2007 Buick Lucerne Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Buick Lucerne most often write about electrical and instrument-panel problems, air bags that did not deploy in a crash, and chrome wheels that lose tire pressure. Many complaints are filed at moderate mileage (the median is around 49,000), and several electrical and lighting concerns show up very early in the car's life.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls while driving or will not start

   • 24 complaints (15%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2022

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning at various speeds, sometimes restarting and sometimes requiring a tow. In several cases mechanics replaced the crankshaft sensor, ignition module, ignition switch or starter. Some owners report that dealers could not reproduce or diagnose the stall, and a few mention warning messages about starting being disabled or the throttle. Reported from about 35,000 miles up to past 100,000 miles, at both city and highway speeds.

   Recall 14V3550001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for service records covering ignition switch, crankshaft sensor and starter work, and confirm recall 14V355000 was performed; drive the car long enough to include stop-and-go and highway speeds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Around or about october 2011, while traveling at approximately 40 MPH, my 2007 Buick Lucerne's engine suddenly shut off. This caused the loss of power steering and brakes (and airbag?). Fortunately, I was on a secondary road and managed to get the vehicle to the side of the road without any problem. Initial efforts to restart the vehicle were unsuccessful, so I called aaa for assistance. After about 15 minutes, and before aaa arrived, I was able to restart the car and drove home (it was a sunday). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10579140, filed 2014-04, 41,000 miles

   “Vehicle stalls unexpectedly while driving and while it's just sitting. There is absolutely no warning sign as to when this will happen. It's stalled on me while driving in all weather conditions and at different speeds. The engine just quits. Sometimes it will restart after a short while, and at other times it's had to be towed. We've had it to different dealers and mechanics and no one can figure it out. Can't drive or sell it in this condition. The same problems occurred when my father owned the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11152132, filed 2018-11, 96,696 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bags did not deploy in a crash

   • 15 complaints (9%)
   • median 56,500 mi at 7.1 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2017

   Complaints describe front impacts or being struck by another vehicle in which the air bags did not inflate, sometimes with injuries reported. Some owners also mention an air bag warning light that stays on or flashes, including after a crash. A few say the dealer or manufacturer was not able to explain why the bags did not deploy. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 7,000 miles to well over 150,000 miles, and in normal driving conditions.

   Recall 14V355000

   What to check: Have the air bag warning light checked and confirm that recall 14V355000 (ignition-related, which can affect air bag operation) was completed. Ask for any stored air bag diagnostic codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my Buick Lucerne and was traveling about 80 MPH when I hit the car in front of me I was going 70 MPH as per GM the air bag did not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10286654, filed 2009-10, 21,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. While driving 45 MPH he rear ended another vehicle and the front air bags did not deploy. There was damage to the front middle part of the bumper. The vehicle was towed. The driver suffered a broken sternum and the passenger sustained bruised ribs and a sprained hand. As of august 8, 2007, the dealer has not repaired the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 7,000. Updated 02-11-08”

   NHTSA complaint #10198878, filed 2007-08, 7,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Instrument panel and gauges hard to read in daylight

   • 16 complaints (10%)
   • median 216 mi at 0.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2010

   Owners report that the speedometer, fuel gauge and other readouts are very difficult or impossible to see in daylight, especially with headlamps on auto or in sun and shadow. Several say they took the car to the dealer and were told the panel lights only come on in the headlamp position, or that nothing could be done. One owner was stopped by police because the speed could not be read. Often reported very early, many under a few thousand miles, and while driving in daylight.

   What to check: Sit in the car in daylight with the headlamps set to auto and confirm the gauges are readable; ask whether the instrument cluster has been replaced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “- the contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. There is no back lighting for the dashboard during the day, and one cannot see the speedometer nor the gas gauge. This happens whenever there is a sunny and very nice day, too many times to count. The failure mileage was 70, and the current mileage was 1400.”

   NHTSA complaint #10186936, filed 2007-04, 70 miles

   “The digital odometer and radio gauge readouts are pitch dark and are impossible to read when the auto-headlamps are turned on during daylight, such as right after exiting a garage, a tunnel, parking structure, etc. Warning messages are also displayed through the same readout area.”

   NHTSA complaint #10202394, filed 2007-09, 10 miles
4. 4
   Wheels

   Chrome wheels corrode and lose tire pressure

   • 15 complaints (9%)
   • median 56,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2015

   Owners describe chrome-clad wheels peeling or corroding at the bead, causing slow leaks where a tire can lose several pounds of air per week. Tire shops reportedly found bead-seal problems and resealed or ground the rims, with the leak returning. Some owners say the wheels had to be replaced to solve it. Commonly reported between roughly 30,000 and 75,000 miles, often noticed when adding air repeatedly.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the inside of each rim for peeling or corrosion and check tire pressures over a few days; ask whether the wheels have been resealed or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Have had repeated issues w/dash warning light saying right front tire pressure low. Just came from tire shop. They told me them chrome is peeling on the inside of the rim causing a poor seal at the bead. From what I am seeing on different sites, this is not an single isolated incident. Tire shop also said wheels similar to mine were recalled on cadillac models.”

   NHTSA complaint #10490270, filed 2012-12, 37,000 miles

   “Problems with keeping tire pressure at proper level. Lately has gotten worse. Losing up to 10lbs over the period of a week in one of the tires. Two other tires leak slowly. After reading the other complaints on this site, I will certainly be elevating this with the dealer I bought the car from to see what can be done. Poor construction of wheels causing dropping pressure in tires is a serious problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10659889, filed 2014-11, 30,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering noise, pull and loss of power steering

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 59,975 mi at 7.1 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2012–2019

   Owners report a scraping or popping noise from the steering column when turning, often in cold weather, and a pull to one side that makes the car hard to hold in lane. Others describe the steering becoming very stiff or briefly locking, and some mention power steering fluid leaks with the rack and pinion needing replacement. Complaints say the dealer sometimes could not duplicate the noise. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 95,000 miles, sometimes in wet weather or cold conditions.

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listening for noise, check the power steering fluid level and look for leaks at the rack, and test-drive on a straight road for pulling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When bringing the car in for grinding brakes, my mechanic informed me that my rack and pinion was leaking and my rear struts were broken and leaking. (this was later confirmed with a Buick dealership). I was informed that my car would not be able to pass my yearly inspection without the rack and pinion repair. I was also informed that the repair would be quite costly. I was stunned since I have had nothing but complaints and repairs with this car which I am still paying for, the last past two and a half years respectively. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10560842, filed 2014-01, 35,000 miles

   “Off and on scraping noise in steering column when turning right or left. Usually occurs in cold weather and disappears after driving a short distance. The car often pulls hard to the right making it hard to keep on the road. I have to keep alert so it does not cause an accident. The dash lights have a mind of their own sometimes they work and most of the time they don't. I have had the car in for repair several times for both issues but was told they can not do anything as it doesn't make a noise in the steering when I bring it in. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10483409, filed 2012-11, 52,950 miles

Buying note. Check that both electrical recalls (the ignition-related air bag recall and the washer fluid heater recalls) were completed, and look closely at the wheels and steering on a test drive. Service records for stalling and instrument cluster repairs are worth asking for on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.