Problems · NHTSA complaints
2009 Buick Lucerne problems
Owners filed 128 complaints about the 2009 Buick Lucerne with NHTSA between Jan 2009 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (76).
Complaints
128
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
17
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system76
- Fuel/propulsion system36
- Structure8
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Engine7
- Steering6
- Electronic stability control (esc)6
- Vehicle speed control5
- Air bags5
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- Seats2
- Wheels2
- Visibility2
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 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
5
3
1
5
9
20
17
19
14
11
3
4
2
5
3
0
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 3 |
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
76 reports1 crash15 fires2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that upon inspection he became aware that one of the relays from the electric fuel pump under the rear passenger’s seat needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the fuel pump relay prong base had melted due to overheating. In addition, the contact stated that the fuse was a 10.01 AMP instead of a 5 AMP which could have caused the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred 2 days later. The manufacturer was made not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.”
Fuel/propulsion system
36 reports5 fires
“The car died suddenly and would not start, with no warnings or codes. Towed it to a Midas repair shop and it was diagnosed as a corroded Low Profile Fuel Pump relay. This was replaced, and the car ran fine for 3 days before going dead in the middle of driving and left me stranded in an intersection. Had to get it towed back to Midas where it was more accurately diagnosed that the issue with the relay was being caused by a faulty Rear Electrical Center. Both of these parts have been recalled, and I have only owned this car for a little over a year. It has only around 40,000 miles on it. Despite this recall, upon taking the car to the local Buick dealership, they stated they could not cover the recall due to it being expired before I even owned the car. I do not understand how it is right or fair for this to have to be paid out of pocket, for $183.53 and $818.81 respectively, when it is not my fault, it is a faulty GM parts issue, and GM stated they will not stand behind their product and cover the recall despite the evident risk to my safety if I was to continue driving the car without repair. I understand it is expired, but I fail to see how this is ethical…”
Structure
8 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED UPON EXITING A HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. AS THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE, SHE INITIALLY SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE; SHE THEN SAW A FLAME IGNITE FROM THE BOTTOM REAR PASSENGER SEAT. SHE STATED THAT SHE WAS INITIALLY UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS OR ROLL DOWN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW; AFTER A SECOND ATTEMPT, SHE WAS ABLE TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. A FELLOW MOTORIST SAW THE SITUATION AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AT THE SCENE AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT JUNK YARD. THE CONTACT CALLED PENSKE BUICK GMC(100 S MUSEUM RD, SHILLINGTON, PA 19607) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.”
Fuel system, gasoline
7 reports
“The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact was able to safely drive onto the shoulder, and the tow truck was contacted. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuel relay had failed. The contact was informed that the relay had failed due to the location under the driver’s side rear seat, and while touching the motor terminal. The contact stated that there was a TSB associated with the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were contacted. The failure mileage was 70,000.”
Engine
7 reports1 crash1 fire
“The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the fuel pump relay overheated and burned the fuse box. The accelerator pedal and steering wheel became inoperable. The contact was able to control the vehicle and park the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact replaced the relay, but the vehicle failed to start. The contact called the local dealer and was advised to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.”
Steering
6 reports
“I LOOSE MY POWER STEERING WHEN ITS IS RAINING AND WET OUTSIDE. I GO THROOUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS , BUT TOSE FEW SECONDS COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TRAFFIC IS HEAVY.THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL TO PARK I LOST POWER AND ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR, I HAD TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN IT AND PARK THE CAR. I WAS TERRIFIED.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.