2006 Buick Lucerne

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 330 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

264 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles; the median is 51,193 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System57
220
Steering26
303
Air Bags26
14015
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel21
000
Structure › Body19
100
Engine16
101
Latches/Locks/Linkages15
000
Wheels14
200
Structure › Body › Door11
000
Structure10
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Ignition14V355000
Filed Jun 23, 20143,141,731 vehiclesGeneral Motors Llc

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.

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.

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 System10V240000
Filed Jun 4, 20101,365,070 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Risk. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Electrical System08V441000
Filed Aug 28, 2008857,735 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Risk. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections06V105000
Filed Apr 5, 200612,862 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 ENGINE,THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTORS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY CRIMPED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FLUID LEAK.

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, POWER STEERING ASSIST MAY BE LOST AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED AT LOW SPEEDS. ALSO, IF THE POWER STEERING FLUID WERE TO CONTACT HOT ENGINE PARTS, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING GEAR INLET HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 OR CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Aug 27, 2024OH

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.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 20, 2023SC

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.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jan 22, 2023AR

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

Air Bags
Filed Sep 2, 2022TX

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.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 9, 2022FL

Passenger air bags are not working

Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2022MD

The car cuts off whwn you're driving it without warning. I have had the crankshaft position sensor replaced two times and it continues to fail. There are even reports in the internet that list this as a problem with this vehicle. I am afraid that someone will hit me from the rear and cause me injury or death. I am about to have this sensor replaced for a third time. It's absolutely ridiculous that I have to keep spending money out of my pocket for the same thing over and over again. This incident is a continual problem. It doesn't matter if you're stopped or driving it just happens out of the blue with no warning.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 30, 2021TN

I have a 2006 buick lucerne that loses power randomly as I'm driving whether its pulling outbjnto traffic, which could cause injuries possibly even death, or maintain a certain speed for any amount of time , it just randomly loses power and wont go for however long until it starts to accelerate again . Also if I'm at a red light or stopped waiting to pull out somewhere , although I have my foot on the break, my car begins to accelerate and almost pulling me out into traffic. I have a service engine light and the code reads h02s heating control circuit sensor but I've yet to have it inspected because there isn't a recall for my car on that problem even though I've heard and read many complaints with the same or similar issues

Engine
Filed Feb 9, 202170,000 milesCA

ALUMINUM V8 ENGINE LEAKING OIL PROFUSELY. NOW GETTING SMOKE AND ODOR WHILE DRIVING. MY CONCERN IS THAT OIL IS LEAKING ON TO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND COULD POSSIBLY IGNITE. I SUSPECT ENGINE BOLTS NEED TO BE RETORQUED WHICH WOULD NECESSITATE ENGINE REMOVAL TO ACCOMPLISH. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW WHICH NEEDS CORRECTING. LEAKS OCCUR DURING ALL PHASES OF OPERATION. THE LEAKS FIRST BECAME EVIDENT SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND HAVE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED SINCE.

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 16, 2021172,997 milesSC

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
Filed Nov 19, 2020100,000 milesNC

EVERY BUICK I HAVE EVERY HAD, HAD POWER STEERING ISSUES, INCLUDING MY NEWEST ONE. I JUST GOT A OIL CHANGE AND THEY TOPPED OFF EVERYTHING, YET MY POWER STEERING SOUNDS HORRIBLE WHEN TURNING.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 10, 2020134,000 milesMI

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF WINDSCREEN WIPERS ON A RANDOM BASIS

Steering
Filed Aug 8, 202080,000 milesOH

WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, IT LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND THE FLUID GUSHED FROM UNDER THE CAR. NOW THE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Mar 27, 2020125,000 milesNV

CAR DRAINS MY BATTERY AND IT MESSED UP MY ALTERNATOR. I REPLACED BOTH AND ONCE AGAIN MY BATTERY KEEPS BEING DRAINED. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ABOUT 10 CODES POPPED UP SAYING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. OTHER MODELS OF THIS BUICK HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. IL DRIVE MY CAR AND IT WILL COMPLETELY CUT OFF ON ME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. IL FIND MY PAPER WORK FROM THE MECHANIC IF NEEDED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS NOW. IT DIDNT HAPPEN JUST ONCE. SO I CANT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL ITS FIXED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 14, 202080,000 milesMN

