This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Record
View on NHTSA →2007 Buick Lucerne electrical problems
moderate 50 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
50
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 50 electrical complaints filed for the 2007 Buick Lucerne, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Electrical accounts for 30% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 50 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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 Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060,
View on NHTSA →Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exc
View on NHTSA →This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
View on NHTSA →This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.
View on NHTSA →Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a cluster of electrical gremlins in the 2007 Lucerne. The most dangerous is ignition switch failure: the key locks solid, killing all power including power steering and brakes, and it happens at traffic lights and low speeds. Multiple recalls exist (08V441000, 10V240000, 14V355000), yet owners say the fixes don't stick or GM denies coverage.
Engine stalling is another chronic complaint—happens at any speed without warning, sometimes leaving you stranded for an hour before it will restart. Technicians have replaced fuse terminals, batteries, computers, and ignition coil modules with inconsistent results.
Battery drain is a real problem too: leave the car untouched for three weeks and you come back to a dead battery, no accessories plugged in. Dealers run parasitic draw tests, find nothing actionable, and shrug. One owner traced it to a bad OnStar module.
The instrument cluster has a design flaw: in daylight the speedometer, fuel gauge, and temperature gauge are nearly invisible. It's so bad one owner got a speeding ticket because he couldn't see his speed. Cluster replacement doesn't fix it—dealers say it's by design and suggest tinting your windows.
Secondary issues include headlight relay failure (low beams die on dark roads), washer heater circuit shorts (fire hazard), rear door locks that trap passengers, and wiring rubbing on the AC pulley.
Recalls exist but parts go unavailable for weeks, and owners report the recall fixes don't resolve underlying problems.
Same Buick Lucerne electrical reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Ignition switch lockout and power loss
Key locks out of run position, cutting off all electrical power including power steering and power brakes. Occurs while stopped or at low speed, creating crash risk. Multiple owners report this; several recalls issued (08V441000, 10V240000, 14V355000) but manufacturer denies coverage on some vehicles.
When: At traffic lights, low-speed maneuvers, at various mileages (63,894; 72,000; 86,000 reported)
Symptoms owners cite: Key unable to turn to on or off position; Loss of power, power steering, power brakes; Gear shifter stuck in drive position; Vehicle stalls without warning; All warning indicators illuminate simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Ignition switch and starter replacement reported (costs not specified)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 08V441000 (08/28/2008), 10V240000 (06/24/2010), 14V355000 (06/23/2014); some owners report recall repairs do not resolve the issue or parts unavailable for weeks
Engine stalling during operation
Vehicle stalls unexpectedly during city and highway driving, sometimes requiring 30 minutes to 1 hour to restart. Intermittent failures make dealer diagnosis difficult. Technicians have replaced multiple components (fuse terminal, battery, computer, ignition coil module) with mixed results.
When: At various speeds (15 mph, 25 mph, 30 mph, highway driving); some resolve after ignition coil replacement at 45,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stalling without warning; Loss of master controls (windows, locks) after stalling; Intermittent restart failures; Requires engine idle time before driving to prevent stall; Stalling even with child in vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse terminal replacement, battery replacement, computer replacement, ignition coil module replacement attempted; labor and costs not specified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM suggested ignition coil module replacement; one owner reports no further failures after replacement
Parasitic battery drain
Battery drains completely after vehicle parked unused for 2+ weeks despite no chargers or accessories plugged in. Dealer testing detected 201mA draw over 7 days but could not identify cause or duration. Issue deemed 'within specs' though owners cannot trust vehicle for extended parking.
When: After 17-21 days of non-use; no specific mileage reported
Symptoms owners cite: Battery goes dead with no external power draw; Intermittent drain (does not occur on every occasion); Battery and charging system test normal
Codes mentioned: 201mA parasitic draw (7-day test)
Repairs/costs cited: Defective OnStar module and door/light control module identified and replaced in one case; labor costs not specified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed inability to duplicate problem means no repair available; OnStar module implicated in at least one case
Headlight relay harness module failure
Low-beam headlights fail unexpectedly on dark roads. Passenger-side relay harness module shorts out under normal use due to overload. Replacement harness module available ($50) but requires splicing into existing main harness—design defect per owner and acknowledged by GM availability of replacement kit.
