FaultScore

2008 Buick Lucerne brake problems

11 of the 321 complaints about the 2008 Buick Lucerne are about the braking system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 17,320 miles.

C

11

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes 5 45.5%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 3 27.3%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 2 18.2%
Rotor 1 9.1%

Brakes across every Buick Lucerne year

2006 21 50.0%
2007 10 23.8%
2008 11 26.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 5,000 miles Port ST. Lucie, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN MAKING A TURN WHERE THERE IS A PUDDLE OF WATER, THE ENGINE DIES, AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING FOR SERVAL SECONDS, IT SEEMS TO MOSTLY HAPPEN WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THROUGH WATER. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF WATER. THE DEALER MAINTENANCE DEPT. THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO THEM, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 8 YEARS, OF COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT IS BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS MOUNTED SIDEWAYS, AND WHEN THE WATER HITS THE FAN BELTS IT CAUSES IT TO SLIP, WHICH MAKES IT SEEM LIKE THE ENGINE HAS DIED. ON 10/20/2018 I HAVE REACHED OUT TO GENERAL MOTORS AND GOT NO PLACE, THEY SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP SUGGEST THAT I BRING IT IN FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND FOR WHICH I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT, AND ANY REPAIRS THAT IS NEEDED, BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTEE. THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR, FOR I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER 8 YEARS, 6 OF WHICH WERE UNDER WARRANTEE. THIS IS SO WRONG WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL MOTORS HANDLING OF THIS ISSUE THAT I FELT IT SHOULD BE BROTH TO THE ATTENTION OF YOUR DEPT. TO LOOK INTO IT, AND GET THEM TO DO A RECALL IF IT IS POSSIBLE. ON YOUR WEB SITE UNDER VEHICLE COMPLAINTS THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. SO I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE, IT IS THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11150180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 111,421 miles Scranton, PA

SERVICE BRAKES

OUR 2008 BUICK LUCERNE WAS IN THE HOV LANE TRAVELING ON 84 W TOWARD HARTFORD, CT. WITHOUT WARNING - NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON - THE CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE. MY DAUGHTER TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTHING HAPPENED; SHE THEN TRIED TO BRAKE TO PULL OVER AND WAS UNABLE TO FREELY TURN THE WHEEL. SHE STRUGGLED TO MOVE TO SAFETY TO THE SHOULDER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT THEN FELT THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCK COMPLETELY AS THE CAR STALLED. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR TO MOVE TO SAFETY, THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHOOK. SINCE THE CAR WAS STILL PARTIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY, MY HUSBAND AND I CALLED THE CT STATE POLICE TO REQUEST HELP WHILE MY DAUGHTERS WERE WAITING FOR AAA. WHEN THE TROOPER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE HE CALLED US TO SAY THAT THE CAR WAS PARTIALLY IN THE ROAD AND THAT TWO CRUISERS WERE THERE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR DAUGHTERS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR SERVICE STATION OF 25 YEARS IN SCRANTON PA AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY POST HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT REVEAL ANY PROBLEMS EITHER. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED ONE WEEK EARLIER TO THIS SAME STATION BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED NOTHING, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CAR WAS LOW ON FUEL (AND THAT IT WASN'T A FUEL PUMP ISSUE). WE THEN DROVE THE CAR ANOTHER 517 MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAVE FOUND THAT COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH BUICK (I HAVE FILED ONE TOO) REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT FIRES HAVE RESULTED FROM THE OVERHEATING. THESE COMPLAINTS INDICATE THAT SOMETIMES THE CAR STARTS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I BELIEVE THESE 2 INCIDENTS, ONE WEEK APART, WERE RELATED AND THAT BOTH TIMES, NO WARNING OR DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED A PROBLEM. IF MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE 4 LANE HIGHWAY LEADING INTO HARTFORD AND THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE AND MY OTHER DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS, IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10939760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Streamwood, IL Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2008 BUICK LUCERNE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING AND BRAKE FAILURE, THAT WAS A CONSTANT ISSUE. *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10638955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Ewing, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA complaint #10627555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Olathe, KS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

IN AUGUST OF 2011 I PURCHASED WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED BUICK SUPERIOR BUICK. I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS THAT I TRIED TO GET FIXED UNDER WARRANTY(SUSPENSION, THERMOSTAT, AIR BAGS, STEERING ETC.) OR GOOD FAITH (ONLY BRAKES) JUST TO NAME A FEW, AND TRIED TO GET A REFUND UNDER MY WARRANTY OR DIFFERENT CAR WITHIN THE FIRST 72 HOURS/150 MILES OF RESIGNING MY CONTRACT AND WAS DENIED. I MADE NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THESE PROBLEMS SERVICED AND WAS TOLD EVERY TIME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, THEY FOUND DEBRIS HERE A SCREW THERE, TIGHTENED THIS, BLAMED IT ON THIS ETC. THEY NEVER FIXED OR REPLACED ANYTHING BUT A WATER PUMP AND A COUPLE OF ELECTRICAL BULBS (THE SAME ONES). AFTER AT LEAST 5 ATTEMPTS TO GET IT FIXED( PER LAWS SET FORTH) I HAD A COUPLE OF FACE-TO- FACE MEETINGS WITH THE G.M./PART OWNER LOUIS FALLER. DURING THESE MEETINGS, HE TELLS ME EVERYTHING FROM YOU GOT A LEMON, THAT HE BELIEVED THE CAR WAS WRECKED PRIOR, TO THAT HE FIRED A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES FOR PUTTING BAD CARS ON HIS LOT AND NOT FIXING THEM PROPERLY UNDER WARRANTY, AMONGST OTHER THINGS. SO AFTER NO LUCK WITH A REFUND I BEGAN TO GET OPINIONS WHICH UNCOVERED EVERYTHING FROM PRIOR DAMAGE TO SEVERAL THINGS WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION IN LATE 2012 ETC. SO IN LATE 2013, AFTER ALL THE THINGS PROGRESSED TO REALLY BAD AND I GOT MY X-MAS BONUS I BEGAN FIXING IT AND REACHED OUT TO HENDRICK CORPORATE. THEY LIED TO ME AND SAID THEY WOULD GIVE ME AT LEAST THE MONEY FOR FIXING WHAT I ALREADY FIXED AND THAT I HAD TO GET REST FROM DEALERSHIP. THEY LATER TOOK IT BACK CAUSE I WASN'T SIGNING OVER NO RIGHTS BECAUSE I STILL HAD SEVERAL THOUSAND IN DAMAGES. SO I REACHED OUT G.M. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES. THEY WERE LIKE AUTOMATED PUPPETS. PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHMENTS. THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING, WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SHIELD WAS STICKING AND MAKING A CLICKING SOUND, THE TIRES WERE CUPPING, CREATING A RUMBLING SOUND, TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE PRESSURE LINE FROM THE POWE

