2011 Buick LUCERNE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Buick LUCERNE has 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 77. The most common issue is electrical problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 buick lucerne. the contact stated that the park assist would flash on and off intermittently and would no longer beep properly. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where he ran a diagnostic test on the vehicle but was unable to diagnose the failure. the contact spoke to t. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.
66
Total Complaints
2
Recalls Issued
4/5
Safety Stars
0.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
ELECTRICAL
23 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARK ASSIST WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD NO LONGER BEEP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO T
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARK ASSIST WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD NO LONGER BEEP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2011 Buick LUCERNE
Based on 47 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 50K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
ENGINE
ELECTRICAL
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (2)
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.
Charging Cost Calculator for 2011 Buick LUCERNE
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2011 Buick LUCERNE
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Buick New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Buick. If you're buying a used 2011 LUCERNE, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Buick dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
EV Incentives for 2011 Buick LUCERNE
Updated 2026-07Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30
Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.
State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)
Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 66 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARK ASSIST WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD NO LONGER BEEP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: NEW BUICK LUCERNE DOES NOT HAVE ROOM FOR A SIZE 12 SHOE TO PROPERLY OPERATE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE PANEL UNDER THE DASHBOARD IS IN THE CORRECT POSITION. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. AT TIMES, THE SITUATION PREVENTS PROPER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. *TT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BROKE 11-13-2011 WITH 688 MILES. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY HAD OVERHEATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Buick dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Buick LUCERNE — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 66
- Recalls
- 2
- Fire reports
- 5
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 5
- Segment avg
- 77
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Buick LUCERNE