buick Lucerne problem?
On the 2006 model year, the most-reported component is electrical system with 92 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Buick Lucerne problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Buick Lucerne complaints that include mileage is about 60,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.