VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Buick Lucerne2006–2011
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Buick Lucerne
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Buick Lucerne Years to Avoid
3 recalls · 231 complaints
23 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 recalls · 154 complaints
4 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4 recalls · 113 complaints
13 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the Lucerne became recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 25, 2026.
Buick Lucerne — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 23 | 2 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2010 | 1 | 36 | 1 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2009 | 2 | 113 | 7 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2008 | 3 | 154 | 4 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2007 | 4 | 113 | 13 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2006 | 3 | 231 | 23 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Buick Lucerne Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Lucerne compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Lucerne to buy?+
The 2009 Buick Lucerne scores highest on our Buyer Score (51/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 39/100. It has 2 recalls and 113 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Lucerne years have the most problems?+
The 2006, 2008, 2007 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2006 Lucerne leads with 3 recalls and 231 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Lucerne problems?+
The most frequently reported Buick Lucerne issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STEERING, ENGINE. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.