2009 Buick Lucerne Fuel system Problems

The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact was able to safely drive onto the shoulder, and the tow truck was contacted. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuel relay had failed. The contact was informed that the relay had failed due to the location under the driver’s side rear seat, and while touching the motor terminal. The contact stated that there was a TSB associated with the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were contacted. The failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11729732

Incident

Dec 10, 2025

Mileage

70,000 mi

The car died suddenly and would not start, with no warnings or codes. Towed it to a Midas repair shop and it was diagnosed as a corroded Low Profile Fuel Pump relay. This was replaced, and the car ran fine for 3 days before going dead in the middle of driving and left me stranded in an intersection. Had to get it towed back to Midas where it was more accurately diagnosed that the issue with the relay was being caused by a faulty Rear Electrical Center. Both of these parts have been recalled, and I have only owned this car for a little over a year. It has only around 40,000 miles on it. Despite this recall, upon taking the car to the local Buick dealership, they stated they could not cover the recall due to it being expired before I even owned the car. I do not understand how it is right or fair for this to have to be paid out of pocket, for $183.53 and $818.81 respectively, when it is not my fault, it is a faulty GM parts issue, and GM stated they will not stand behind their product and cover the recall despite the evident risk to my safety if I was to continue driving the car without repair. I understand it is expired, but I fail to see how this is ethical when the part is still faulty to the point of being dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11605954

Incident

Jul 26, 2024

Fuel Pump relay fuse is getting burnt up and not allowing car to start. This is a known problem and Nhtsa has already made a recall but mine isn’t recalled. You would think since mine is a 2008-2011 Buick Lucerne it would be able to get fixed. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11567044

Incident

Dec 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the fuel pump was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The fuel module was replaced by the contact but the failure reoccurred. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and had the vehicle towed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 41,000.

NHTSA ID

11534910

Incident

Jul 20, 2023

Mileage

41,000 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle sputtered and failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who recommended that the fuel pump relay be replaced. The mechanic became aware that the fuse was melted. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11532285

Incident

Jun 26, 2023

Mileage

140,000 mi

The fuse box or fuse holder under the back seat had the fuel pump relay fail due to pressure on the fuse box lid from the seat above it. This is a known issue by Buick as they keep the fuse box in stock (for about $300) I have owned two similar Lucernes with this issue. The fuel pump relay caused enough heat to melt into the fuse box, causing a disconnection. This caused the fuel pump to stop pumping, causing the car to stop running. The problem can be confirmed by calling any Buick dealer. I'm sure they have had several examples of this issue besides my pair. There are many examples mentioned on the internet, as well as videos as to how to fix it. There are no warning lamps prior to the failure. The engine dies and refuses to restart.

NHTSA ID

11507455

Incident

Feb 2, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated while parked, the vehicle was not able to be started. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed a failure with the fuse box. Additionally, the fuel pump relay was melted. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11476076

Incident

Jul 26, 2022

Mileage

71,000 mi

Fuel pump relay under vehicles back seat fried out due to the back seat hitting the fuse box cover and grounding out the fuel pump relay. My child was in the back seat and said there was smoke coming from the back seat and the fuse box nearly caught on fire. After reading online I am appalled that this has not been recalled yet. There was 0 warning, no lights on dash, I did not file a police report or do anything with my insurance as there was no accident. Just a car bomb manufactured by GM

NHTSA ID

11448734

Incident

Jan 24, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that on multiple occasions the vehicle would not immediately start-up. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump relay was faulty and needed to be replaced. After replacing the fuel pump relay the failure was temporarily fixed before it recurring. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11418865

Incident

May 1, 2021

Mileage

79,000 mi

AFTER BEING DRIVEN NORMALLY ALL DAY, THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULDN'T CRANK PROPERLY AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO A CAR SHOP. ACCORDING TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, THE BACK SEAT PRESSED ON THE WIRING THAT, IN TURN, BURNED UP THE ELECTRIC PANEL AND THE FUEL PUMP. DUE TO THIS, THE ELECTRIC PANEL AND THE FUEL PUMP NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11231424

