YearToAvoid

2011 Buick Lucerne Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 2 Lucerne years

The 2011 Buick Lucerne has 49 NHTSA complaints, 2 recalls, and a complaint index of 100, ranking as the worst of the 2 model years with data. Electrical system problems dominate, making up 47% of complaints.

Complaints
49
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 3
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
19.5
16 city / 24.5 hwy

Top 2011 Buick Lucerne problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System23 (47%)
  2. Engine11 (22%)
  3. Fuel System6 (12%)
  4. Brakes5 (10%)
  5. Other3 (6%)
  6. Structure & Body3 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain3 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers3 (6%)
  10. Steering2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds, in some cases leading to a crash into a wall.
  • Some vehicles produced a loud grinding or breaking-metal noise from the engine before failing.
  • A fuel pump relay reportedly overheated, producing an electrical burning smell and preventing the vehicle from starting.
  • Key fobs reportedly stopped working and the electrical system failed, in one case locking an owner inside the car.
  • New vehicles arrived with distorted windshield glass at the bottom, described as a safety hazard.
  • Tires reportedly developed flat spots and caused wobbling at highway speeds on newly delivered vehicles.
2011 Buick Lucerne complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2011Nov 2011Apr 2013Jan 2015Mar 2017Jun 2018Jan 2020Mar 2024
64 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2011 to Apr 2026; peak Apr 2026 (4).

2011 Buick Lucerne recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V355000Jun 23, 2014Electrical System3,141,731 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 10V553000Nov 5, 2010Electrical System13,780 vehicles

    Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2011 Buick Lucerne fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
24.5 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,350
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Lucerne years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict054220
2011No verdict10049219.5

All Buick Lucerne years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2011 Buick Lucerne have?
NHTSA lists 49 complaints for the 2011 Buick Lucerne, with the Electrical System accounting for 47% of them.
Are there recalls on the 2011 Buick Lucerne?
Yes, there are 2 recalls, both involving the Electrical System: one for an airbag key-ring defect and one for a starter/alternator cable contacting the power steering line.
Is the 2011 Buick Lucerne the worst model year?
Among the 2 model years with data, the 2011 ranks worst with a complaint index of 100.
What is the top problem area for the 2011 Lucerne?
The top problem area is the Electrical System, with 23 complaints, 3 fires, and a median mileage at failure of 106,000.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Buick Lucerne?
EPA rates the 2011 Buick Lucerne at 19.5 mpg combined (16 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.