The contact owns a 2011 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that after several attempts the vehicle failed to start-up without warning. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to the circuit board which was in the rear back seat. The contact stated that the rear seat latches had rubbed against the circuit box, causing the circuit to overheat. The circuit board was replaced. The contact…
2011 Buick Lucerne electrical problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
3fires
When does it fail?
Of the 20 electrical complaints filed for the 2011 Buick Lucerne, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 41% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two main electrical fire hazards in the rear of the cabin. The fuel pump relay under the rear seat overheats and melts (temperatures exceeding 210°F documented), taking the fuse box with it. The root cause appears to be the rear seat bracket applying lateral pressure to the fuse box, weakening electrical contacts and raising resistance until the relay becomes dangerous. When it fails, the engine stalls without warning—sometimes at highway speed—or won't start at all. One owner's vehicle produced blue smoke; fire department response prevented ignition. Simple relay replacement fails to fix the problem permanently; the fuse box itself must be replaced.
The battery, also under the rear seat, has exploded during startup in at least one case, sending acid and smoke into the cabin and melting seat foam. Replacement batteries corroded rapidly in reported instances. One owner's alternator was cited as the cause and cost $1,000 to replace.
Several owners received recall 14V355 for ignition-switch weight sensitivity, which can cause unexpected loss of engine power and braking. The recall fix—adding key rings and an insert—struck owners as inadequate for correcting a stated weight problem. Multiple owners couldn't complete this recall because parts remained unavailable long after notification. The park assist system also fails intermittently on some vehicles with no known remedy available. One used purchase came with a 10-year-old battery already installed.
Same Buick Lucerne electrical reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Battery explosion and overheating
Battery located under rear seat explodes upon key turn or fails prematurely with internal corrosion, damaging seat foam and creating acid burns. One owner reports a second replacement battery already corroding after two weeks. Owners cite defective wiring under seats from the alternator as contributing cause.
When: During initial start attempt; recurrence within weeks of replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Battery explosion upon turning key; Acid smell and smoke in cabin; Seat foam melting; Visible corrosion on replacement battery; Residual burning smell
Repairs/costs cited: New battery installation; replacement of alternator (~$1000 out of pocket per one owner); replacement of seat foam; wiring inspection refused by dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Insurance company conceded to battery and foam replacement; dealership refused further safety examination
Rear fuse box and fuel pump relay overheating/melting
Fuel pump relay located under rear seat becomes dangerously hot (210+ degrees F reported) and melts, along with fuse box cover and internal connectors. Root cause identified as rear seat bracket applying lateral pressure to fuse box, creating weak contact resistance that generates excessive heat. Engine stalls or fails to start without warning. One owner observed blue-tinted smoke; fire department response prevented ignition.
When: While stationary or at highway speeds; can occur without warning after 100,000+ miles; repeat failures after relay-only replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel pump relay overheating; Fuse box melting; Engine stall or no-start condition; Blue-tinted smoke from rear seat area; Burning odor inside cabin; Clicking and grinding sounds even when vehicle is off; Fuel pump not receiving power
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump relay replacement (temporary fix; often reoccurs); fuse replacement (20 AMP); rear fuse box replacement (required to prevent recurrence); fuel pump wiring repair if heat-damaged
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin TSB 15-NA-051 exists; GM case filed on one vehicle but repair not completed; manufacturer aware of failure mode but no warranty assistance offered in at least one case
Ignition switch fault with key-weight compensation
Recall 14V355 addresses ignition switch sensitivity to key-ring weight, risking unintended loss of engine power, braking, and steering. Recall remedy consists only of adding two key rings and an insert; owner questions whether this adequately addresses the stated weight problem.
When: Intermittent, triggered by key-ring weight
Symptoms owners cite: Engine power loss without warning; Loss of braking; Transmission shifts to snow/low-gear mode unintentionally; Vehicle limited to 30 mph in incorrect gear
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 14V355000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall repair: addition of two key rings and insert; no actual ignition switch replacement in recall procedure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V355000 issued; owner expresses doubt about adequacy of fix
Incompatible or non-original instrument cluster
Instrument cluster appears to be aftermarket or incorrect for model year, creating diagnostic communication faults with multiple vehicle modules. Odometer reading may not be independently verifiable, and no service documentation exists indicating when cluster was replaced or recalibrated.
When: Apparent at time of purchase (used vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Diagnostic scan tools cannot consistently communicate with modules; Odometer reading questionable
Repairs/costs cited: Instrument cluster replacement or recalibration not documented
Park assist malfunction
Park assist system intermittently flashes and beeping function fails. Dealer diagnostic inconclusive. Manufacturer acknowledged awareness of the failure but stated no remedy was available at time of complaint.
When: Early in vehicle life (4,600 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Park assist flashing on and off intermittently; Beeping function inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostic unable to identify root cause; no repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer aware of failure; no remedy available at time of report
Recall repair parts shortage
Multiple owners received recall notification 14V355000 but could not obtain the required repair parts, leaving vehicles unrepaired for extended periods beyond reasonable timeframes.
When: During recall campaign period (2014)
Symptoms owners cite: Inability to complete recall repair
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 14V355000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall parts unavailable; no alternative remedy provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA 14V355000 recall issued but parts availability delayed excessively
Old battery installed at purchase
Used vehicle purchased with 10-year-old battery already installed, which subsequently failed and caused starting issues and in-drive power loss.
When: Shortly after used vehicle purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Starting issues; Power loss while driving; Vehicle stranding
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement performed
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
I was driving on a highway and stopped at a stop sign--when I accelerated to continue driving the car shifted into the gear for driving in the snow. The gear shift still was in drive. In the snow drive gear you get a bumpy ride and can only go 30 MPH. I had on star at that time and they told me to turn the ignition off and it would get me out of that gear. I did that twice and it worked. I…
The Buick lucerne 2011 we own had the battery explode upon turning the key. I am wife/caregiver to 100% disabled veteran and his service dog. Normally I would have put them both in the car before turning the key but luckily on this day I did not or we all would have been killed. The car was in the driveway when this happened. We immediately had car towed to mechanic after the acid and smoke in…
Background - I just went through the ignition recall on my 2007 Chevrolet cobalt. The ignition switch was replaced and I am comfortable driving the car now. Then I received recall 14299 on my 2011 Buick lucerne (NHTSA campaign id 14v355) involving a similar ignition issue. It also mentioned the weight issue of items hanging on the key causing loss of engine power, braking, etc. The recall…
On 9/1/18 I drove my car all morning late that night when I went to drive again it wouldn't start and I could smell a little burning. Checked the fuse box and it had blew out a couple of fuses so we changed them. 3days later it did the same thing we changed the fuses again and once again the blew now when we changed them it won't start at all. I had to keep changing the fuel pump fuse and a…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick lucerne. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v355000 (electrical system). The contact stated that the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount if time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick lucerne. The contact received NHTSA campaign number: 14v355000 (electrical system). The contact stated that the part that was needed to remedy the recall was unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experience a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick lucerne. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14v355000 (electrical system); however, the part needed for the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Buick lucerne. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14v355000 (electrical system); however, the parts needed for the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer has not been made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Had electrical trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Buick Lucerne?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 58,000 and 146,000 miles, with the median around 106,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 58,000; a quarter make it past 146,000. 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/2011/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.