When: Unknown mileage; reported as design defect affecting numerous Lucerne owners
Symptoms owners cite: Low-beam lights fail on dark roads; Complete headlight loss
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement front light harness module approximately $50; labor 1.5 hours for splicing into main harness
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM offers replacement front light harness module, acknowledging design defect; no recall issued despite numerous reports
Instrument panel poor visibility in daylight
Speedometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and odometer are extremely difficult or impossible to read in daylight conditions. Gauges are deeply recessed with dark color contrast; low backlight intensity during day makes readings nearly impossible. Problem persists even after complete cluster replacement in some cases. Dealer response is that this is 'by design.'
When: Occurs from new (failures at 70, 200, 232, 300 miles reported); some owner had replacement cluster that did not resolve issue
Symptoms owners cite: Gauges invisible in daylight, readable only at night; Speedometer unreadable; owner received traffic ticket for speeding due to inability to see speed; Fuel gauge unreadable; Temperature gauge unreadable; Odometer unreadable; Message board and compass alternately visible/faded; Auto-headlamp activation in tunnels/garages worsens visibility
Repairs/costs cited: Complete instrument panel cluster replacement performed in at least one case but failure persisted; backlighting cannot be enabled all day per dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer state this is vehicle design specification; no remedy available; suggestions of tinted windows or shields offered
Washer fluid heater short circuit and fire risk
Printed circuit board for washer fluid heater has short circuit, overheating ground circuit. Considerable melting of harness around fluid chamber reported. Risk of heater ignition and vehicle fire. Moisture accumulation and overheating create odor and smoke.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Odor from heater area; Smoke visible; Melting of harness insulation around washer fluid chamber; Overheating of ground circuit board
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified; involves printed circuit board and harness replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 08V441000 (08/28/2008) issued for electrical system fire risk
Engine compartment wiring harness contact with AC compressor pulley
Wiring harness in engine compartment makes contact with AC compressor pulley, which perforates the wire and exposes copper conductor to the metal pulley, creating short circuit risk.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Wiring harness in contact with moving pulley; Perforation of wire insulation; Exposed copper conductor
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified; likely requires harness rerouting or replacement
Airbag warning light malfunction
Airbag light illuminates at random when driver's seat is moved or vehicle is driven at various speeds. Light stays on for longer periods on each occurrence. Owner concerned airbags may not deploy if vehicle is in accident while light is on.
When: Starts at 50,000 miles; intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates randomly; Light triggered by driver's seat adjustment; Light duration increases with each occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified; not diagnosed
Rear door lock failure
Rear door unable to open from inside or outside, trapping passenger. Reported as recurring problem with multiple Buick vehicles. Requires door lock mechanism replacement.
When: 69,000 miles reported in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Door cannot be opened from inside or outside; Passenger trapped in vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Door lock replacement approximately $400
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM acknowledged as ongoing issue across multiple Buick models but stated no corrective action planned
Headlight mode selector malfunction
Attempt to switch from high beams to low beams fails; lights remain on high beams. Vehicle cannot be dimmed once high beams are activated.
When: Evening operation; specific mileage not provided
Symptoms owners cite: High beams remain on despite selector adjustment; Unable to switch to low beams
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified; not repaired
Synthesized from 50 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Buick lucerne. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 14v355000 (electrical system) however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I have no heat coming out of the passenger side of the vents. The blower works but there is no heat had it flushed twice and put in a new thermostat no change
2007 Buick lucerne consumer wants the internal mechanism of the automobile adjusted *cn the consumer stated gm's recall fix, was not a solution of fixing the problem. *jb
Unintended ignition key rotation it was fixed then the car was wrecked and was totel so I no longer have this car so please quit telling me the ignition needs fixing I no longer have the 2007 Buick.04
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Buick lucerne. While driving approximately 27 MPH, the ignition turned off and caused the vehicle to stall and crash into a telephone pole. All the warning indicators illuminated at the time of the failure. The contact sustained injuries and was transported to the hospital for medical attention. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed.…
Had electrical trouble with your 2007 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 electrical problem on the 2007 Buick Lucerne?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 50 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 30,000 and 95,000 miles, with the median around 69,750. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 95,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2007/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.