The 2006 Buick Lucerne is likely to need an engine rebuild at some point in its lifetime, according to Consumer Reports‘ data.
The publication included the 2006 model-year Buick Lucerne on its list of ‘Cars Most Likely to Need an Engine Rebuild and What to Buy Instead’. It claims the Lucerne’s engine may experience major trouble between 116,000 miles and 143,000 miles, though it did not specify if this data set was related to the 3.8L V6 engine or 4.6L Northstar V8 engine.
However, pulling the complaints received by CR from 2006 Buick Lucerne owners shows evidence that the majority of issues experienced with the Lucerne are with regards to 4.6L V8 models. One owner said the V8’s rear crankshaft seal started leaking oil at 140,000 miles and that the dealer wanted $3,900 to replace the seal. Another owner of a V8-equipped Lucerne experienced a similar problem with their vehicle and spent $5,000 to repair the rear seal oil leak. There were other owners who said they experienced problems with the 4.6L V8 leaking oil at some point as well.
General Motors‘ Northstar V8 engine, which was also offered in Cadillac products, is well-known for issues related to the oiling system and historically experienced other problems pertaining to head gaskets and carbon buildup.
There are some small problems with 3.8 V6-equipped Buick Lucerne models, but they aren’t nearly as serious and don’t require an engine rebuild. Many owners report the motor mounts on their V6-powered Lucerne failed at some point, while others experienced problems with minor fluid leaks brought on by sub-par factory fluid lines.
CR says used car shoppers in the market for a 2006 Buick Lucerne may be better served by a 2006 Lexus GS or 2004-2008 Toyota Avalon, as these vehicles do not have the same engine issues as the Lucerne. Alternatively, the 3.8L V6-powered Lucerne is still fairly reliable for those owners who want to have a GM vehicle and don’t want to jump ship to Toyota or Lexus.
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Comments
5000 for an engine pull and seal swap is a rip-off of the major degree. You could have a whole new engine for less than that.
Lol, years ago I had a 97′ Nstar Seville that needed the usual new engine, partsyard dealer had offered to replace the engine with a 30 day warranty, for $1500 bucks….
I’d liked to see the estimate list from those customers. There had to been more than just the rear main seal for those prices. If not those customers were getting screwed. To pull the trans and replace the seal is about 9 hours labor, plus any extra for corrosion etc.
Well this must be a 2006 thing with the 4.6 Northstar because on the Cadillac forums the 4.6 engine is said to be far better from 2003 on up with much improved head bolt and intake/head gasket design. We have seen plenty of high mileage examples go through my friend’s dealership in both Deville’s\DTS and Lucerne’s that still run as new and I can say with the utmost confidence that the 3800 Series III is bulletproof as far as the engine is concerned and doesn’t suffer the plastic intake manifold issues it’s Series II brother suffered.
Also notice how they gloss right over the Toyota 2.2/2.4/3.0/3.3 engine sludge issues that plagued these engines from the 90’s to the early part of the 00’s which also affected the Avalon engines they claim are so wonderful. It took until the newer design 2.5 I-4 and 3.5 V6 to get this right.
I own a 2005 Pontiac Bonneville GXP with the Northstar; just turned over 70,000 miles. Just replaced 4 coil packs and all the plugs…they were the originals. No leaks and it runs terrific. At least once I week I run it on a straight stretch of Interstate for 4 to 5 miles up to 100mph..at WOT. And I use Chevron Techron every other tank of premium. No carbon issues. I love the way it looks, drives and runs!
The one problem I always have with CR reliability reports is how well did the owner keep up with maintenance? Sure, any car with become unreliable if you never do basic stuff like change the oil or even check it! Plus, these cars have a TON of miles on them! It’s just a matter of time before something wears out.
My dad had a 2006 Lucerne with the 3800 (3.8) V6. To make the engine smoother, GM put a balance shaft in the lifter valley. Then to handle the far end of the balance shaft, coolant transfer, etc. they bolted an additional plate to the flywheel end of the engine to deal with the shaft, coolant transfer from head to head, AND the rear main seal. Problem was, the gasket under the plate was prone to failure (there’s even a service bulletin on it) which caused coolant leaks that could only be repaired by pulling the transmission. I know all this because it happened on dad’s car. I can still remember him telling me “Son, for the cost of pulling that transmission, I can buy a LOT of coolant” and that’s exactly what he did…
Now that brings back memories. I’ve replace a handful of those gaskets back when I worked at a dealer. That plate is called a rear main seal housing BTW. Sometimes the hardest part of that whole job was removing the old gasket, that gasket was sometimes baked on like cement, lol
Would you please stop with this stupid unsubstantiated CR data. I realize you get paid by the article but try to be a real journalist.
Sooooo, according to CR, a Toyota is just perfect. Ok.
I tend to agree with most of the comments above. I know from personal experience how many issues Toyota’s (and Honda’s) have, yet CR will just continue to promote them like they are perfect. Give me a break! However, I have come to realize that I will take real world experience over what they say.
