2006 BUICK LUCERNE Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S GAUGES WERE INTERMITTENTLY DIFFICULT TO READ DUE TO SUN GLARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE SAME THING AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ODI ID # 10150699 CONCERNING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING.*AK

VEHICLE HAD A SEVERE VIBRATION PROBLEM WHEN DELIVERED IN APRIL. A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED AT 125 MILES. NOW, AT 3750 MILES THE PROBLEM RETURNED BUT MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED. AT 45 MPH IT FELT LIKE A FLAT TIRE OR A WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ON MY WAY HOME I EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT VIBRATION AND NOTICED THE CAR PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SWAPPED TIRES FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. HOW WILL THIS IMPACT MY VEHICLE WHEN I NEXT ROTATE MY TIRES? THE VIBRATION PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I AM FEARFUL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND, ONCE AGAIN, WILL RETURN TO MY DEALER FOR A SOLUTION. TIRES ARE CONTINENTAL P235-55R17 WHICH THE NHTSA SITE DOES NOT HAVE AS AN OPTION WHEN FILLING OUT THE "COMPONENT" SECTION OF THIS REPORT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD POOR ILLUMINATION DURING THE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ILLUMINATION WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR WERE OTHER CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS VIA THE NHTSA WEBSITE ODI #10150699. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE POOR ILLUMINATION IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM

DASH INSTRUMENTS AND GAUGES ARE NOT VISIBLE IN DAYTIME. RUN OFF ROAD TRYING TO SEE SPEEDOMETER TO SET CRUISE CONTROL. DASH LIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY OFF IN DAYLIGHT, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE DASH INSTRUMENTS. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. CONTACTED GM AND THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM. IT IS ON BUICK LUCERNE 2006, ALSO UNDERSTAND 2007'S HAVE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS NOT ON ALL CARS AS I UNDERSTAND IT. IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE CAR. MAY CAUSE TO RUN OFF ROAD OR CROSS CENTER AND HAVE WRECK TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SPEED CAR IS GOING. NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE PANEL WAS SET AT HIGH INTENSITY, HOWEVER THE GAUGES REMAINED DIFFICULT TO VIEW DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SPEED AND FUEL GAUGES WERE SOME EXAMPLES OF GAUGES THAT COULD NOT BE VIEWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND OFFERED THREE OIL CHANGES DUE TO INCONVENIENCES. *NM UPDATED 10/02/06. *JB, UPDATED 11/28/2006. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS OBSCURED BY THE GLARE FROM SUNLIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE DASHBOARD PANEL WAS A MANUFACTURING STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM

(1) EXTREMELY POOR STEERING, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 65 MPH OR HIGHER,. MAY NOT CAUSE A WRECK, BUT MOST CERTAINLY WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A ACCIDENT. (2) NONE , SO FAR. (3) NOTIFIED BUICK BY MAIL 05-16-06/ BUICK PHONED BACK, "WE HAVE FILED YOUR LETTER." NOTE: THIS IS A CONDITION FROM THE DAY THE CAR WAS BOUGHT, THROUGH TODAY, 09-26-06. SO, THERE HAS BEEN NO 'INCIDENT (S) TO REPORT. *NM

2006 LUCERNE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ARE HARD TO SEE DURING THE DAY. *TS ***NAR*** THE TRUNK RELEASE IS HIDDEN IN THE GLOVE BOX. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES VIBRATED GOING DOWNHILL. THE BRAKING WAS NORMAL AT ALL OTHER TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER CHANGED THE ROTORS, BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THERE WAS HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE TEMPERATURE WAS SET AT 72 DEGREES WITH THE A/C ON AND THE DIALS SET ON WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER/LOWER LEG. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. ON 09/18/06, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A SAFETY COMPLAINT WAS FILED. UPDATED 10/3/2006 - *NM