Used Buick Lucerne Buying Guide: Best Years, Key Recall and V8 Oil Leaks

For most buyers, the used Buick Lucerne to get is a 2009-2011 CX or CXL with the 3.9-liter V6, a quiet, roomy cruiser that's cheap to fuel on regular gas. The V8 cars are quicker and plusher, though they're also the ones Consumer Guide flags for oil leaks. On any Lucerne from 2006 to 2011, confirm GM's ignition key recall (14V355) is done for that VIN, since a heavy key ring can knock the switch out of Run and the air bags may not deploy.

We went through Consumer Guide's 2006-11 Lucerne review, Consumer Reports' Lucerne page, and every model year in NHTSA's recall API on October 18, 2026. The newest Lucerne is now about 15 years old. That matters more than the trim, because you're really buying how the last two owners treated it.

What changed by year

The Lucerne replaced both the LeSabre and the Park Avenue for 2006. At launch the CX had a 197-hp 3.8-liter V6, the CXS had a 275-hp 4.6-liter V8 with Magnetic Ride Control, and the CXL could be had with either. Consumer Guide notes the V8 was shared with the Cadillac DTS and was Buick's first V8 in more than a decade. Every Lucerne used a four-speed automatic. A 292-hp Super trim arrived for 2008, and for 2009 the 3.8 was swapped for a 227-hp, E85-capable 3.9-liter V6. After that, 2010 and 2011 barely changed.

Consumer Reports isn't kind to the old 3.8, calling it rough-sounding, and says the car rides quietly but handles without much feedback and can fishtail at its limits. It also found the back seat roomier than the one in the LaCrosse. Buick recommends regular fuel for the V6 and 92 octane for the V8, per Consumer Guide, so budget for that if a CXS tempts you.

Recalls worth checking by VIN

• 14V355, 2006-2011: extra weight on the key ring, or a jolt, can turn the ignition out of Run, which can kill engine power, power steering and power brakes, and may stop the air bags from deploying. Dealers fit two new key rings and an insert or cover on the key. Until it's done, GM says to take everything off the ring.
• 08V441 and 10V240, 2006-2009: the heated washer fluid module could short and overheat. The first fix added a fuse. After more thermal incidents, GM had dealers disable the system for good and remove the module.
• 06V105, 2006 V8: power steering hose connectors may leak fluid that can catch fire.
• 10V553, 2010-2011 V8: the starter and alternator cable can rub through on the power steering return line.

Look the car up on the NHTSA recalls API, then call a Buick dealer with the VIN. Our Buick recall check by VIN post covers what an open campaign looks like.

What a history report won't tell you

A CARFAX or AutoCheck is good at title brands, odometer readings and reported crashes. It's bad at the problems a Lucerne actually develops. Consumer Guide lists these, and none of them shows up as a record anywhere:

• Oil leaking from the oil distribution plate on 2006-2008 4.6 V8s.
• Fluid leaks or slipping in the 4T80-E transmission behind the V8 on 2006-2008 cars, traced to a worn bushing.
• On 2006 3.8 cars, a wiring bundle that can rub on the shifter cable and cause a no-start, plus a torque converter clutch wire that can short and give harsh shifts.
• Water in the trunk on 2007-2008 cars from a faulty seal patch at the back of the body.
• Remote keyless entry and tire pressure receiver failures (2006-2007) and nav screen glitches (2006-2009).

So look under the car for oil on a V8, pull the trunk carpet, and drive it cold and warm. A fat service binder beats a clean report every time on a car this old.

Reading the history on a Buick like this

The hope with a big Buick is a garage-kept, low-mile car from one careful owner, and sellers know it, so they'll say it whether or not it's true. Look at how often the mileage was recorded. Steady readings every year or two back up the story. A long gap with no records can mean the car sat in storage, or it can mean it was off the road after a crash, and the report can't tell you which. Run the VIN through our Buick VIN decoder guide to confirm the engine, and search NMVTIS for salvage or flood brands. If it's had a title brand, walk unless the price is low enough to cover a full inspection and the risk.

Alternatives

If you want something smaller from the same family, our used Buick LaCrosse guide covers it, and the 2005-2009 LaCrosse shares the same key recall. For an old-school rear-drive V8 sedan, see our Mercury Grand Marquis guide.

Paying for the report

We're a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Buick. As of mid October 2026, one report runs about $5.50 as a guest or $4.50 for members, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck pair is around $6.75, compared with roughly $39.99 to $44.99 buying direct. Check the total at checkout before you pay.

Sources

• Consumer Guide: 2006-11 Buick Lucerne
• Consumer Reports: Buick Lucerne
• NHTSA recallsByVehicle, 2006-2011 queried Oct. 18, 2026
• NMVTIS