Buick Lucerne Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2006 draws 5.18 complaints per run and the 2010 1.32, a 3.9-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 74.8% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 361 complaints, typically at 7.1 years.

Buick Lucerne years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Buick Lucerne — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2011	1.68	47	28	yes
2010	1.32	45	34	yes
2009	3.14	110	35	yes
2008	4.78	191	40	yes
2007	3.62	141	39	yes
2006	5.18	290	56	yes

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2006 Lucerne asks a median $4,750, against $3,999 for a 2007, the next model year: 19% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 6 Buick Lucerne years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2006, 2008, 2007; the three worth hunting are 2010, 2011, 2009.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Buick Lucerne — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	127	15.9%	covered
1 year	46	21.7%	covered
2 years	28	25.2%	covered
3 years	20	27.7%	you pay
4 years	37	32.4%	you pay
5 years	61	40%	you pay
6 years	79	49.9%	you pay
7 years	74	59.2%	you pay
8 years	96	71.3%	you pay
9 years	59	78.7%	you pay
10 years	42	83.9%	you pay
11 years	43	89.3%	you pay
12 years	23	92.2%	you pay
13 years	21	94.9%	you pay
14 years	19	97.2%	you pay
15 years	22	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 25.2% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 74.8% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 9% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Electrical System at 7.1 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Buick Lucerne — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Electrical System	361	7.1 yrs	12	40
Fuel/propulsion System	99	9.1 yrs	1	15
Structure	83	6 yrs	9	1
Engine	75	8 yrs	2	7
Steering	74	5.9 yrs	9	—
Air Bags	74	6.3 yrs	44	—
Service Brakes	49	5.1 yrs	12	—
Vehicle Speed Control	39	4.4 yrs	7	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Lucerne's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Chrysler 300 4.11 and the Kia K5 3.08, against 3.61 for the Lucerne.

FIG.05·Buick Lucerne — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Lucerne	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Dodge Charger	5,784	133	1983–2026
Chrysler 300	6,171	86	1999–2026
Kia K5	486	21	2021–2026
Hyundai Sonata	16,220	152	1989–2026
Chevrolet Impala	10,373	98	1981–2026
Lincoln Continental	2,687	80	1981–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Buick Lucerne

Recalls17 campaigns Fuel economy21 mpg best Common problems943 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space17 cu ft Used prices535 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2006–2011

Frequently asked questions

Is the Buick Lucerne reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.61 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Lucerne years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2006, 2008, 2007. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2010, 2011, 2009. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Lucerne problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 7.1 years, followed by Fuel/propulsion System.

Will the warranty cover Lucerne problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 25.2% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 9% of the complaints here.

Is the Lucerne more reliable than the Dodge Charger?

Yes: 3.61 complaints per production run for the Lucerne against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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