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2011 Buick Lucerne

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 Lucerne.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2011 Buick Lucerne is a passenger car that carries a 4‑quart oil capacity and is designed for 5W‑30 viscosity. In its final model year the Lucerne recorded only 49 owner complaints — the lowest count in its 2006‑2011 span — and just two recalls, with the majority of issues centering on the electrical system. That places the 2011 Lucerne at the low end of its complaint history, reflecting a marked improvement over earlier years.

Model year2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 96r · 720 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 96r · 720 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP235-55R17OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731179
Engine air filter	22676970
Spark plug	12681662 alt 12571535
Battery	88865934
Front wiper blades	20988799 alt 20988800
Serpentine belt	12588412 alt 12604478
Thermostat	12591881 alt 12559807
Cabin air filter	15811562

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	203.1 in
Overall width	73.6 in
Overall height	57.9 in
Wheelbase	115.4 in
Curb weight	3763 lb
Track (front / rear)	62.6 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Lucerne of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.9–8.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.90 sec — 2006 CXS Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2006	CXS Sedan 4.6L V8	6.90 sec	15.30 sec	275 hp	FWD
2006	CXL Sedan 4.6L V8	7.20 sec	15.40 sec	197 hp	FWD
2006	CXS Sedan 4.6L V8	7.50 sec	15.70 sec	275 hp	FWD
2006	CXL Sedan 3.8L V6	8.80 sec	16.70 sec	197 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	7.5 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.5 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	118 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.43 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.70 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	96r
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	720 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	94r

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-62
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-62

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH FN 3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Torque Caliper to Bracket	27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	133 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	133 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	94 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

installation, 92 ft. lbs., step 2: remove bolt, step 3: install new bolt, 92 ft. lbs., step 4: 130

92 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

37 ft. lbs., step 2: 120

37 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 25,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2011 Buick Lucerne sits at the tail end of a declining trend in complaints and recalls, dropping from 330 complaints in 2006 to 49 in 2011, while recalls fell from 4 in 2006 to 2 in 2011. The number of investigations stayed at zero from 2009 onward, and the total safety bulletins issued peaked at 1137 in 2011, indicating ongoing manufacturer attention. Compared to 2010, which had 54 complaints and 2 recalls, 2011 shows a modest improvement in complaint volume but unchanged recall frequency. The top complaint areas for 2011—Electrical System (15), Vehicle Speed Control (4), Electrical System/Fuel/Propulsion System (3), and Tires (2)—suggest isolated issues rather than systemic failures, and the low fire (3) and crash (3) complaint counts reinforce this. Overall, the 2011 model year represents a relatively stable and lower‑complaint period within the generation, making it a reasonable choice for a used purchase, provided a thorough mechanical inspection is performed.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1137

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 3 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10’11

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 49 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System15

Vehicle Speed Control4

Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System3

Tires2

Service Brakes2

Engine2

Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train2

Visibility2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V355000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 23/06/2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on…

10V553000Electrical System:12V/24V/48V Battery:CablesReported 05/11/2010

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 DTS AND BUICK LUCERNE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES. THE STARTER OR ALTERNATOR CABLE IS IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE. IF EITHER THE STARTER… Remedy: DEALERS WILL SECURE AND IF NECESSARY REROUTE THE LINES TO PREVENT CONTACT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1137 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U	2026-01-08	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G	2025-11-20	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Lucerne. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 96 battery Vehicles taking 4 qt Engine oil filter 12731179 Engine air filter 22676970 Spark plug 12681662 Battery 88865934

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2011 Lucerne take?

4 qt of 5W-30 MEETING GM DEXOS 1 SPECIFICATION, per the factory manual.

Does the 2011 Lucerne have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.