2008 Buick Lucerne Complaint Log

ON MARCH 11, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK ON MY MOTHER'S 2008 BUICK LUCERNE AND SHE JUMPED A RR TIE BARRIER AND CROSSED THE FRONT YARD AND HIT AN OAK TREE AT PERHAPS 30 MPH. SHE THINKS SHE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT VEHICLE FROM GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND INTO THE STREET. SHE'S NOT SURE SHE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY TO HIP AND PELVIS. I DON'T KNOW IF AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED OR IF IT WOULD HAVE SAVED HER FROM SERIOUS INJURY, BUT I WOULD LIKE AN INDEPENDENT PARTY INVESTIGATE THE BLACK BOX DATA TO SEE WHAT LIGHT COULD BE SHED. *TR

I TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE.LAST YEAR. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I HAD PROBLEMS. I PROCEEDED UNDER PA. LEMON LAW DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES (ENGINE LIGHT INDICATING A PROBLEM) REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND SETTLED FOR A FLAT AMOUNT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD ADDITIONAL ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES BUT THIS TIME IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED (AND DOCUMENTED) AS A PROBLEM COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THAT WHICH OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS WELL IN EXCESS OF FIVE TIMES AND CLOSE TO 30 DAYS DOWN TIME. THIS NEW PROBLEM IS NOW ON ITS SECOND OCCURRENCE AND NOW I AM IN RENTAL CAR. I HAVE INFORMED GM AND THE DEALER THAT THIS VEHICLE IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. IT IS A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP. THE DEALER FINALLY ADMITS TODAY THAT THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, GM HAS TAKEN A POSITION THAT THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS SETTLED THAT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A NEW & SECOND PROBLEM NOT FIXED BY THE FIRST RECALL. I HAVE EVEN OFFERED TO GIVE THEM THEIR SETTLEMENT MONEY BACK ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I AM SO DISGUSTED. THE CAR IS A DANGER NOT ONLY TO MYSELF BUT TO OTHERS THAT I AM ON THE ROAD WITH AS A TRAVEL THE PA TPK. EVERYDAY FOR WORK. GM REFUSES TO LISTEN TO THEIR DEALER WHO NOW ADMITS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND CONFIRMS A NEW AND SECOND PROBLEM. GM WILL NOT LISTEN TO THEIR DEALER NOR TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. ONE PROBLEM SOLVED ANOTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (SUPPOSEDLY INVOLVING AN EMISSION SYSTEMS BREAKDOWN) TO GO. CAN SOMEONE AT THE AGENCY PLEASE HELP ME? *TR

DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS WILL BE DIM OR GO DIM WHILE DRIVING. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO READ ANY INFORMATION ON THE DASH WHEN SUN SHINES ON OR NEAR THE PANEL. DEALER REPLACED PANEL BUT IT DID NO GOOD. WENT BACK TO DEALER BUT HE SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. *TR

I HAVE AN 08 BUICK LUCERNE CXL UNDER WARRANTY. AT TIMES THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ARE SO DIM YOU CANNOT READ THE PANEL WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON THEM A BIT. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED PANEL LIGHT. NO HELP. THEY SAID BUICK WILL NOT HELP THEM. TOOK IT BACK AND EXPLAINED PROBLEM AND THEY SAID YES, YOU AND A THOUSAND OTHERS. I CONTACTED BUICK DIVISION AND THEY FILE MY EMAIL AND GIVE ME A LONG NUMBER. DEALER AGREES IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING IN MOUNTAINS I WANT TO KNOW MY SPEED, GEAR I'M IN ETC. IT DON'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME SO I AM SURE THERE IS A SIMPLE FIX. A SWITCH OR COMPUTER OR SOMETHING SIMILIAR. THANKYOU. *TR