THE DOORS, SPECIFICALLY REAR DOORS, IN THIS VEHICLE GET STUCK IN AN OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION. IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE DOOR LATCH TO STAY IN THE CLOSED POSITION, TRAPPING CHILDREN OR OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT, OR PREVENTING THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE LUCERNE (NOT JUST 2006) AND THE LACROSSE. FIRST WE HAD THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR GET STUCK CLOSED. AFTER A MONTH OR SO OF UNLOCKING AND LOCKING THE DOORS, IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN RANDOMLY, BUT A FEW MONTHS LATER, BECAME STUCK CLOSED AGAIN WITH NO TRIGGER. WE CONTINUED TO USE THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR, BUT ABOUT A YEAR LATER, IT GOT STUCK OPEN. AT FIRST THE DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN FOR MY SON, BUT I PULLED ON THE HANDLE FROM THE OUTSIDE WHILE HE PUSHED FROM THE INSIDE, AND WE GOT IT OPEN. WHEN I TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOOR, IT BOUNCED BACK. THE LATCH IS STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS NOT ENGAGED. THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE LOCKS FUNCTION NORMALLY MANUALLY, WITH THE KEY FOB, AND BY PRESSING THE DRIVER'S BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND OFF DURING ALL INCIDENCES.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 12, 2020256,400 milesKY

PERIODICALLY AT CRUISING SPEED OF 50 TO 60 MILES AN HOUR, SPEEDOMETER WILL FLUCTUATE WILDLY BETWEEN 25 AND 40 MPH. WHEN IT DOES THIS TRANSMISSION DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN, AND IN THE EVENT THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE GOES ALL THE WAY TO ZERO, IT WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL EVEN IF YOU'RE IN GEAR, ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS PULL OFF AND SHUT IT DOWN AND WAIT SEVERAL SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES FOR IT TO ENGAGE ONCE AGAIN WHEN YOU START IT BACK UP. THIS IS AN 06 BUICK LUCERNE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.8 V6

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 11, 202070,210 milesWA

THE DOOR LOCKS DON'T OPERATE AS IT WAS DESIGNED DUE TO A BINDING LOCK ROD GROMMET PREVENTING THE LOCK ROD FROM ACTUATING THE LOCK. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO ANY ACCIDENT NOR WAS THE CAR TRAVELING TO INITIATE THIS PROBLEM.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 12, 201912,700 milesWI

STEERING WHEEL IS TURNT TO RIGHT AND THE ONLY THE FRONT LIGHT COME ON NOT THE BACK AND MY ALARM IS MESSING WITH WITH THE COMPUTER AND THE GAS

Electrical System
Filed Aug 12, 2019TN

ELECTRONICS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. NHTSA# 10972355 NHTSA ID# 10908198

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 18, 2019116,000 milesNC

STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL AT LOW SPEED TURNS AND WHEN GOING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. VERY DANGEROUS. UNABLE TO OPERATE VEHICLE WHEN RAINING. UNSAFE CONDITIONS. HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY. NO SPECIFIC DATE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Hydraulic › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Mar 8, 201956,620 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO SUBURBAN BUICK GMC OF FERNDALE (21800 WOODWARD AVE, FERNDALE, MI 48220, (248) 547-6100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD BEEN REPLACED AND TIED TO THE SWAY BAR. THE BRAKE LINE WAS NOT COMPLETELY INSTALLED FROM THE ENGINE TO THE BRAKES, WHICH COULD CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,620.

20 of 330 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201149230Routine
201054220Routine
20091282170Routine
20082183260High concern
2007164400Routine
2006 — this page330421Fatalities reported

Compare every Lucerne year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jun 23, 2014. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.