Incident

Jul 10, 2019

GOING DOWN HIGHWAY 70 MPH STRAIGHTAWAY CAR STALLED ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY PULLED OFF SEAT FOUND FUSE BOX TEMP HOT WHEN COOLED DOWN NOTICED FUEL RELAY SWITCH BURNT OUT. COMMON PROBLEM WITH CAR DUE TO ENGINEERING OF SEAT BRACKETS HITTING FUSE BOX AND DAMAGING IT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 5 YEARS FUSE BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED BY CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. OBVIOUSLY PROBLEM IS WITH THE ENGINEERING OF SEAT BRACKET BUT APPARENTLY DEALER DOES NOT TAKE ME SERIOUSLY AND DID NOT TRIM SEAT CLIPS PER MY SPECIFIC REQUEST BC THERE IS ONLY A BULLETIN FROM GM 15-NA-051 NOT A RECALL. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND MUST BE COMMON ENOUGH FOR A BULLETIN LUCKILY NO ONE WAS TAILGATING OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11230244

Incident

Jul 6, 2019

Mileage

208,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSES AND FUEL PUMP SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DECELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ULTIMATE GMC FREDERICKSBURG (5150 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, (540) 693-2350), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE A RECALL LETTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11186074

Incident

Mar 5, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT PULLED OUT THE REAR SEAT TO REACH THE FUSE BOX AND NOTICED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS PARTIALLY BURNT AND FUEL PUMP RELAY ALSO BURNT ON AUGUST 17, 2018. NEW FUEL PUMP RELAY PURCHASED AND TEMPORARILY REPAIRED BY CONTACT. IN JANUARY 2019, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PHILLIPS BUICK GMC (2160 US WHY 441, FRAUDULENT PARK, FL 34731) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUSE BLOCK (BOX) NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THE REAR SEAT NEEDED TO BE MODIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *TTT CONTACT SAYS THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTED FUEL PUMP RELAY, FUSE BLOCK AND FUEL PUMP REPORTED FAILURES ON BUICK LAGRANGE. THE MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM ARE THE FAILURES THAT OCCURRED WHILE THE CARS WERE BEING DRIVEN AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF THE BILL FROM PHILLIPS BUICK/GMC. *JB

NHTSA ID

11185780

Incident

Aug 17, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A BURNING FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

NHTSA ID

11149627

Incident

Oct 23, 2018

Mileage

97,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT START. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY HAD BURNED UP AND SO WE CHANGED THE RELAY, BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SO WE WENT AHEAD AND CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP; THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SWITCH IS STILL GETTING RED HOT AND NOT SURE AT THIS TIME WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE. HAVING IT LOOKED INTO FURTHER. I AM NOT SURE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE OR NOT BUT HAVE SEEN QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE,

NHTSA ID

11139126

Incident

Sep 27, 2018

Mileage

89,000 mi

FUEL PUMP RELAY HEATED UP AND BURNED UP FUSE BLOCK WITCH IS LOCATED UNDER REAR SEAT.FIRE HAZARD. SITS ABOVE GAS TANK. CAR WILL NOT START OR WILL LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING.LOST STEERING AND BRAKES. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. ALSO IGNITION SWITCH NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ID

11120514

Incident

Jun 20, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS FAULTY. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11102842

Incident

Feb 2, 2018

Mileage

137,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. UNABLE TO START. BURNING SMELL UNDER REAR SEAT (DRIVER SIDE). SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY GM #15-NA-051 (JULY 26, 2016). DESIGN DEFECT CAUSING NO START/STALLING CONDITION BECAUSE REAR SEAT BOTTOM BRACKET PRESSING ON FUEL PUMP RELAY CAUSING FUEL PUMP RELAY TO SHORT OUT (BURN OUT). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH BY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHEN CAR STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. GM REFUSES TO ISSUE RECALL. GM SAYS TO TAKE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER AND HAVE REPAIR/MODIFICATION DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE.