DEFROSTER VENTS IMPROPERLY POSITIONED TO KEEP FRONT WINDSHIELD CLEAR IN NEAR ZERO CONDITIONS. WINDOW WIPER BLADES PARK IN AN AREA BELOW THE HEATED PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. WIPERS FROZE TO THE WINDOW, DURING THE DELAY IN THE INTERRUPTED OPERATION, WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM AT 3 DEG. TEMP. WINDOW ACTUALLY BECAME TOTALLY FROZEN OVER AND VISIBILITY BECAME IMPOSSIBLE. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ICE ACCUMULATED IN THE WIPER PAVE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER, ABOUT 3 X 6 X 1/4 THICK AND THE WIPER HAD TO NAVIGATE UP AND OVER THIS FROZEN MASS. *TR

DURING FREEZING RAIN OR SNOW CONDITIONS THERE IS A BUILD-UP OF ICE AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD BELOW THE POINT OF THE DEFROSTERS. HEAT FROM THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM CANNOT REACH THE AREA OF BUILD-UP CAUSING THE WIPERS TO CONSTANTLY PASS OVER THE ICE AND BECOME CLOGGED WITH ICE WHICH IS THEN DRAGGED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY AND A POTENTIAL DRIVING HAZARD. IN JUST A FEW MILES OF DRIVING IT WAS NECESSARY TO PULL OVER AND SCRAPE THE WINDSHIELD AND CLEAR THE ICE FROM THE WIPERS IN ORDER TO HAVE ADEQUATE VISIBILITY. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY CONDITION DUE TO THE LIMITING OF VISIBILITY AND THE REPEATED STOPS TO CLEAR THE ICE. *TR

AFTER FUEL GAUGE GETS DOWN TO FULL ,SHUT ENGINE OFF,RESTART ENGINE FUEL GAUGE WILL DROP ONE EIGHTH,SHUT ENGINE OFF, RESTART ENGINE GAUGE WILL READ UP ONE EIGHTH OR BACK TO WHERE IT WAS. IT READS UP1/8 THEN DOWN 1/8 THEN BACK UP 1/8. *TR

I PURCHASED AN 08 BUICK LUCERNE IN SEPT. OF 08. MY CONCERN DEALS WITH THE ACCELERATOR. THIS MODEL I AM TOLD HAS AN ALL ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED ACCELERATOR. I FIND IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD AN EVEN SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT IS CONSTANTLY EITHER SPEEDING UP OR SLOWING DOWN, AND I HAVE NO PERCEPTION OF EVER MOVING THE PEDAL. AT STOP SIGNS/LIGHTS IT WILL SOMETIMES LEAP OUT WITH A "JACK RABBIT" START WHICH WAS TOTALLY UNPLANNED FOR. THIS I FEEL IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE PLUS I ALSO THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE POOR MILEAGE I AM EXPERIENCING. I AM ONLY GETTING 15-23 MPG WHICH IS FAR FROM THE 23-29 I GOT ON MY 05 LASABRE WITH THE SAME ENGINE. I HAVE HAD IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND THEY BASICALLY TELL ME THIS IS ALL ELECTRONIC AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I FIND THIS ANSWER UNACCEPTABLE AND HOPE THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY HELP. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, GASOLINE WOULD SPEW BACK OUT FROM THE FILLER TUBE AND ONTO THE CONTACT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER WINDOW WAS ABNORMALLY SLOW IN OPENING AND WOULD SQUEAK. THE DRIVER SEAT HAS NO PADDING AND WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, SHE WOULD HAVE TO TILT THE STEERING WHEEL UPWARD IN ORDER TO EXIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,950. UPDATED 12/7/10 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DOOR LOCKS HAD TO REPAIRED. UPDATED EVOQ 03/01/11

