2012 Buick VERANO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 48 of 106 complaints (45.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 20 | 18.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 9.4% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 8.5% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 48 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
Engine: 48; Air Bags: 27; Electrical System: 16; Steering: 9; Power Train: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Unknown Or Other: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 31 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 11; 2015: 10; 2016: 7; 2017: 7; 2018: 15; 2019: 19; 2020: 8; 2021: 6; 2022: 6; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10455104 · 2012-04-13 (April 13, 2012)
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 ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED AND BECAME VERY ROUGH. THE CAR CANNOT GO FASTER THAN 10 MILES/HOUR FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AND THE ENGINE WOULD COMPLETELY DIE. THERE'S ALWAYS A MISFIRE CODE. THE VEHICLE APPEARED OK AFTER 5-10 MINUTES LATER BUT THE "CHECK ENGINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 295 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465310 · 2012-07-11 (July 11, 2012)
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 AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,700.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554190 · 2013-11-30 (November 30, 2013)
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 DEALER AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT A FRAYED WIRE HAD SHORTED OUT AND BLEW A FUSE. TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR WAS "REPAIRED" AND DIED IN A SIMILAR FASHION. AFTER A WEEK'S CONSULTATION WITH GM WE WERE INFORMED THE CAR WAS "FIXED". THE SERVICE MANAGER STAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,641 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556710 · 2013-11-18 (November 18, 2013)
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 FOLLOWING AN EARLIER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM FOUR WEEKS BEFORE IN WHICH MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR (WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY BEING INSTALLED OVER A PORTION OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,641 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10483248 · 2012-11-03 (November 3, 2012)
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 WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. I PUT ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND USED MY CELL PHONE TO CALL THE DEALER. AFTER 10 - 15 MINUTES OF WAITING, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALER HAD JUST ARRIVED AND FOLLOWED ME TO THE DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10606830 · 2014-06-29 (June 29, 2014)
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 PROBLEM AT 19000 MI. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10705053 · 2015-04-10 (April 10, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK VERANO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRACTION AND LOW VOLT LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,831.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,831 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11327599 · 2020-06-07 (June 7, 2020)
THE SYSTEM AIR BAG NOTICES KEEPS COMING IN THE CAR, WHEN YOU PUT YOUR SEAT BEAT ON IT GOES AWAY. ALSO THE OIL BUTTON DOESN'T COME ON , THE CAR CONSTANTLY SHAKES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE KEEPS COMING ON AFTER EVEN BEING REPAIRED. I NEEDED A FUEL PUMP AND THAT'S BEEN FIXED BUT THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11327599 at NHTSA ↗