2009 Buick Lucerne problems
Owners have filed 185 complaints about the 2009 Buick Lucerne with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 41.1% of them — the clear leader, ahead of fuel/propulsion system at 19.5%.
Complaints185
Crashes11
Fires24
Injuries8
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 41.1% · 76
Fuel/propulsion system 19.5% · 36
Structure 4.9% · 9
Fuel system, gasoline 3.8% · 7
Engine 3.8% · 7
Steering 3.2% · 6
Electronic stability control (ESC) 3.2% · 6
Air bags 2.7% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 11 describe a crash, 24 describe a fire and 8 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 4 model years of the Buick Lucerne in this data, 2009 draws comparatively few complaints; 2006 is the outlier year.
Filings are rising — 17 in the last three years against 12 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 80,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Fuel pump relay burned out 3 times in less than a month, and the car would not start, causing the fuse block to burn. The first time, the vehicle was parked in the garage, and wouldnt start one morning, causing me to have to call off work. The next time, vehicle was in motion, on a city street, on my way to work one morning, and the power steering and acceleration died, causing me to have no control of the vehicle. Electrical system · reported at 62,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel relay fuse melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired on three separate occasions, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 119,000. The vin was not available. Electrical system · reported at 119,000 miles
I had just driven the car on a 2 hour trip with no issue. I drove that trip in the morning and that afternoon I went to start the car and the starter was going but the engine wouldn't start. I lifted the back seat to find an awful smell coming from the fuse box. I pulled the fuel pump fuse to find it singed. The vehicle will be needing a new fuse box and I'm still waiting to find the part. Electrical system · reported at 82,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…