2012 Buick VERANO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Buick VERANO has 146 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: the engine of this new 2012 buick verano stalled four times. the first time was in freeway. the second time was in front of a red light. the third time was in a local street at ~35 miles/hour. the fourth time happened when the dealer service department was driving it. similar problem every time: the. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 8 crash reports 4 injuries

146

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

50 complaints

34%

• THE ENGINE OF THIS NEW 2012 BUICK VERANO STALLED FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN FREEWAY. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN FRONT OF A RED LIGHT. THE THIRD TIME WAS IN A LOCAL STREET AT ~35 MILES/HOUR. THE FOURTH TIME HAPPENED WHEN THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS DRIVING IT. SIMILAR PROBLEM EVERY TIME: THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK VERANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT
• WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A 4-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY, MY ENGINE QUIT, AND ALL GAUGES WENT DARK. I HAD STEERING, BRAKES, TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS, AND TELEPHONE. I WAS LOSING SPEED, AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. HOWEVER, I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE ENGINE OF THIS NEW 2012 BUICK VERANO STALLED FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN FREEWAY. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN FRONT OF A RED LIGHT. THE THIRD TIME WAS IN A LOCAL STREET AT ~35 MILES/HOUR. THE FOURTH TIME HAPPENED WHEN THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS DRIVING IT. SIMILAR PROBLEM EVERY TIME: THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

27 complaints

18%

• I HIT A PARKED CAR. MY FRONT, RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT AND WAS TWISTED. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, BUT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME, I REALIZED THAT MY AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE AT ALL. AL
• I WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND HIT A PARKED CAR WITH THE FRONT, RIGHT SIDE OF MY BUICK VERANO. IT MESSED UP MY FRONT, RIGHT TIRE AND SIDE AS WELL AS THE OTHER CAR'S LEFT BACK TIRE AND SIDE. THE POLICE CAME AND TOOK A REPORT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BOB [XXX], MY DEALER, IN PLYMOUTH, MI. MY FRIEND DRO
• I WAS DRIVING HOME AROUND 6: 55PM GOING WEST ON 152 WHEN A CAR COMING N THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HEADLIGHTS BLINDED ME N I WENT UP ON THE DIVIDER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I FELT THAT I HIT THE DIVIDER SO I CAME OFF TRYING TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES N CONTINUED DRIVING OUT OF FEAR. MY ON STAR CA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“I HIT A PARKED CAR. MY FRONT, RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT AND WAS TWISTED. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, BUT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME, I REALIZED THAT MY AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE AT ALL. AL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

16 complaints

11%

• THIS BUICK VERANO HAS CASCADING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS LEFT MY WIFE WITH ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION JUST PAST THE CREST OF A BRIDGE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE
• THE VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLE, UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, SINCE YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY WARNING OR KNOW WHEN AND WHERE THE ENGINE WILL DIE. THE ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY, LEAVING ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO STEER ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS WAS FOLLOW
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK VERANO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH AND REACHED FOR THE RADIO BUT HAPHAZARDLY HIT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE AFTER PER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THIS BUICK VERANO HAS CASCADING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS LEFT MY WIFE WITH ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION JUST PAST THE CREST OF A BRIDGE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

9 complaints

• DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WOULD BIND SLIGHTLY IN ONE SPOT AND REQUIRE EXTRA FORCE TO CORRECT NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIFT.THIS CAUSED OVER CORRECTION. DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. CALLED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE AND STEERING RACK WAS CHANGED RIGHT AWAY. SECOND STEERING RACK WAS CHANGED FOR SAME
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK VERANO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OVER RUMBLE STRIPS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMA
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING INDICATOR , MY STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF. I MANAGE TO REATTACH IT AND MANEUVER OUT OF TRAFFIC TO SAFETY. ONCE I MADE IT TO SAFETY THE STEERING WHEEL AGAIN FAIL COMPLETELY OFF. MY CAR HAD A RECALL ON IT, THAT WAS REPAIRED A FEW WEEKS AGO DEAL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WOULD BIND SLIGHTLY IN ONE SPOT AND REQUIRE EXTRA FORCE TO CORRECT NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIFT.THIS CAUSED OVER CORRECTION. DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. CALLED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE AND STEERING RACK WAS CHANGED RIGHT AWAY. SECOND STEERING RACK WAS CHANGED FOR SAME”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

• A CONSTANT "PERCOLATING" OR RATTLING SOUND IS HEARD WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY AND ESPECIALLY ON UNEVEN SURFACES. THE NOISE GETS WORSE AND MORE CONSISTENT AS THE CAR IS DRIVEN. SINCE NOBODY CAN TELL ME WHAT IT IS, I MUST ASSUME IT COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN. THE NOISE BECAME WORSE AFTER A STRUT WAS REPLACE
• IT HAS ALWAYS DOWN SHIFTED HARD AT ABOUT 28 TO 30 MPH, WE ASKED THE DEALER AND HE SAID IT WAS NORMAL, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS, AND WHAT I AM AFRAID OF, IS IT WILL GO BAD AFTER THE WARRANTY GOES OUT AND I AM STUCK, I HAVE READ OTHER REVIEWS ON THIS AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM??
• TODAY I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 BUICK VERANO AND WITHOUT ANY ADVANCED NOTICE (IE.. LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD) MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND JUST STARTED TO CREEP TO A FULL STOP. THE DASHBOARD WAS BLACK NOTHING TO TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THANK GOD THEY HAVE CREATED A LARGE PULL OFF ON THE HIGHWAY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“A CONSTANT "PERCOLATING" OR RATTLING SOUND IS HEARD WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY AND ESPECIALLY ON UNEVEN SURFACES. THE NOISE GETS WORSE AND MORE CONSISTENT AS THE CAR IS DRIVEN. SINCE NOBODY CAN TELL ME WHAT IT IS, I MUST ASSUME IT COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN. THE NOISE BECAME WORSE AFTER A STRUT WAS REPLACE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 146 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE ENGINE OF THIS NEW 2012 BUICK VERANO STALLED FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN FREEWAY. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN FRONT OF A RED LIGHT. THE THIRD TIME WAS IN A LOCAL STREET AT ~35 MILES/HOUR. THE FOURTH TIME HAPPENED WHEN THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS DRIVING IT. SIMILAR PROBLEM EVERY TIME: THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I HIT A PARKED CAR. MY FRONT, RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT AND WAS TWISTED. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, BUT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME, I REALIZED THAT MY AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE AT ALL. AL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THIS BUICK VERANO HAS CASCADING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS LEFT MY WIFE WITH ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION JUST PAST THE CREST OF A BRIDGE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WOULD BIND SLIGHTLY IN ONE SPOT AND REQUIRE EXTRA FORCE TO CORRECT NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIFT.THIS CAUSED OVER CORRECTION. DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. CALLED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE AND STEERING RACK WAS CHANGED RIGHT AWAY. SECOND STEERING RACK WAS CHANGED FOR SAME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)