2011 Buick Lucerne: Problems & Reliability
SOLID2011 Buick Lucerne: SOLID — 49 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~15 years on the road; top issue: electrical system (23 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2011 is 0.97, where 1.00 is a typical Lucerne year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25). 47% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2006–2012 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
49
NHTSA complaints
0.97
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Lucerne year)
1,137
Service bulletins
2
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2011 Buick Lucerne problems
Electrical system is the clear leader, named in 47% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2011 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 23 | 47% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 12% |
| Speed control / throttle | 5 | 10% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 4 | 8% |
| Engine | 3 | 6% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2011 Buick Lucerne recalls
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2011, reported between Nov 5, 2010 and Jun 23, 2014.
2011 Buick Lucerne service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 1,137 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2011 — close to the 956 of the median Lucerne year from 2006 to 2012. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (246), engine & cooling (120), powertrain / transmission (89). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2011 vs. the year before and after
From the 2010 to the 2011, owner complaints held roughly level (54 → 49). The 2012 that followed fell by more than half (49 → 0), so the 2012 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Lucerne | SOLID | 54 | 1,099 | 2 | — |
| 2011 (this page) | SOLID | 49 | 1,137 | 2 | — |
| 2012 Lucerne | TOO FEW REPORTS | 0 | 1,038 | 0 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Buick Lucerne years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2011 Buick Lucerne
Electrical system (23 complaints on the 2011): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Service brakes (6 complaints on the 2011): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Speed control / throttle (5 complaints on the 2011): check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
Fuel / propulsion system (4 complaints on the 2011): smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
Engine (3 complaints on the 2011): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Recalls: confirm all 2 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2011 Buick Lucerne — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2011 Buick Lucerne reliable?
2011 Buick Lucerne: SOLID — 49 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~15 years on the road; top issue: electrical system (23 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2011 is 0.97, where 1.00 is a typical Lucerne year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25).
What are the most common 2011 Buick Lucerne problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2011 Buick Lucerne are electrical system (23, 47%), service brakes (6, 12%), speed control / throttle (5, 10%). The manufacturer has 1,137 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2011 Buick Lucerne have?
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2011 Buick Lucerne, most recently 14V355000 (Jun 23, 2014, electrical system); 10V553000 (Nov 5, 2010, electrical system). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2011 Buick Lucerne before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2011 Buick Lucerne come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.