Instrument Panel Problems of Buick Lucerne - part 1

2006 Buick Lucerne xl - bought new 2006 - the instrument panel is unreadable during daylight hours on a bright day. Have talked to Buick about this and they say nothing can be done about it. Other Buick owners I have talked to have indicated the same problem.

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The contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. The contact could not see the instrument panel gauges due to poor lighting. As a result, he could not determine how fast he was driving or read the other gauges. The dealer and manufacturer could not assist, but stated that the vehicle was designed in that manner. The current and failure mileages were 30,000. Updated 03/17/09. The consumer was unable to read the instrument panel during the daytime. Updated 03/17/09.

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During daylight hours the instrumental panel lights will be dim or go dim while driving. You will not be able to read any information on the dash when sun shines on or near the panel. Dealer replaced panel but it did no good. Went back to dealer but he said they could not fix it.

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I have an 08 Buick Lucerne cxl under warranty. At times the instrument panel lights are so dim you cannot read the panel when the sun shines on them a bit. I took it to dealer and they replaced panel light. No help. They said Buick will not help them. Took it back and explained problem and they said yes, you and a thousand others. I contacted Buick division and they file my email and give me a long number. Dealer agrees it is a safety problem. When driving in mountains I want to know my speed, gear I'm in etc. It don't happen all the time so I am sure there is a simple fix. A switch or computer or something similiar. Thankyou.

2007 Buick Lucerne lighting system on the dashboard becomes invisible at different times. The consumer stated the dashboard cluster was modified, but it did not help.

On a sunny day it is not possible to read the instrument panel under the cowl. Most important : one cannot read the speedometer so that you can only judge your speed by whether you are passing everyone or they are passing you. Nor are any of the other instruments readable. At night there is no problem as the instrument lights are fine, but the instrument lights do nothing to help the day problem. These are all accidents waiting to happen. I spoke with Buick in detroit and also my local Buick dealer. Detroit said they were aware of the problem but had no suggestion. My dealer also had no suggestion. This is clearly a design flaw that needs correction.

The contact owns a 2008 Buick Lucerne. The contact noticed that the lighting on the instrument control panel had a constant low intensity, resulting in poor illumination. As a result, he was unable to see the warning lights and other important information on the instrument control panel. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that it was a characteristic of the vehicle. The failure mileage was 90 and current mileage was 1,300. Update 10/01/08 updated 10/02/08.

The instrument panel is very difficult to read during daylight hours. You can only read the odometer. You can't read the tach and the fuel and engine temp gauges. At night with the dash lights on everything is fine. The 2008 Chevrolet malibu has the same type of instrument panel but does not have this problem due to lighting in the gauges during the day and night.

2007 Buick Lucerne instrument panel not visible in daylight. Consumer states that the speedometer cannot be seen at all because of bad illumination. Consumer states he has to look away from the road for 4 to 6 seconds to guess the speed.

I purchased a new 2008 Buick Lucerne and unable to read instrument panel gauges especially speed, gas, etc during daylight periods with bright sun and/or hazy when auto running lights are on. Driver is unable to observe the auto's speed, amount of fuel and other instruments on panel. This is caused by the instrument panel being install to far back into the console , therefore in deep shadow . Also there is no back lighting when the auto running lights are on. This iis a major safety day time concern as driver is unable to proper judge his speed as well as being able to observe other instrument panel monitors.

The contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. While driving at any speeds during the day, the speedometer and fuel gauge cannot be read. The dealer acknowledged the failure. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage was 28,600 and failure mileage was 29,000. The consumer stated the instrument panel can not be read in the daylight and was poorly illuminated. Updated 11/26/07.

The contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. When the vehicle is in a dark area, the instrument panel illuminates. When the vehicle is in a well lit area, the speedometer, odometer, and gear shift gauges are displayed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that it was a manufacturer defect. The manufacturer informed the dealer to replace the entire cluster. The dealer performed the repair, but the failure still exists. A police report was filed. The current mileage was 1,200 and failure mileage was 232.

2007 Buick Lucerne instrument panel can not be seen in the daylight. Customer states that the dealer said the vehicle was working to GMC specifications. The consumer stated the instrument panel faded to black and was virtually unreadable. The speedometer was difficult to see. The message board below the speed indicator faded in and out with the compass indicator being visible most of the time, and the fuel gauge was impossible to read.

The contact owns a 2006 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that the instrument panel illuminates, but is very dim. The failure has caused him to lose focus while driving because he is trying to read the gauges. The dealer acknowledges the failure, but stated that a remedy is unavailable. The current and failure mileages were 400. Updated 6/16/08 updated 06/16/08.

The dash gauges are hard to see. Fuel gage & temp are the worst. The manuel pg 171 states "turn the light switch to auto, the headlights will lite at normal brightness & parking lamps & instrument panel lights will also light. Panel lights do not light during the day gauges are almost impossible to see. Then put sun glasses on makes it even worst. Early in am & around dusk just cannot see them at all. Dealer told me in order to turn on instrument panel lights switch must be at (headlamps position). I feel that since Buick placed the gauges in that position then there should be some way to see them I/e backlight. Please advise . Is Buick aware of this problem & what are their plans?.

The contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. While driving on the highway, the contact was unable to read the instrument panel gauges. The panel can only be read at night. He took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that the vehicle was designed in that manner. The current mileage is 2,000 and failure mileage was 10. Updated 08/27/jb updated 09/18/07.

The contact owns a 2006 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that he was unable to see the left side of the speedometer, while driving between 10-50 mph during the daytime. The dealer replaced the remote sensor, but the failure continued. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was designed that way and nothing could be done. The current mileage is 5,430 and failure mileage was 2,700. The cuise control looses speed. Updated 07/19/07.

- the contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. There is no back lighting for the dashboard during the day, and one cannot see the speedometer nor the gas gauge. This happens whenever there is a sunny and very nice day, too many times to count. The failure mileage was 70, and the current mileage was 1400.

The digital odometer and radio gauge readouts are pitch dark and are impossible to read when the auto-headlamps are turned on during daylight, such as right after exiting a garage, a tunnel, parking structure, etc. Warning messages are also displayed through the same readout area.

The contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that the instrument panel gauges were not visible in the daytime. He took the vehicle to the dealer on two occasions, but the failure was not corrected. The contact was pulled over by the police and ticketed because he could not determine how fast he was driving. The current mileage was 11,000 and failure mileage was 1,000. Updated 10/18/07.

Buick Lucerne customer states that the dash is to difficult to read in the daylight* the consumer stated the instrument panel is recessed deeply. The panel showing the miles per hour is dark colrored, with a dark background, and a dark red needle, which is the same on the engine temperature and fuel level indicators. Updated.

2007 Buick Lucerne cxl customer has concerns with safety factors** the instrument panel is deeply recessed. The panel showing the miles per hour is dark colored with a dark background, and a dark red needle, which is the same for the engine temperature and fuel level indicators. During the day light hours, the light shining on the miles per hour does not shine on these areas and it is very difficult to read. The consumer was told there was no way to make the panel lights stay on all the time .

The contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that the vehicle's dashboard is designed poorly. He is unable to read the speedometer and all the other instrument panel indicators. The dealer changed the lights, but the failure persists. The engine size was unknown. The current mileage is 3,000 and failure mileage was 200.

The contact owns a 2007 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that she is unable to see the speedometer and fuel gauge when driving in sunlight. The unit was previously replaced, but the failure persists. The mechanics who performed the repair suggested that she tint the windows or place a shield over the glass. The contact feels that will not resolve the failure. The vehicle was purchased four months ago. She filed a complaint six weeks ago with the manufacturer, but nothing is being done. The engine size and # of cylinders were unknown. The current mileage is 6,000 and failure mileage was 300.

- the contact stated that while driving his 2007 Buick Lucerne in daylight, the dashboard interior instrument panel is not illuminating properly. In the daytime the contact can barely see the speedometer, fuel or temperature gauge. The contact has taking it to the dealership and they stated that they don't have a remedy to repair failure; they are hoping to get more information from the manufacture. Updated 02/22/07.

During daylight driving, instrument panel can not be seen due to shadows and no lighting. This includes the speedometer, so that car speed is questionable. Dealer and gm technical center have been unable to correct problem.

: the contact stated while driving in daylight, the dashboard illumination was not bright enough to see the speedometer. The dealer determined it operated as designed. Updated 2/20/2007 -.

I purchased a new 2006 Buick Lucerne cxl, the dash board data showing the speedometer, odometer, etc. , is lighted at night and inclement weather. On sunny days the lights go out, all the items mentioned are not visible. It creates a hazard since it is not possible to tell the speed. My husband got a speeding ticket for traveling at 9 mph above the posted limit. The potential for an accident is exacerbated because reading any of the data while driving is impossible. Also the passenger's view of these items is obscured so that the ability to act as a CO- pilot is eliminated. It seems to me that the device that turns these lights off could be modified to keep them lit. I entered a complaint the same week I purchased the car and nothing has been done, nor can I get any information from Buick to indicate they are working on a solution.

: 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.

: the contact stated the vehicle presented a permanent problem with the interior instrument panel which did not illuminate properly during the day while driving various speeds. Also, the steering column turning radius was problematic when attempting to perform a u-turn. The dealer was contacted and did not provide any assistance. The manufacturer was also contacted and expressed the instrument panel was a manufacturer design feature that could not be corrected. No repairs were made.

Unable to read information on the instrument panel cluster during the day light.

: 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.

Instrument gauges do not give accurate readings.

: the contact stated the dashboard lights were dim during the day and the instrument panel was not readable. The dealership determined that was how the vehicle was manufactured.

The contact owns a 2006 Buick Lucerne. Whenever the vehicle is driven at any speed during the daytime, the contact cannot read the instrument panel gauges, mainly the speedometer. The dealer has not been notified. The current mileage was 9,200 and failure mileage was 200. The dealer informed the consumer they had a module that would increase the intensity of the dash lights. Updated 11/06/07.