
2016 Buick VERANO
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Buick VERANO has 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.
97
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
23 complaints- • 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
“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
ELECTRICAL
15 complaints- • 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
- • WHILE CAR WAS UNATTENDED AT NIGHT AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A FIRE STARTED, APPARENTLY UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, STARTING AT THE BOTTOM AND CONTINUING UP TO THE WINDOW OPENING. THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN THE NEXT DAY AND ALL THE WI
- • SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM, TIRE PRESSURE NOT READING PROPERLY, SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM, BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE, SERVICE POWER STEERING, SERVICE AIR BAG, RADIO POWERS OFF & ON WHILE DRIVING. ALL LIGHT INDICATORS
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
8 complaints- • 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
- • I WAS DRIVING MY NEW CAR HAVEN'T MADE MY FIRST CAR PAYMENT. I WAS ON EXPRESSWAY GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY CAR STALLED COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. MANAGED TO GET TO EMERGENCY LANE SCARED TO DEATH. DEALER WANTED ME TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW TO BRING CAR IN I DON'T THINK SO. THEY SAID THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY
- • WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY GOING 65 WHEN CAR TOTALLY TURNED OFF OR STALLED. IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME. HAVEN'T EVEN MADE MY FIRST CAR PAYMENT YET. CALLED DEALER THEY WANTED ME TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW ARE THEY KIDDING. THEY FINALLY AGREED TO GIVE ME A LENDER CAR. SALESMAN SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
7 complaints- • 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
- • 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
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK VERANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE CEASED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANU
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
7 complaints- • WHILE CAR WAS UNATTENDED AT NIGHT AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A FIRE STARTED, APPARENTLY UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, STARTING AT THE BOTTOM AND CONTINUING UP TO THE WINDOW OPENING. THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN THE NEXT DAY AND ALL THE WI
- • PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ON WHEN NO PASSENGER AND SEATBELT NOT BUCKLED. WHEN PASSENGER IS SITTING WITH SEAT BELT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASE. ANOTHER ISSUE IS WITH THERMOSTAT AND DEGREES . DOES NOT SHOW OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE AND ALSO RELAYS THE CHANGE IN THERMOSTAT CONTROLS IN CELSIUS N
- • WHILE TESTDRIVING THIS CAR, UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, A TRANSIENT WOBBLE, SHUDDER, OR SHAKE OCCURS AT OR NEAR THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR.WE COULD RECREATE IT ON ABOUT 8 OF 16 TRIES WITH VARIOUS SALES PERSONS, MECHANICS AND BUYERS DDRIVING. MAYBE IT OCCURS NEAR 20 MPH AND MAYBE IT OCCURS JUST A
“WHILE CAR WAS UNATTENDED AT NIGHT AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A FIRE STARTED, APPARENTLY UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, STARTING AT THE BOTTOM AND CONTINUING UP TO THE WINDOW OPENING. THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN THE NEXT DAY AND ALL THE WI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
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
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Buick VERANO — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 97
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 3
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Buick VERANO