Problems · NHTSA complaints
2006 Buick Lucerne problems
Owners filed 330 complaints about the 2006 Buick Lucerne with NHTSA between Jan 2006 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (101).
Complaints
330
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
29
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
23
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system101
- Structure59
- Steering43
- Air bags35
- Latches/locks/linkages24
- Engine21
- Vehicle speed control21
- Wheels18
- Suspension16
- Power train14
- Interior lighting13
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Service brakes11
- Tires11
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
60
29
8
10
12
22
17
19
68
26
20
8
7
8
7
3
3
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 60 |
| 2007 | 29 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 68 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
101 reports5 crashes2 fires3 related recalls
“The airbag lights on and there is an electrical issue also that causes the car to smoke and nearly catch fire, as soon as the battery is reconnected. Therefore rendering it non drivable. It's the same problems that are associated with the 2006 Lucern,s. When i look up the year make and model it says there should be a recall but once you put in the vin it nothing comes up.The vehicle is readily available upon request but has not been inspected by anyone else.”
Structure
59 reports5 crashes
“FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LATCH HAS COME LOOSE MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. IT TEMPORARILY FIXES ITSELF, THEN RANDOMLY OCCURS AGAIN. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A HAZARD IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST LUCERNE THAT I'VE DRIVEN WITH THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S QUITE COMMON. THERE IS NO SAFETY LOCK ON THE DOOR FOR THIS TO KEEP HAPPENING.”
Steering
43 reports5 crashes1 related recall
“I have 2006 buick lucerne.i paid over 800 dollars get brakes fixed.now they saying messed up again power steering messed up.the front passenger side where tire hits bump makes nise like strut.power steering fluid leaking brake fliud leaking.air bags.”
Air bags
35 reports18 crashes
“The contact owns a 2006 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Latches/locks/linkages
24 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 02/26/16*LJ THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE LATCHES AT HIS EXPENSE. CORROSION AND WEAK SPRINGS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 03/16/16*JB”
Engine
21 reports1 crash1 fire
“My power steering went out so my mechanic checked it out and said my pump went out so I bought a new power steering pump and pulley had it put on and that didn't fix the problem. The next day I went out of town to visit family and my car caught on fire due to the power steering fluid leaked all out on the motor and got hot enough to catch on fire. then my ignition stoped going all the way in park so I would have to disconect my battery cables so that it wouldn't run my battery down. The car wouldn't go all the way up in park making the ignition key wouldn't turn back far enough to shut my car off and lights”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.