2011 Buick Lucerne recalls and problems

The 2011 Buick Lucerne has 2 safety recalls and 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Buick dealer.

Recalls
2
Complaints
49
Crashes / fires
3 / 3
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2011 Buick Lucerne vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2011 Buick Lucerne recalls

Recall 14V-355: Electrical System

Reported Jun 23, 2014 · 3,141,731 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 10V-553: Electrical System

Reported Nov 5, 2010 · 13,780 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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 problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System23
Vehicle Speed Control5
Fuel/Propulsion System4
Service Brakes4
Engine and Engine Cooling3
Power Train3
Engine3
Visibility2
Tires2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Steering2
Equipment2

Most reported parts

  • Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump — 2
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 1
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 1
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System — 1
  • Equipment › Other › Owners/Service/Other Manual — 1
  • Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control — 1
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings — 1
  • Tires › Sidewall — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 40,480 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2011 Buick Lucerne complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported Apr 21, 2026
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.
Structure · reported Apr 20, 2026
The vehicle’s instrument cluster appears to be a non-original unit that may not be correct for the model year. The cluster is responsible for displaying the odometer and communicating with other vehicle systems. After purchase, I observed that diagnostic scan tools could not consistently access or communicate with multiple modules, and an experienced mechanic indicated the instrument cluster may be incompatible with the vehicle’s configuration. Because the odometer reading is displayed through this component, there is concern that the mileage may not be independently verifiable. The…
Fuel/Propulsion System · reported Mar 28, 2026
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.…
Structure · at 28,000 miles · reported Jan 28, 2026
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.
Tires · reported Jan 8, 2026
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…

Other Buick Lucerne years

Compare all Buick Lucerne years · All Buick models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Buick Lucerne have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2011 Buick Lucerne: 14V-355 (electrical system), 10V-553 (electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2011 Buick Lucerne?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (23 reports), followed by vehicle speed control (5). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 40,480 miles.

Are Buick recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Buick dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.