Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Buick Lucerne owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that after several attempts the vehicle failed to start-up without warning. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to the circuit board which was in the rear back seat. The contact stated that the rear seat latches had rubbed against the circuit box, causing the circuit to overheat. The circuit board was replaced. The contact then stated that upon entering his vehicle while in a parking lot, blueish colored smoke was coming from the vehicle. The contact removed the back seat and saw that the circuit board had started melting. The Police were first called to the scene and the Fire Department then arrived and was able to extinguish the smoke before the circuit board caught on fire. Neither a Police report nor a Fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it remained. …
The vehicle's instrument cluster appears to be a non-original unit that may not be correct for the model year. The cluster is responsible for displaying the odometer and communicating with other vehicle systems. After purchase, I observed that diagnostic scan tools could not consistently access or communicate with multiple modules, and an experienced mechanic indicated the instrument cluster may be incompatible with the vehicle's configuration. Because the odometer reading is displayed through this component, there is concern that the mileage may not be independently verifiable. The vehicle otherwise operates, but diagnostic communication inconsistencies raise questions about the reliability of system-level data. Additionally, there does not appear to be any service documentation indicating that the instrument cluster or odometer system was replaced, repaired, or recalibrated. …
Several malfunction indicator lights in dash appeared suddenly. Car would not start after shutting off. Finally started and drove to repair shop. Diagnosed as faulty ride height sensor. Shop searched for part at several dealers and online and found the part was discontinued in 2021. I contacted Buick and was offered $1500 off on a new GM car. I have not received any suggestions on how to repair the car or remove malfunction indicator lights which I specifically asked for. The repair shop is waiting for me to find the part and I have not been able to find one. Dealers have no answer and neither does Buick. The repair shop says it will start if sensor is unplugged but suspension will not work and dash will still have malfunction indicator lights. It is my opinion to operate under these conditions, it would definitely be hazardous.
Fuel pump relay is overheating to dangerously high temperatures. At least 211 F degrees. Causes the fuel pump fuse to melt leaving me stranded. Immediate replacement of the 20 AMP fuse is necessary to get the car running again. The fuel pump relay gets really hot even if the AC is not on. Waited for hour and a half in near 100 F degree heat for a tow truck to it home. I'm lucky the car did not catch on fire. I know quite a few of the Buick Lucerne's have had recalls regarding this item. Picture of the actual car is included. No police report was necessary as this was a breakdown situation. This has utterly disrupted my life because I do not have access to a car with good air conditioning until this problem is repaired.
Vehicle purchased used through Carvana. Battery installed at purchase was approximately 10 years old and later failed, causing starting issues and an instance of power loss while driving that left the vehicle stranded. Battery has been replaced and original battery retained.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start and the key fob did not work. When the contact attempted to unlock the vehicle with the key fob, she became locked inside the vehicle. The contact had to manually unlock the door on the passenger side to exit the vehicle. In addition, the electrical system did not work and the contact smelled a burning odor. Also, the vehicle made grinding and clicking sounds even with it being off. The contact received a letter from the manufacturer that described the failures. The contact called coggin Buick GMC in jacksonville (7245 blanding blvd, jacksonville, fl 32244, [phone]) and was informed to have the vehicle towed. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 112,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start and an electrical burning odor was present inside the cabin. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump relay had overheated and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 160,000.
The Buick Lucerne 2011 we own had the battery explode upon turning the key. I am wife/caregiver to 100% disabled veteran and his service dog. Normally I would have put them both in the car before turning the key but luckily on this day I did not or we all would have been killed. The car was in the driveway when this happened. We immediately had car towed to mechanic after the acid and smoke in car had cleared. It was deemed that battery exploded as it is under the rear seat and we could not see it until the seat was out. A new battery was put in but the residual acid burning and melting seat had me take it back for further repair. The insurance company finally conceded to replace the 2nd battery and put new foam in back seat as the 1st new one was already corroding after 2 weeks. …
On March 28th, 2018 my vehicle a 2011 Buick Lucerne with 162,554 miles on it, would not restart after making a twenty-mile trip to take my grandchildren to school. I parked on the side of the road in front of my mother's house to visit, and upon my attempt to leave, the vehicle would not start. There were no warning indicators, strange noises, or smells that would lead me to believe the fuse box failure, leading to the box melting. When a battery goes bad, it smells like spoiled eggs, however in the case of my vehicles fuse box melting there was no toxic smell(s), that is a good thing since no passengers suffered from melting plastic fumes, I guess. I took my 2011 Buick Lucerne to the dealer's ship because my vehicle would not start. Upon the tech diagnoses the fuse relay had melted, and this was one reason the fuel pump was not receiving power to send fuel to the engine. …
A manufacturer defect exists in the area of the rear fuse box located under the rear seat on the left side. The seat bracket applies pressure to the fuse box cover deflecting it from its standard position. This deflection puts lateral pressure on the fuel pump relay. This lateral force cause an weaked contact between the relay and the fuse box connectors. Increased electrical resistance causes the relay to overheat and melt its base and fuse box. The heat is intense enough to case the contact pins of the relay, and socket of the fuse box and softens the metal further degrading the continuity and increasing resistance. This mandates a replacement of the fuse box since simply replacing the relay after the heat damage May not be sufficient to remedy the defect. A manufacturer TSB exhists however, this component is more likely to fail on a longer high speed drive. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
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.
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
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.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Lucerne years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2011 Buick Lucerne?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the electrical system of the 2011 Buick Lucerne, 47% of the model year's 49 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Buick Lucerne electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-355 (ignition, Jun 23, 2014); NHTSA recall 10V-553 (cables, Nov 5, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Buick Lucerne electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 106,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.