A few months ago I picked up a 2006 Lucerne CXL v8 for a very good price with 162K on it. The previous owner loved the car and had very good luck with it and did normal stuff, but nothing out of the ordinary. Granted, I haven’t had the car long, but I can certainly tell you it’s a solid car with a fantastic ride and is very quiet. Everything works and the car drives nicer than many of the cheap brand new cars. The interior is light years better than nearly everything from Toyota! But what CR fails to mention is that a person will (stupidly) pay thousands more for the cars they recommended over that Lucerne, thus eliminating the cost of those possible repairs. This is just like the Chevy Equinox article on here a few weeks ago: My suggestion would be the same as then. Buy the Lucerne for less and take the chance. If it ends up needing the repairs, do them and you will have a really great car with a fresh engine.
I had my 2008 Buick Lucerne v6 for almost 3 years it has 162000 miles and runs and feels like a champ. I got a great deal $ and I love it
Changed new headligths $160 and convert to LEDs $75 for a clean new look
The 3800 is a bullet proof motor. I’ve known a few people who had lots of miles on them with little or no issues.
I have 2006 Lucerne with northstar. I call this car the nickle dime ride. Aside from the bs oil leak the bs factory thermostat has cracked many of manifolds. When running right, great car but that never last very long. Unfortunately I am back to Toyota this fall, American cars still have no life after 50,000 miles. My 2 tundras never had issues, one is still going strong at 299,000 miles. In addition mechanics hate the northstar so much they charge a bunch for everything if you can even find one that will work on it. US car makers just never learn reliability factor.
I’ve had the Northstar in a couple of STS’s. The first two were great. My last one was an oil leaking oil consuming pig. Oil is inexpensive. I just changed the filter every 10.000 km and just added oil for 5 years. The bottom of the cat was always covered in oil. I never changed the half gaskets or had the collapsed rings replaced as the dealership recommended. I retired it at 280000 km because the car had suspension problems. You can throw your bank account at it if you want. I didn’t. I’ve been driving Honda’s and Nissan’s since. The Honda’s are heavy on maintenance and the Nissan is like driving for free. It never breaks down and had only had oil changes and brakes for 5 years. Go figure! Everyone makes good cars nowadays. Sometimes you just get a bad on.
The Northstar is a Cadillac engineered motor, eventually used in various Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick cars. The last decent, reliable, Cadillac design was the 368 cubic inch V8 from about 1980, screwed up in 1981 with the V 8-6-4 attempt to eke out a few more MPG. (My father, among many others, said if you have to worry about the gas mileage, maybe you shouldn’t buy a Cadillac).
I just realized, the only GM division not to use the Northstar is Chevrolet… the division responsible for the only good motor Cadillac has had from 1981 to date.
Imagine that.
The best you can get in a Cadillac is a Chevy V-8.
So Cadillac and GM have basically been run into the ground by ass-clowns for over 40 years.
The Northstar was Oldsmobile engineered. Cadillac being the lazy division they were complained to GM so they were given the production engine. One only has to look at loss of market share and divisions to see GM upper management is useless.
Roger Smith on one end and Roger Smith with a bra on the other make a dismal pair of bookends!
Jogs,
Thanks for the correction! I thought that Olds was once GM’s innovative division, but I didn’t know that the Northstar was one of their designs.
I also seem to recall that the HT-4100 was to power the downsized FWD Cadillacs in 1982 or 1983, but there was a problem with the FWD automatic transmission that delayed production until the 1985 models.
The Northstar was supposed to be the solution to the problems associated with the various displacement versions of the HT-4100, but my 1996 deVille. was no better than my ‘83 Sedan de Ville or my ‘84 Fleetwood Brougham Coupe.
My reply is intended to go to Jofa.
Whether due to auto-correct or fat fingers, I should do better proofreading, and I apologize for the incorrect spelling.
Bryan
The 368 was available all the way up to believe it or not 84′ but only in limos and the last car-based ambulances. The 368 should had stayed in the rwd Cadillacs and the HT engines only in the fwds . Imagine if the 368 received port-injecton and EFI, Cadillac probably wouldn’t have half the problems as today.
Guestt,
Thanks for the reminder!
I knew about the later availability of the 368 in limo and ambulance applications, but completely forgot about it.
I had a ‘90 stretch with a 5.7 in it, but I can’t remember whether it was a Chevy or an Olds … or even whether or not they were different back then.
And I’m too old and lazy to go look it up.
Happy Father’s Day to all.
I just bought a 06 CXL just for the engine needs cleaned up but at 112,000 miles just the normal mantience stuff needed on engine not sure what there talking about yeah it looks like grandparents car but i have had sports cars I have left in rearview mirror.
I had a 06 CXS. 96k miles when I traded it. I never put a nickel into that car. I would love to have it back. Yes I bought it new and I changed the oil regularly. No leaks. Now I have an Altima that costs me plenty.
I purchased a used 06 Lucerne with 96,000 miles on it, I’m at 114,000 now, and haven’t had any serious issues yet. I replaced wheel bearing kits myself, a tie rod, and I now have an exhaust leak, but that’s about it. I had a buick Rendezvous it still ran fine over 250,000 miles, until till the neighbors garage caught on fire, setting my buick ablaze. My real serious issues came from an 06 Dodge Charger, I poured thousands into it, and it just kept shutting off.