2009 Buick Lucerne

The 2009 Buick Lucerne sits in the middle of a clear downward trend in complaints and recalls across the generation. Complaints dropped from a high of 330 in 2006 to 128 in 2009, then continued falling to 49 by 2011. Recalls also declined, from four in 2006–2007 to two in 2009 and thereafter, while investigations—which had been ongoing for each prior year—dropped to zero in 2009 and stayed there. However, technical service bulletins (TSBs) rose steadily each year, reaching 956 in 2009 and climbing further, indicating that while major safety issues were being resolved, the vehicle accumulated a growing library of known fixes. The 2009 model’s top complaint areas are electrical and fuel-system related, with 17 fire complaints reported, though the data does not specify root causes. Compared to earlier years, 2009 is a notably improved choice with fewer complaints and no open investigations, but the high TSB count and persistent fire complaints mean a buyer should verify that all relevant service bulletins have been applied. Overall, 2009 is a reasonable buy if you prioritize lower complaint and recall numbers over the earliest years, but the 2010–2011 models show even better reliability records.