ON A SUNNY DAY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO READ THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UNDER THE COWL. MOST IMPORTANT : ONE CANNOT READ THE SPEEDOMETER SO THAT YOU CAN ONLY JUDGE YOUR SPEED BY WHETHER YOU ARE PASSING EVERYONE OR THEY ARE PASSING YOU. NOR ARE ANY OF THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS READABLE. AT NIGHT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AS THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ARE FINE, BUT THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DO NOTHING TO HELP THE DAY PROBLEM. THESE ARE ALL ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. I SPOKE WITH BUICK IN DETROIT AND ALSO MY LOCAL BUICK DEALER. DETROIT SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAD NO SUGGESTION. MY DEALER ALSO HAD NO SUGGESTION. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS CORRECTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL HAD A CONSTANT LOW INTENSITY, RESULTING IN POOR ILLUMINATION. AS A RESULT, HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE WARNING LIGHTS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300. UPDATE 10/01/08 *CW UPDATED 10/02/08. *JB

THERE IS A CLUNKING OF THE DRIVERSIDE FRONT BRAKES FOLLOWED WITH A SCRAPING SOUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCOMPANIED WITH A HESITATION IN MAINTAINING DRIVING SPEED. THE CAR WILL THEN SHOW A WARNING TO SERVICE THE STABILITRACK SYSTEM. WHEN THIS OCCURS BRAKES FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING LOOSE THAT IS BETWEEN BRAKE PAD AND DISC. DEALERSHIP SAID IT NEEDED TO REPROGRAM THE MODULE. THEY DID BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. NOW MODULE NEEDS REPLACING. THE VEHICLE IS A HAZARD SHOULD BRAKES FAIL OR LOCK UP. *TR

THIS IS A REPORT OF A DESIGN FLAW THAT MIGHT RESULT IN A SAFETY ISSUE. I RECENTLY TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE CXL. I PURCHASED THE OPTIONAL SIX-PASSENGER VERSION WHICH MEANS THAT THE GEARSHIFT LEVER IS MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN INSTEAD OF ON A FLOOR CONSOLE, LIKE MOST OTHER CARS. WHEN THE GEARSHIFT LEVER IS IN THE "DRIVE" POSITION, THE VIEW OF THE RADIO DISPLAY IS OBSCURED, CAUSING ME TO MOVE MY HEAD TO LOOK AROUND THE GEARSHIFT LEVER TO VIEW THE DISPLAY. AS A RESULT, MY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD IS MUCH MORE DISTRACTED THAN IF I HAD AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE RADIO DISPLAY. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH EXCESSIVE SCRATCHES ON THE EXTERIOR PAINT. THE SCRATCHES COVERED THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE OBSERVED THE DEFECTS DURING THE NEW VEHICLE INSPECTION. IMMEDIATELY, THE AUTHORIZED DEALER COLLISION CENTER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE SCRATCHES WERE DUE TO FAULTY PAINT WORKMANSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECTIVE EXTERIOR PAINT AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE DEFECT ONCE IT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF SALE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 456 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 BUICK LUCERNE AND UNABLE TO READ INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ESPECIALLY SPEED, GAS, ETC DURING DAYLIGHT PERIODS WITH BRIGHT SUN AND/OR HAZY WHEN AUTO RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON. DRIVER IS UNABLE TO OBSERVE THE AUTO'S SPEED, AMOUNT OF FUEL AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS ON PANEL. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEING INSTALL TO FAR BACK INTO THE CONSOLE , THEREFORE IN DEEP SHADOW . ALSO THERE IS NO BACK LIGHTING WHEN THE AUTO RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON. THIS IIS A MAJOR SAFETY DAY TIME CONCERN AS DRIVER IS UNABLE TO PROPER JUDGE HIS SPEED AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO OBSERVE OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL MONITORS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF A CRASH OCCURRED, BATTERY FUMES AND ACIDS COULD BE RELEASED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25.

2008 BUICK LUCERNE. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING RECALL AND CLASS ACTION SUIT INVOLVING GM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS) WAS A MARKETING FEATURE ON THE GM PRODUCT. THE PROPOSED SOLUTION OF PERMANENTLY DISABLING AND REMOVING THE HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM IS NEITHER ACCEPTABLE NOR JUST. *JB