Is the 2016 Buick VERANO reliable?

The 2016 Buick VERANO has 97 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: AIR BAGS problems.

What are common problems with the 2016 Buick VERANO?

Top problems: AIR BAGS (23 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (15 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (8 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2016 Buick VERANO?

Yes, there are 2 recall(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. Contact any Buick dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Buick VERANO?

The 2016 Buick VERANO gets 24 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2000. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2016 Buick VERANO?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2016 Buick VERANO is approximately $1,390/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2016 Buick VERANO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Buick VERANO has 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 146. The most common issue is air bags problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: the driver as well as the front seat passenger loses the benefit of the airbags in the front seat and the airbag status indicator lights. neither airbag deployed in my crash in which the car was completely destroyed and both driver and passenger injured. i was driving at approximately 15 mph and tur. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 1 crash report 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

AIR BAGS

23 complaints

24%

• THE DRIVER AS WELL AS THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER LOSES THE BENEFIT OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE AIRBAG STATUS INDICATOR LIGHTS. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN MY CRASH IN WHICH THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER INJURED. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND TUR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK VERANO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED SO HARD THAT THE VEHICLE JOLTED AND CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER TO STRIKE THE DASHBOARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VE
• PASS AIR BAG LIGHT WAS OFF MOST THE TIME WHEN A PASS IS THERE. REPORTED THE PROBLEM TWO TIMES TO GM DEALER NEAR TO ME. BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX IT. CALL GM AND REPORTED IT, WITH A CASE # [XXX] ON 10/26/17, WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE TILL NOW. PLEASE ADVISE ME ABOUT SITUATION. THANKS VIN# [XXX

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE DRIVER AS WELL AS THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER LOSES THE BENEFIT OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE AIRBAG STATUS INDICATOR LIGHTS. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN MY CRASH IN WHICH THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER INJURED. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND TUR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2016 Buick VERANO

Based on 56 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 26K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 29K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 17K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Later than typicalmedian 45K mi · 11 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (2)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION05/07/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2016 Buick VERANO

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,001

Per month

$167

Per mile

16.7¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,401/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,549/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Buick VERANO

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,390

Full coverage / month

$116

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

-17%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1390

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Buick New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

6 yr / 70K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

6 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

6 yr / 70K mi

These are the terms for a new Buick. If you're buying a used 2016 VERANO, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Buick dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 97 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: THE DRIVER AS WELL AS THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER LOSES THE BENEFIT OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE AIRBAG STATUS INDICATOR LIGHTS. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN MY CRASH IN WHICH THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER INJURED. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND TUR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: JAN 2018, THE SYSTEM AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND TURNS OUT THE AIRBAG MODULE ITSELF HAS TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. HOW ANNOYING IS THIS ON A STILL FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE. LET'S KEEP IN MIND I JUST BROUGHT IT IN TO THE SHOP DEC 2017 FOR A DEAD BATTERY BECAUSE APPARENTLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE RECALL AND FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE 2016 BUICK VERANO DUE TO ITS CAR STATUS AS A "FEDERATION VIOLATION AND RESTRICTED CODE" OF "CARS NOT TO BE SOLD NOR LEASE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEARING A VIN#PP". WHERETO THE CAR HAS ANTI-LOCK BREAK FOR HOT CLIMATE COUNTRY. NO AUTOMATIC BREAKING SYSTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE RECALL AND FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE 2016 BUICK VERANO DUE TO ITS CAR STATUS AS A "FEDERATION VIOLATION AND RESTRICTED CODE" OF "CARS NOT TO BE SOLD NOR LEASE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEARING A VIN#PP". WHERETO THE CAR HAS ANTI-LOCK BREAK FOR HOT CLIMATE COUNTRY. NO AUTOMATIC BREAKING SYSTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Buick dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)