2008 Buick Lucerne Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe no-start and stalling episodes traced to a melted fuel pump relay and a scorched fuse box located under the rear seat; a burning or hot-plastic smell inside the cabin is a common companion report. Electrical complaints dominate and typically appear between roughly 50,000 and 150,000 miles, while a smaller set of complaints covers sudden engine shutdowns, dim instrument lighting, and airbag warning messages.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Melted fuel pump relay and fuse box under rear seat

   • 92 complaints (42%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 10.3 yrs old (69 state mileage)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $720 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2025

   Complaints describe the car cranking but not starting, or stalling and refusing to restart, after a fuel pump relay in the fuse box under the rear seat has overheated. Owners frequently report a burning plastic odor or smoke in the cabin, and mechanics often find the relay and surrounding fuse box connector melted or scorched; many replace the relay, the fuel pump, or the whole fuse box, and some report the problem returning within days or months. Several owners say the rear seat pressing on the fuse box may be involved, and dealers are described as recognizing the pattern while declining repairs as uncovered or non-recall work. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 130,000 miles, on vehicles of varying age and in everyday driving conditions.

   What to check: With the rear seat cushion lifted, look at the fuel pump relay and the fuse box socket for browning, bubbling, or a burnt smell, and ask whether the relay, fuel pump, or fuse box has been replaced. Carry the failure history into any pre-purchase inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Within the last month, my car has burned though 3 fuel pump relays. One connection is bubbling up in a certain spot. The fuse box is hot to the touch, and a glove was needed to pull the fuel relay out and the bubbling is now apparent on the fuse box itself. I had just finished a 260 mile round trip with my sister and when we stopped for food, the car would crank but not start.”

   NHTSA complaint #11257225, filed 2019-09, 104,242 miles

   “Fuel pump relay burnt up it is under back seat repair shop said the car would have burnt up completely if continued my little babies ride in back seat as required by law I would not get them out in time if the car on fire under them1 help help”

   NHTSA complaint #11032063, filed 2017-10, 102,729 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls while driving, sometimes no restart

   • 79 complaints (36%)
   • median 66,900 mi at 7.9 yrs old (59 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2025

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning at highway or in-town speeds, sometimes with a burning smell or smoke, and often with no warning light. Complaints mention loss of power steering and brake assist during the stall, repeated tow-ins, and diagnosis ranging from a failed ignition control module or coils to the fuel pump relay. Several owners report the same stall recurring after repairs, and some say dealers could not reproduce or identify the cause without a warning light. Reported from very low mileage up past 130,000 miles, both at low speed and at highway speed.

   Recall 14V355000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall (campaign 14V355000) has been completed and whether the ignition control module, coils, or fuel pump relay have been replaced; a test drive that includes a highway stretch can help.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle stalled out on a highway (and at highway speed) and would not restart. Obviously this created a very dangerous condition for me and those around me as I tried to coast over to the shoulder (esp with loss of power steering and brakes). The problem came without any warning, and was determined to have been isolated to the ignition control module. Mileage on the car is only 43k”

   NHTSA complaint #11142787, filed 2018-10, 43,120 miles

   “As I was turning a corner in this vehicle the engine suddenly stopped running. As I was on a lightly traveled street inside a development I was able to stop near the curb. I attempted to restart the car but it would not start. I called for assistance and a flat bed tow truck came after 1 hour. The car was taken to a Buick dealer that I normally use. The problem was diagnosed as the failure of the ignition module and 3 ignition coils that were supposedly damaged by the failing ignition coil. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10496477, filed 2013-02, 65,871 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic inspect the fuse box and fuel pump relay under the rear seat, and confirm any open recalls (including the ignition switch campaign) have been completed. Service records showing relay, pump, or fuse box replacements are worth asking for, since some owners report repeat failures.

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.