NHTSA ID

11098434

Incident

May 26, 2018

Mileage

53,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD SHUT OFF AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE CONTACT MADE APPROXIMATELY THREE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (TODD WENZEL BUICK GMC IN WESTLAND, MICHIGAN, 734-721-1144) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX HAD A SHORT, WHICH WAS SENDING THE WRONG SIGNAL TO THE FUEL RELAY DELIVERY PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AROUND JUNE OF 2016. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID

11093302

Incident

Apr 28, 2018

Mileage

129,000 mi

I HAD JUST DRIVEN THE CAR ON A 2 HOUR TRIP WITH NO ISSUE. I DROVE THAT TRIP IN THE MORNING AND THAT AFTERNOON I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE STARTER WAS GOING BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START. I LIFTED THE BACK SEAT TO FIND AN AWFUL SMELL COMING FROM THE FUSE BOX. I PULLED THE FUEL PUMP FUSE TO FIND IT SINGED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE NEEDING A NEW FUSE BOX AND I'M STILL WAITING TO FIND THE PART.

NHTSA ID

11088464

Incident

Mar 17, 2018

Mileage

82,000 mi

CAR IS STATIONARY AND STINKS LIKE PLASTIC IS BURNING, TURNS OVER BUT WON'T START. CHECKED FUSE BOX AND FOUND FUEL PUMP RELAY AND FUSE BOX BLACKENED AND BURNT. THIS IS WIFE,S CAR SHE USES TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER AND FRIENDS TO SOCCER SO II WANT TO KNOW IF I REPLACE RELAY AND FUSE BOX IS IT FIXED OR AM I PUTTING MY FAMILY AND OTHERS AT RISK. GM SAYS NOTHING ABOUT ISSUE SO I DO NOT KNOW. 60,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11083981

Incident

Apr 9, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY 2009 BUICK LUCERNE WOULDN'T START..THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP HAD IT CHECKED OUT..THE FUEL PUMP WAS GOOD SO WE CHECK THE RELAY FUSE AND IT WAS BURNT OUT. I PUT A NEW RELAY FUSE IN AND DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON..SO WE RECHECKED THE RELAY FUSE AND IT WAS BURNT OUT AGAIN..THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE RELAY AND FUSE BOX.THIS COULD START A FIRE..I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN I NEED MY CAR BUT AT THE SAME TIME I NEED IT SAFE..I LOOKED ONLINE AND ABOUT 10 OR MORE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM..PLEASE RECALL THESE PARTS..

NHTSA ID

11004879

Incident

Jul 5, 2017

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PATRIOT AUTO SALES (12100 LORAIN AVE, CLEVELAND, OH 44111) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPAIRED THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE FUSE BOX AND THE RELAY SWITCH WERE MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID

11002549

Incident

Mar 15, 2017

Mileage

113,000 mi

I AM A WIDOW LIVING ALONE ON A FIXED INCOME. I HAVE LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. LONG STORY SHORT. VEHICLE WOULDN'T START - HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP - THEY PUT IT ON MACHINE - SHOWED FUEL PUMP WAS OUT - PUT IN A NEW RELAY, FUEL PUMP, ETC. DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. FOUND LATER THAT FUEL BOX, RELAY FRIED, PARTIALLY MELTED AREA ON FUSE BOX . FIRE HAZARD. ENDING UP PAYING OVER $1000 FOR REPAIRS. HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE CAR AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. ALSO TOLD THAT PROBABLY WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS. PLEASE HELP. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. WHY DOESN'T SOMEONE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11000100

Incident

Jun 14, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUSE BOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10953810

Incident

Jan 31, 2017

Mileage

78,000 mi