2011 Buick Lucerne
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 23 of 49 complaints (47%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 54 in 2010 to 49 in 2011.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | vs. 2011 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950–3,450 | 3,100–3,450 | 2,950–3,450 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–21 | 18–20 | 18–21 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–17 / 22–26 | 15–17 / 22–26 | 15–17 / 23–26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423–494 | 444–494 | 423–494 | |
| Complaints filed | 128 | 54 | 49 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 2 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 17 | 2 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2011 Buick Lucerne have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2011 Buick Lucerne?
Electrical: 23 of 49 NHTSA complaints (47%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Buick Lucerne get?
EPA rates it 18–21 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 Buick Lucerne?
EPA estimates $2,950–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.9L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Large Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 4.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · Campaign 14V355000 · Jun 23, 2014
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES · Campaign 10V553000 · Nov 9, 2010
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.