GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Buick Lucerne powertrain problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 13 powertrain complaints filed for the 2006 Buick Lucerne, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Warranty Admin service bulletin provides guidelines for Dealers Not Required and for Dealers Required to Contact the PQC for engine or transmission assembly replacement and explains the PQC process, GWM Transaction submission, vehicle service record retention and proper handling of assembly returns for Canadian Dealers only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Lucerne powertrain failures break down into three main buckets: drivability, shifting, and component wear. On the drivability side, owners report sudden power loss during acceleration with no check engine light to guide diagnosis, plus a low engine power condition traced to a bad throttle switch that required nursing the vehicle at 5 mph on the freeway. One owner clocked over $10,000 in repairs in three years on this single vehicle. The transmission and shifting issues are the real problem child: shifter cables snap outright, leaving cars unable to shift into or out of gear; the brake interlock pin fails to release from park (a part that was superseded twice and still kept failing); gear shift locks occur intermittently after parking; and the transmission simply won't downshift, even after dealer repairs. Component failures include a freeze plug that cracked without freezing and required pulling the transmission for $1,114 in labor alone, transmission fluid leakage at 56,000 miles, and a speedometer that fluctuates wildly and confuses the transmission about which gear to be in. One owner noted matching recalls on Cadillac models for the same shifter cable failure and questioned why the Lucerne wasn't included. Early-model problems are brutal: one buyer had the vehicle in the shop eight of the first eleven days of ownership.
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent loss of power during acceleration
Engine power cuts out unexpectedly during acceleration, causing dangerous jerks and bangs. No check engine light illuminates, making diagnosis difficult at dealership level. Vehicle may stall mid-turn and regain power moments later.
When: Intermittent; occurs at various speeds and fuel levels
Symptoms owners cite: Power loss during acceleration; Jerking and banging sensation; Vehicle stalling while turning; No check engine light
Low engine power condition with throttle switch failure
Low engine power light illuminates on dashboard. Engine severely restricted, requiring full pedal depression to reach 5 mph. Requires continuous pumping of throttle and revving in neutral to move vehicle. Root cause identified as bad throttle switch in at least one case.
When: Upon engine start
Symptoms owners cite: Low engine power warning light; Severe power restriction requiring full pedal to floor; Hazardous freeway operation at 5 mph; Requires continuous throttle pumping
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle switch replacement completed; owner reported over $10,000 in repairs over 3 years for this vehicle
Freeze plug failure
Engine freeze plug fails without freezing exposure, requiring transmission removal for repair. Replacement involves new seal design. Failure creates coolant loss risk and potential steam/visibility hazard. Check engine light activated after repair completion, requiring additional dealer visit.
When: Failure mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant leakage; Check engine light after repair; Vehicle won't shift out of low gear after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Seal replacement $24.50; labor $1,114.00 for transmission removal and repair at Gateway Buick Dallas
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM developed new seal type to replace original defective design
Key stuck in ignition with gear shift lock issues
Unable to remove key from ignition or turn key to start vehicle. Failure begins intermittently and requires manual manipulation of gear shift lever between multiple positions before key can be removed. Gear shift switch in steering column identified as failing component.
When: At 38,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Key cannot be removed from ignition; Key cannot turn to start position; Intermittent recurrence; Requires gear shift manipulation to remove key
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement attempted but did not resolve issue; gear shift switch replacement identified as needed but not completed
Shifter cable breakage
Shifter cable breaks, leaving vehicle unable to shift into or out of gear. Appears to be a known defect with recalls issued on similar GM vehicles including Cadillac. Multiple owners report identical failure mode.
When: Failure timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to shift into any gear; Unable to shift out of current gear
Repairs/costs cited: $360 total repair cost (parts, towing, installation, labor); owner identified matching recalls on Cadillac models
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls issued on similar GM/Cadillac vehicles for same failure; Lucerne owner believes should be included in recall
Brake interlock pin failure preventing park release
Transmission locked in park and unable to move by any means. Brake interlock pin fails to release. Part has been superseded twice and failed three times total before permanent repair. No override mechanism built into shifter per GM design.
When: Failure timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission will not come out of park; Vehicle immobile; Requires extensive manual manipulation and time to release
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple repair attempts required; part superseded twice by dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM designed shifter without manual override capability
Speedometer fluctuation causing transmission confusion
Speedometer needle fluctuates wildly between 25 and 40 mph while cruising at 50-60 mph. Transmission loses reference for correct gear selection. When speedometer drops to zero, transmission will not engage even when accelerating in gear. Vehicle requires shutdown and restart to re-engage.
When: Periodically during cruising at 50-60 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer fluctuates between 25-40 mph; Transmission confusion about gear selection; Loss of power when speedometer reads zero; Requires vehicle shutdown and restart to resume operation
Transmission downshift failure
Transmission fails to downshift into first gear. Defective part identified and replaced at dealer, but problem recurs immediately after drive. Multiple dealer visits required within days of new vehicle purchase.
When: At 11 days after purchase (new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Will not downshift into first gear; Recurrent immediately after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Defective part replacement attempted at multiple dealers; vehicle in shop 8 of first 11 days of ownership
Transmission leakage
Transmission develops internal or external leakage, signaled by powertrain warning light on dashboard. Requires dealer repair and fluid/seal replacement.
When: At 56,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Powertrain warning light illumination; Transmission fluid leak
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission repair completed at dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure
Vehicle pulling to right with possible torque converter issue
Vehicle pulls continuously to the right during driving. Dealer attempted repair but failure recurred. Owner suspects torque converter involvement. Right-side drive axle length mismatch identified in related complaint as potential cause.
When: Evident at 200 miles; recurrent through 7,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Continuous rightward pull; Failure after dealer repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repair attempted 2/15/07; recurrent
Drive axle length mismatch causing pulling
Right-side drive axle designed too long for vehicle base, causing vehicle to pull hard to the right at highway speed with increased steering effort required.
When: At 60 mph on dry roads
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to right; Increased steering effort required
Gear shift lock failure when parked
Vehicle locked in park and unable to shift after being parked for short periods (5 minutes reported). Occurs intermittently but repeatedly. Only first incident covered under warranty.
When: After parking vehicle; occurs 3+ times since 2013 purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shift will not move out of park; Intermittent but recurring
Repairs/costs cited: First incident covered under warranty; subsequent failures not covered
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
My car's transmission did not come out of park at a large gas station. The car could not be moved buy any means. After several phone calls to various repair shops I was told that the brake interlock pin would not release. I was told that gm did not build an override into the shifter. After 1 plus hours of trying the pin finally released. By not putting the car in park I got the car to the…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2006 Buick Lucerne?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2006 Buick Lucerne?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 38,000 and 156,300 miles, with the median around 77,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 38,000; a quarter make it past 156,300. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Buick/Lucerne.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.