Which year to buy
2011GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual Extended coverage
28 serious complaints of 49, the most about speed control (5) and fuel system (4); per car on the road, 0.7× this model's usual year. 2 recalls.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2011 buick lucerne. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 mph, the vehicle accelerated unintentionally without warning. As a result, the contact crashed the vehicle into a wall. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained chest injuries that required medical attention.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the speed control, Jan 2015
“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.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the fuel system, Mar 2026
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage On some 2008 model year (MY) Saturn Outlook; 2008-2009 MY Buick Allure, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac G8, Pontiac Montana SV6, Pontiac Torrent, and Saturn VUE; 2008-2010 MY Hummer H3 and Pontiac G6; 2008-2011 MY Cadillac CTS, Cadillac SRX, and Chevrolet Impala; 2008, 2011-2012 MY… (GCUS-9-939, Sep 2015)
- Extended coverage On some various model year vehicles, the throttle-position sensor may cause the engine to run rough, cause the malfunction-indicator lamp and/or an engine reduced power message to illuminate, and reduce the engine's power. 14582A - Special Coverage (2012 model year Buick Enclave, Lacrosse, Regal;… (GCUS-9-1009, Oct 2015)
- Extended coverage The vehicle's rear-seat bracket could contact the vehicle's Rear Electrical Center (REC), which can, over time, damage electrical components within the REC enclosure. Special Coverage. (18226, Dec 2018)
- Repair program This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module. (PIT5236F, Aug 2015)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
49 owner complaints · 2 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 18–21 mpg · NHTSA: 3–4 of 5 stars · 2011 trims and features
Every Lucerne year's verdict →
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 3.9L 6-cyl; 4.6L 8-cyl · Drive: FWD
2011 Lucerne trims
| CX | CXL | CXL Ultra Luxury | Ultra Super |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Buick reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Buick aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3.9L 6-cyl 4.6L 8-cyl | FWD | 18–21 mpg | 3–4 of 5 | 2 | 49 | Electrical system (23) | — |
| 2010 | 3.9L 6-cyl 4.6L 8-cyl | FWD | 18–20 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 54 | Electrical system (19) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Buick Lucerne 4 DR FWD Later Release | 4 | No | Optional | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | Buick Lucerne 4 DR FWD Early Release | 3 | No | Optional | 2 | 49 |
| 2010 | Buick Lucerne 4-DR. w/SAB | Not Rated | No | Optional | 2 | 54 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Lucerne | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.9 L Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L |
18–21 |
| 2010 | Lucerne | Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.9 L Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.9 L, FFV Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L |
18–20 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.