NHTSA complaint #10627305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,834 miles Fordland, MO

SERVICE BRAKES

THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD PERIODICALLY COME ON WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT ALL. IT ALSO CONTINUALLY TRIPPED MY CRUISE CONTROL. GM DEALERSHIP DID THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10502692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,275 miles Tallahassee, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES LIGHTS WOULD COME ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE PARKED WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL WOULD BE DISABLED WITHOUT USING THE BRAKE OR ANY SWITCH TO DISABLE IT. TOOK IT TO A GM REPAIR FACILITY (DEALER) WHO RECALIBRATED THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH, BUT THE CONDITION RETURNED. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHO RECALIBRATED THE BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR. THAT INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY THOUGHT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON BY THEMSELVES. HAZARD: SOMEONE DRIVING BEHIND COULD CONFUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS COMING ON AS A SIGN THAT THE CAR WAS SUDDENLY STOPPING, WHICH MIGHT CAUSE THE CAR FOLLOWING TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10489164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Covington, KY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 M.P.H. GOING DOWNHILL AT A 6% GRADE VEHICLE'S FRONT END AND STEERING COLUMN STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. PULLED OVER AND LET CAR SIT FOR 30-45 MINUTES, THEN TRAVELED ON. TOOK CAR TO BUICK DEALER AND FOUND ROTORS SEVERELY WARPED. ROTORS WERE TURNED(MACHINED) AND CAR BRAKES WERE OK FOR NEXT 2-3000 MILES. DRIVING AT 55M.P.H. NOTICED PULSATION/VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL DEALER AND THEY DID NOT SEEM IT WAS ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. DROVE CAR AT 55 M.P.H. ON HIGHWAY AND VIBRATION AND PULSATION BECAME WORSE. TOOK CAR TO A NATIONAL RETAILER AND HAD TO HAVE ROTORS REPLACED WITH HEAT DISSIPATING ROTORS. CAR SHOULD HAVE HAD THESE TYPE ROTORS TO BEGIN WITH DUE TO SIZE AND WEIGHT. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR THE INABILITY TO STOP WHEN NEEDED, CAUSING POSSIBLE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA complaint #10437753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Covington, KY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 M.P.H. GOING DOWNHILL AT A 6% GRADE VEHICLE'S FRONT END AND STEERING COLUMN STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. PULLED OVER AND LET CAR SIT FOR 30-45 MINUTES, THEN TRAVELED ON. TOOK CAR TO BUICK DEALER AND FOUND ROTORS SEVERELY WARPED. ROTORS WERE TURNED(MACHINED) AND CAR BRAKES WERE OK FOR NEXT 2-3000 MILES. DRIVING AT 55M.P.H. NOTICED PULSATION/VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL DEALER AND THEY DID NOT SEEM IT WAS ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. DROVE CAR AT 55 M.P.H. ON HIGHWAY AND VIBRATION AND PULSATION BECAME WORSE. TOOK CAR TO A NATIONAL RETAILER AND HAD TO HAVE ROTORS REPLACED WITH HEAT DISSIPATING ROTORS. CAR SHOULD HAVE HAD THESE TYPE ROTORS TO BEGIN WITH DUE TO SIZE AND WEIGHT. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR THE INABILITY TO STOP WHEN NEEDED, CAUSING POSSIBLE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA complaint #10437753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,641 miles Breinigsville, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL THUMPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR ROTORS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,641 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,512. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF UPDATED 03/08/11*JB UPDATED 12/14/11

NHTSA complaint #10373941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46 miles Montgomery, AL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THERE IS A CLUNKING OF THE DRIVERSIDE FRONT BRAKES FOLLOWED WITH A SCRAPING SOUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCOMPANIED WITH A HESITATION IN MAINTAINING DRIVING SPEED. THE CAR WILL THEN SHOW A WARNING TO SERVICE THE STABILITRACK SYSTEM. WHEN THIS OCCURS BRAKES FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING LOOSE THAT IS BETWEEN BRAKE PAD AND DISC. DEALERSHIP SAID IT NEEDED TO REPROGRAM THE MODULE. THEY DID BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. NOW MODULE NEEDS REPLACING. THE VEHICLE IS A HAZARD SHOULD BRAKES FAIL OR LOCK UP.

NHTSA complaint #10233185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2008 Buick Lucerne problems

← Full 2008 Buick Lucerne report