knew about this problem prior to buying car used from original owner. The car had 65,000 miles and I checked the fuse block prior to buying the car. When I did that the owner said they had just gotten a letter from buick about the problem. The fuse block was good at that time. After buying the car I took out the back seat and trimmed the 5mm off the metal seat tab to avoid the problem that the technical service bulletin said was the fix. After my owning the car for 2 years and 8 months it failed to start while in the garage. Problem was the fuse block and fuel pump relay. Apparently the seat tab issue wasn't the problem. It may be Buick has the fuel pump relay undersized to handle the current over time. I fixed the problem by buying a new fuse block and doing the work myself. Buick has never adequately fixed this issue and it has convinced me not to buy a GM product. I have a 1987 toyota camry that has over 321,000 miles. I am the second owner and know the first owner. Never has that car had a electrical problem, not even a blown fuse much less a bad relay or melted fuse block. Stick with Toyota.

2009 Buick Lucerne CXL SE ran like a top until a week ago. Car had been parked for about an hour when I got in it to leave. Car turned over but acted like it wasn't getting any fuel... barely spitting and sputtering when I attempted to move the car. It died and wouldn't start. After a little research, EVERYTHING pointed to fuel pump relay. It was then that I found out our fuse box was under back seat. Reading all the complaints and endless problems created from seat clip hitting fuse box I thought for sure it would have a recall...NOPE!!

We immediately checked the fuel pump relay and sure sh*t it was burnt. Changed relay... no luck. Husband checked fuel pressure and there wasn't any so he thought it was the fuel pump. A new $286 fuel pump was installed and nothing...

I pulled fuse box and, with a real bright light, we could see where the relay had caused damage in the fuse box. Ordered a new fuse box for $242 last night. It should be here by Friday so I'll let you all know if that works. Super pissed in the meantime.

Car quit running when driving home - stuck in the dark - on a country road. Car was towed that night to my Mechanic who is really good. We had it fixed next day with help of a few hands running for parts. Everything was replaced - fuel pump relay [I think even the fuel pump] and the fuse box which houses all the fuses in the car. Car Has run well since. IMPORTANT - Buick sent me a letter responding to this exact issue. SO, based on previous complaints - there is a remedy and BUICK will address this issue. Contact them - 800 521 7300. As I just stumbled onto this web site, I now realize this issue is not particular to just my car but is an engineering issue. SO - the question is, will this happen again? Hmmmm - can't say but if the replaced parts are equal to the removed parts - my experience says it will happen again. That is my worry.

Luckily, the car was parked, it just wouldn’t start when my son went to come home from work. Had to call the wrecker and have it towed to the Buick dealership. They assessed what was wrong. And it’s costing $780 to have the fuel pump relay and the fuse box replaced. I have an extended warranty on my Buick Lucerne super, 2009, but of course it wouldn’t cover the repairs.

The serviceman is going to take a picture of the part when it comes out. Of course they had to order the part and the car will be down the entire weekend of Easter. I need everybody to know nothings going to happen unless you call the national Highway traffic and safety administration and let them know. 1-888-327–4236

I also filed a complaint with Buick, of course they said they couldn’t do anything until the national Highway traffic and safety administration had enough complaints. So this is the only way to get something done and get a recall on this part before something really serious happens. This is probably going to go just like the recall on the ignitions that GM had....People are going to have to get her before it will step up and do something. So, if you use social media at all, I would blast out there on Twitter, Facebook whatever you use.

This problem has taught me a lot about the auto industry. First, I have a honest mechanic who has seen this problem a few times with my type of Buick. Therefore, he did not automatically replace the fuel pump for 500 dollars. The issue is the fuse box that overheats and causes corrosion where the fuel pump relay connects. This causes the connection to become lost. The design of this relay was not adequate for the needs of the fuel pump. The fix is to replace the relay, but the fuse box is now corroded and melted away causing a weak connection. So,you can temporarily fix it by bridging the loose electrical connection by sticking some wire in next to the relay to make it a better fit. Next is to replace the $340.00 OEM fuse box (are you surprised Buick charges this much for a known defective fuse box and relay?) But in another 100k miles you will have the same problem because it was a design defect with the relay. Buick is well aware of this problem, but chooses to do nothing about it. I have been told newer Buicks have modules not relays? The only way Buick will correct this serious problem is when enough people die and the costs of a recall (millions) is outweighed by the costs of lawsuits against them. What is sad is that when the relay connect is lost the car shuts off. I have been driving at 75mph and had the car turn off. One only knows the problem has occurred because you do not accelerate then discover you have lost power steering (the radio keeps playing to your while you crash your car). I can only speculate why Buick does not care. Perhaps this problems only happens to high mileage cars that do not require warranty repairs? Maybe a run away car story has to appear on the national news for a recall to be made. Buick CEO's, I just hope your 90 year old mother isn't driving a high mileage Lecurne that encounters power loss on the freeway over a relay design defect.

We sold our car to our son about two years ago so he would have a safe auto for his growing young family. About two weeks ago his car would not start. At first it was towed to the shop and since it was not getting gas to the motor we were told it was the fuel pump that was bad. It was replaced and all was fine for a week Then on a Monday morning, once again the car would not start!! Another tow to the shop revealed that the fuse box in the trunk was literally "burned". This could easily have started a fire!! They have a 7 month old son and 3 year old! From what we have seen in our research, this has occurred many times over! We wonder why there has not been a recall on these fuse boxes?? Does a death have to occur first?? GM needs to address this problem immediately!!!

Previous day I drove my average work commute of 40 miles. No incident. Next morning the car would not start, acted as though it was not getting any fuel. Had towed to Dealership and upon their diagnostic told me that the Fuel Relay overheated and melted the relay panel.

My so called Premium Extended Warranty Company did not cover the expensive panel but the cheap relay.

I have found other owners with the same identical issue and bearing the pain of this cost and damage. Shame on GM for not noting this as a re-callable matter or the insurance company for not covering something that is obviously known to them as a problem, but conveniently exclude from their coverage. Something as dangerous as your fuel and the electrical system melting should be taken care of and not at the expense of the consumer.

I feel totally ripped off and want to know what can be done other than bend over and take it?

The fuel pump relay overheated and melted in the fuse box. Smelled the burning in the car. I had to have the fuel pump, relay and fuse box replaced. The mechanic told me that the fuse box could have started a fire. He told me to google the problem with my car because hundreds of other car owners have had the same problem. Sure enough I did just that and I saw hundreds of people with the same complaint about this model car. GM needs to be held accountable. Are they waiting until somebody dies first before they acknowledge the problem of the fuel pump relay and the fuse box? btw I had to replace the fuel pump.