Had car towed to dealership on 12/17/14. Car not starting and stalling. Had battery replaced and next day car would not start again. Stalled and making noise under hood and in rear by battery. Took back to dealership and they stated could not replicate problem therefore no solution to be found. Told car was ready after waiting approx. 4 hrs. For them to try and replicate car shutting down. It…
2010 Buick Lucerne electrical problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 17 electrical complaints filed for the 2010 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 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 4 categories tracked.
Of the 6 model years of Buick Lucerne we track for electrical problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (17).
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the fuel pump relay in the rear fuse box melts and catches fire, usually between 47,800 and 158,000 miles. The cause is clear from multiple narratives: the rear seat bracket assembly presses down directly on the fuse box lid, crushing the fuel pump relay. When the relay shorts, the vehicle stalls without warning—sometimes while driving, sometimes when parked. Many describe burning plastic smell emanating from under the rear seat, and owners have found charred relays and discolored fuse box housings with visible indent marks from the seat bracket.
The repair is straightforward in theory—replace the relay or fuse box—but owners report the problem returns. Some replaced the relay and found it burned out again 30 miles later. Others found that even after dealer service, the stalling continued. A few owners discovered junkyards are selling used fuse boxes as fast as they stock them for this exact issue, suggesting the problem is widespread. GM issued Service Bulletin 15-NA-051 acknowledging the design defect and suggesting owners cut the seat insulation or the seat bracket itself as a workaround. One retired firefighter and his wife refuse to drive the car due to fire risk. Despite owner complaints referencing NHTSA campaign 14V355000, the manufacturer denies recall eligibility.
Same Buick Lucerne electrical reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel pump relay overheating and melting
The fuel pump relay located in the rear fuse box under the back seat overheats, melts, and shorts out, disabling the vehicle. The failure is caused by the rear seat bracket or latch assembly pushing down on the fuse box lid/cover, compressing the relay. Owners report melted relay casing, burned terminals, discolored fuse box surfaces, and heat damage to adjacent fuses.
When: Between 47,800 and 158,000 miles; one owner reported failure at 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls or fails to start without warning; Engine cranks but will not start; Burning plastic smell inside cabin or under rear seat; Relay physically melted or charred; Fuse box lid or housing indented from seat bracket pressure; Power door locks cycle repeatedly before stall
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump relay replacement; rear fuse box replacement (some dealers sourced used units from junkyards due to cost); fuse box connector and wiring repair; seat bracket/latch modification or removal suggested in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Service Bulletin 15-NA-051 describes the design flaw (seat bracket interference with fuse box). GM has issued unofficial guidance to cut insulation around fuse box or cut seat belt bracket. Some dealers acknowledge the problem but delay repairs due to parts backorder. Manufacturer denies recall eligibility despite owner complaints referencing NHTSA campaign 14V355000.
Rear fuse box connector and wiring overheating
Wire connectors in the rear fuse box overheat and melt, causing terminals to spread apart and lose electrical continuity. This failure occurs in conjunction with or separate from the fuel pump relay failure, damaging the entire fuse box assembly.
When: Can occur concurrently with relay failure or as a secondary consequence; mileage range 47,800–158,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Melted or discolored wire connectors; Burning smell from under rear seat or in cabin; Repeated failure even after relay replacement; Fuse box terminals overheated and spread; Vehicle will not start after initial repair
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse box connector replacement; complete rear fuse box replacement in some cases; wiring harness repair or replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin 15-NA-051 acknowledges the overheating issue. No recall issued. Dealers have suggested sourcing used fuse boxes from junkyards as cost-saving measure.
Stalling and no-start due to electrical system failure
Vehicle stalls unexpectedly while driving at various speeds or fails to start when parked. No warning lights precede the failure. Stalling recurs immediately after repairs, indicating the underlying fuse box/relay design defect is not addressed by simple component replacement.
When: Can occur at any time; one incident happened immediately after dealer service in June; another occurred 30 miles after relay replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stall while driving without warning or prior symptoms; Engine cranks but will not start; Inability to remove ignition key after stall; Repeated stalling even after fuel pump or relay replacement; Vehicle remains disabled until towed and repaired
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000
Repairs/costs cited: Initial misdiagnosis as fuel pump failure; subsequent diagnostics identify relay/fuse box failure; design correction (seat bracket removal or modification) required to resolve recurring stalling
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer initially denies recall eligibility. Service Bulletin 15-NA-051 provides technical background but no mandatory recall or warranty extension.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
I purchased the car from Buick Spec dealership in Prosser WA on Aug. 2, 2021. The car was sold to me with rocket panel damaged, the rear brakes- rotors needed replaced and one side brake completely gone..the pins frozen. The cars transmission fluid dark dirty..low on oil..no coolant or wiper fluid at purchase. They brought car to me during covid. The door didn't shut properly I assumed the rubber…
Initial incident happened while driving on a street. Door locks power cycled lock/unlock and then the car would cut off. No warning, no time to move to out of traffic or turn on hazzard. I use this vehicle to commute to and from work/childcare etc. I also travel of the freeway alot. That was the previous incident. The most recent incident occurred when the car would not turn over and upon doing…
2010 Buick lucerne had been driven home and was cooling in driveway. After two hours, starter would turn over but engine would not start. Began to smell burning plastic inside vehicle. Found symptoms of problem described in gm service bulletin 15-na-051. After removing back passenger seat bottom cushion, checked inside rear fuse box and found that fuel pump relay had shorted and melted the…
Fuse box problem with design. The seat latch design together shorts out the fuel pump relay. This gets hot, shorts out and damages the fuel pump and can cause possible fire. This is a costly deadly design flaw and should be recalled. Lucky we fixed it in time. I have babies that sit in my back seat and it's scary to think that it could catch on fire with them sitting there.
See GM Bulletin # 15-na-051 Vehicle died, required tow, found out due to fuel pump relay per bulletin cited above. Rear seat bracket interfered with fuse box, disabling vehicle requiring tow. Vehicle repaired at owners cost. Due to safety factor involved, the seriousness of the situation, for what portion of the costs of repair will the manufacturer be responsible?
Car would not start. Noticed a burning smell. While researching problems found a thread on common issues with this car. Turns out the is an issue with the fuel relay. Checked the box sure enough the relay melted. This was under my sons car seat!!!! If this is a known issue why was this not reviewed and recalled. Does someone have to be injured or even die? How horrible is it that a known issue is…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Buick lucerne. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective fuel pump relay. After receiving the diagnosis, the contact had the fuel pump relay replaced. Despite the repair, the contact stated…
Had electrical trouble with your 2010 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 2010 Buick Lucerne?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 60,000 and 136,106 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 136,106. 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/2010/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.