10 of the
227 complaints about the 2007 Buick Lucerne are about the
braking system — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
21,501 miles.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 1 MIKE FROM MY HOUSE. THE ROAD IS A COUNTRY ROAD AND IS STRAIGHT. I WASN'T DISTRACTED OR SPEEDING. IT HAPPENED SO FAST BUT I THINK I MAY HAVE HIT A SLIGHT BUMP ON THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THEN THE CAR STARTED FISH TAILING AND THEN WENT OFF THE ROAD AND WAS STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A DIRT DRIVEWAY. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED WITH ONLY 36000 MILES ON IT EVEN THOUGH I LUCKILY JUST SIDESWIPED A TREE. THE CAR ALWAYS SEEMED HARD TO STEER AS IF THE STEERING WAS LOOSE AND YOU REALLY HAD TO PAY ATTENTION AND KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR WAS MY ELDERLY IN-LAWS WHO BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN 2007. THEY BOTH PASSED AWAY IN NOVEMBER 2018 AND THEN I INHERITED IT AND HAD JUST RECENTLY STARTED DRIVING IT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #11181376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winstead, CTCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE WOODS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEG INJURIES, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 01/25/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED GOING DOWN STEEP HILL 1/2 MILE FROM HOME PUT ON BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HIT THE TREES AND ROCKS ON THE ROAD NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAR WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 06/25/18
NHTSA complaint #10917608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Summersville, WV1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2007 BUICK LUCERNE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING AND BRAKE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS SHE WAS COMING TO A STOP, AND SHE ENDED UP IN A DITCH.
NHTSA complaint #10584846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,000 milesNewport News, VA
SERVICE BRAKES
AROUND OR ABOUT OCTOBER 2011, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, MY 2007 BUICK LUCERNE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES (AND AIRBAG?). FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. INITIAL EFFORTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, SO I CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AND BEFORE AAA ARRIVED, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND DROVE HOME (IT WAS A SUNDAY). THE NEXT DAY I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT (NEW) JUST OVER FIVE YEARS BEFORE (IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY). AFTER WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS A COMPLETE CHECK, NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE ENGINE QUITTING COULD BE FOUND. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND AROUND TOWN FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP I TOLD MY SERVICE CONSULTANT THAT I REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR, WHICH I OCCASIONALLY USED TO TRANSPORT MY YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN, UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. WE AGREED THAT ONE OF THE MECHANICS COULD USE IT FOR HIS PERSONAL USE UNTIL THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. AND IT DID. A FEW DAYS LATER THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR HAD AGAIN STALLED, THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED, AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD, WAS "IN A COMPUTER" THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED. I DROVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT (BEFORE SELLING IT), AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF BOTH GENERAL MOTORS AND ON-STAR (THE LATTER, JUST IN CASE THE SHUTDOWNS HAD BEEN PROMPTED BY THAT SYSTEM) AND NOBODY WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH BUICKS HAD OCCURRED: AND THEY STILL WON'T. A CURSORY SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER BUICKS, YET THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. WHY NOT? THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10579140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,044 milesGreensburg, LA
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH IN 5:00 P.M. BATON ROUGE, LA TRAFFIC ON JOOR ROAD, I HEARD THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, THEN THE ENGINE DIED, I LOST POWER INCLUDING STEERING, BRAKES, AND ALMOST CAUSED A TERRIBLE PILE-UP AS MY CAR STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD NO ABILITY TO STEER, BRAKE, NO POWER. I WAS AT THE MERCY OF GOD AND THIS DEAD CAR, PRAYING THAT NO ONE WAS KILLED. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP. OTHER VEHICLES WERE ABLE TO MOVE TO OTHER LANES, ABANDONING ME TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF TRAFFIC. I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY SHOULD HAVE THE RECORDING OF THE CONVERSATION, THE TERROR I WAS IN, AND THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. I HAVE 4 RECORDED INCIDENCES OF THE REPETITIVE NATURE OF THIS VEHICLE MALFUNCTION. I CAN PROVIDE DETAILS OF ALL INCIDENCES, FOLLOW-UPS WITH GM, AND EVENTUALLY HAVING TO PAYOFF THE PIECE OF "JUNK" AT A LOSS OF OVER $20,000. MY LAST GM PURCHASE. I HAVE SINCE BEEN DRIVING TOYOTAS. MY EXPERIENCES WITH GM MANAGEMENT WAS HORRIFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10577199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesStaten Island, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR GRINDING BRAKES, MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT MY RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING AND MY REAR STRUTS WERE BROKEN AND LEAKING. (THIS WAS LATER CONFIRMED WITH A BUICK DEALERSHIP). I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PASS MY YEARLY INSPECTION WITHOUT THE RACK AND PINION REPAIR. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE QUITE COSTLY. I WAS STUNNED SINCE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS AND REPAIRS WITH THIS CAR WHICH I AM STILL PAYING FOR, THE LAST PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS RESPECTIVELY. I ONLY HAVE THE CAR FOR FOUR YEARS. I FEEL THE CAR IS TOO YOUNG TO HAVE SO MANY ISSUES ESPECIALLY SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS A RACK AND PINION REPAIR NEEDED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR LIKE THIS EXCEPT LOCALLY AND I HAVE TO WATCH THE POWER STEERING FLUID WHICH I HAVE BEEN DOING. I ALSO CANNOT DRIVE IT NOW SINCE MY INSPECTION IS EXPIRED. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE HAD EXHAUSTIVE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I APPROACHED BUICK AND THEY ARE NOT RECEPTIVE. THE CAR IS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10560842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesMI, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
THE VEHICLE HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THE METAL USED ON BRAKES AND THE FUEL LINES IS INFERIOR. ADDITIONALLY THE DEALERSHIP, LANE BUICK, MELBOURNE FLORIDA SOLD THIS VEHICLE HAVING COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE THAT ALL AND COMPLETE FUEL, BRAKES, AUTO TRANS LINES WERE RUSTED. THIS PROBLEM IS DEADLY AND VERY EXPENSIVE. IF YOU LOSE YOUR FUEL LINES IN THE MOUNTAINS, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED, AS WELL AS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN.
NHTSA complaint #10496781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,100 milesCheektowaga, NYCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT LEASED A 2007 GM BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENGINE STARTED RACING. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT SWAYED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. HE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AMBULANCE ARRIVED AND THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE HOSPITAL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT DETERMINED IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 7,100. UPDATED 08/12/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE WAS $7800. UPDATED 08/12/08
NHTSA complaint #10232212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 8,000 milesTwin Lakes, WICrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT FIRMLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONTACT SKIDDED INTO A SNOW BANK. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SLIPPERY. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE SNOW BANK AND DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED TO FIRMLY APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE ABS WOULD WORK. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000. UPDATED 03-07-08
NHTSA complaint #10218839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 8,002 milesTwin Lakes, WI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE OWNER MANUAL STATES: USING ABS. DO NOT PUMP THE BRAKES. JUST HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN FIRMY AND LET ANTI-LOCK WORK FOR YOU. YOU MIGHT HEAR THE ANTI-LOCK PUMP OR MOTOR OPERATE, AND FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATE, BUT THIS IS NORMAL. AT SLOW SPEED, GOING DOWN HILL ON SLIPPER SURFACE, IF THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOLLOWED, ONE CAN END UP IN THE DITCH OR WORSE. THERE IS NO MENTION IN THE INSTRUCTIONS AS TO SPEED BEFORE BRAKES ACTIVATE WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR WORSE. OWNERS' MANUAL INFORMATION IS INACCURATE. ARE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BEING OVER EMPHASIZED. ARE THEY AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED?
NHTSA complaint #10218814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.