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2007 Buick Lucerne Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2007 Buick Lucerne has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Instrument panel unreadable in daylight.” Buick uses the GM Oil Life System: an algorithm tracks engine revolutions and temperature, then lights the change-oil message — typically every 7,500 miles in mixed driving, capped at 12 months, using dexos-approved oil. Current Encore GX and Envista run 1.2/1.3L turbo three-cylinders where oil quality matters more than volume drivers expect (the sump is small and turbo-heated). Front-drive models pair to a CVT with a published fluid interval — it is not a lifetime part.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 Buick Lucerne.

Reported to NHTSA

Instrument panel unreadable in daylight

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

28 NHTSA complaints · 2006-11 → 2010-11

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN A DARK AREA, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATES. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN A WELL LIT AREA, THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND GEAR SHIFT GAUGES ARE DISPLAYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10209155
“THE DASH GAUGES ARE HARD TO SEE. FUEL GAGE & TEMP ARE THE WORST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10195112
“DASH CLUSTER IS VERY HARD TO READ DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS UNLESS BACKLIT BY LIGHT SENSOR ON THE DASH. DURING THE DAY THE DASH CLUSTER IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND READ WITH OR WITHOUT SUN GLASSES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10366370

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Chrome wheel corrosion causing air loss

WHEELS

13 NHTSA complaints · 2009-12 → 2015-11

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES WOULD NOT MAINTAIN AIR. AFTER AIR WAS ADDED TO BOTH TIRES, THEY WOULD BECOME FLAT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10794439
“THE CHROME PLATED WHEELS BECOME CORRODED AND LEAK AIR AROUND THE BEAD OF THE TIRE. I HAVE HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REMOUNTED AND SEALED SEVERAL TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10655356
“CHROME WHEELS BECOME DEFECTIVE WHEN CHROME STARTS TO FLAKE CAUSING TIRE NOT BE SEALED PROPERLY WITH RIM CAUSING TIRE PRESSURE TO LEAK AND TIRE TO GO FLAT IF NOT REINFLATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10629636

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine motor mount fracture and oil leak

ENGINE

7 NHTSA complaints · 2012-05 → 2020-12

“OIL LEAK FROM FAULTY SEALS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11384970
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE UPPER PASSENGER SIDE DOG BONE ENGINE MOUNT WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10859806
“I HAD 3 OUT OF 4 MOTOR MOUNTS CRACK AND FAIL. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM MANY MANY TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10458018

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Door handle and latch failure

STRUCTURE

6 NHTSA complaints · 2007-08 → 2016-10

“THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS COMING OFF. MY CAR WAS IN MY GARAGE WHEN ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, I OPENED THE DOOR AND THE HANDLE PULLED AWAY FROM THE DOOR. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10914266
“DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, CYLINDER LOCK AND LATCH MECHANISM PULLS OUT FROM THE DOOR WHEN OPENING THE DOOR TO ENTER CAR. THE ASSEMBLY STAYS LOOSE AFTER THE DOOR IS CLOSED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10711802
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10579674

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition switch recall part unavailability

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

6 NHTSA complaints · 2014-09 → 2014-12

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10667947
“TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10649939
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX WEEKS DUE TO THE PART NOT AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10633585

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unexpected engine stall or no-start

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

21 NHTSA complaints · 2008-08 → 2022-10

“When I am driving my vehicle will just stall. If I do not let my car run for at least 5-10 minutes before I go anywhere it will stall out on me not long after. It has stalled on the highway, even a few times with my 6 year old in the vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11490744
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11152132
“VEH WHILE DRIVING JUST CUTS OFF FOR NO REASON, SPEED DOES NOT MATTER. IF GOING FAST ENOUGH YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO COST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD HOWEVER THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING IT JUST CUTS OFF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10937452

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front air bags failing to deploy in crash

AIR BAGS

15 NHTSA complaints · 2007-08 → 2019-02

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CHEVROLET SUBURBAN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10986241
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND INJURIES TO THE RIGHT KNEE AND NECK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10855040
“I HAD ENTERED A LEFT TURN LANE AND HAD GOTTEN OVER THE LINE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK ME HEAD-ON AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR. MY AIR BAGS (SIDE AND FRONT) DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10220945

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power steering fluid loss and failure

STEERING

9 NHTSA complaints · 2012-11 → 2019-08

“POWER STEERING LEAKS, STEERING IS JERKY, PUMP MAKES NOISE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11245919
“WHEN TURNING THROUGH WATER PUDDLES ON RIGHT SIDE POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING FOR 3-4 SECONDS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10726690
“WHEN MAKING TURNS IN WET WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF STANDING WATER, THE POWER STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10576102

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it — typically around 7,500 miles, never beyond 12 months. dexos1 0W-20 on modern engines. Small-displacement turbos (Encore GX, Envista): don't stretch the indicator.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles with the oil change — GM pairs the two in its schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Older Centurys: check rear drum adjustment and parking-brake cables, which seize with age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

CVT Fluid (Encore GX / Envista FWD)

Every 45,000 mi

FWD Encore GX and Envista use a CVT: GM schedules fluid replacement around 45,000 miles under severe service — which includes most city commuting. AWD Encore GX uses a 9-speed automatic instead (see transmission fluid).

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Conventional automatics (Century's 4T65-E, Regal's Aisin, AWD Encore GX's 9-speed): GM lists 45,000 miles severe / longer normal. Older Buicks respond well to a simple drain-and-fill — avoid pressure flushes on high-mile units.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Small-turbo three-cylinders (Encore GX, Envista): roughly every 60,000 miles — check the manual. Older 3.1/3.8 V6s: iridium plugs last to 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM schedules replacement around 45,000 miles; inspect at every oil change in dusty regions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking or glazing rather than mileage alone.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace roughly every 22,500 miles per GM's schedule — behind the glovebox on modern Buicks.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 150,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles. On older 3.1/3.8 V6s, intake-gasket seepage was the classic failure — check coolant level and condition at every oil change on a Century.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Stop-start-equipped Encore GX/Envista use AGM batteries — replace like-for-like, not with a cheaper flooded battery.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

182 crashes 1990–2024

How the 182 occupant deaths break down

129

driver deaths

53

passenger deaths

182

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

21

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2007 Buick Lucerne reflects Buick's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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