2013 Buick VERANO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
35,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 77 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 107 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 17 | 15.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 10.3% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.7% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.9% |
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 | 33 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Steering | 14 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Wheels | 7 |
Engine: 33; Electrical System: 23; Air Bags: 18; Steering: 14; Unknown Or Other: 14; Power Train: 12; Tires: 8; Wheels: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 30 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 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 21; 2015: 13; 2016: 7; 2017: 7; 2018: 7; 2019: 15; 2020: 9; 2021: 3; 2022: 8; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 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 10567724 · 2014-03-06 (March 6, 2014)
WAS TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEED APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. CAR SHUT OFF AS THOUGH KEY WAS TURNED OFF IN THE IGNITION -- KEY WAS STILL IN THE ON POSITION AND NO ONE HAD TOUCHED IT AT TIME OF SHUTOFF. HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. TURNED KEY OFF AND REMOVED IT FROM IGNITION. WHEN KEY WAS REINSERTED AND TURNED TO START POSITION, CAR STARTED CORRECTLY. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECURRENCE. DEALER RAN FULL DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND NO RECORDED FAULTS. DEALER TESTED KEY FOB ELECT…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,140 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568068 · 2014-03-09 (March 9, 2014)
AFTER APPROX 30 MINS OF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, STEERING "BINDS" CAUSES DRIVER TO USE EXTRA FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL, THEN STEERING FREES UP. THIS CAUSES AN OVER-STEER SITUATION. I AM SEEING IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON OTHER SITES SUCH AS GMFOURM.COM. BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO ISSUE WHEN INDEED THERE IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AS CONFIRMED BY OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR VEHICLES. SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRIC STEERING ASSIST ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,504 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726119 · 2015-06-18 (June 18, 2015)
2013 BUICK VERANO, VIN [XXX]. ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN MINNESOTA. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. FIRST, CAR WAS "HARD-SHIFTING" LIKE IT WAS HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME LOCATING THE NEXT GEAR TO SHIFT INTO. THE HARD SHIFT OCCURS BETWEEN 15-25 MPH, AND AGAIN BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. IT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AND ACT VERY SLUGGISHLY. HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR UNTIL A LONG ROAD TRIP RELOCATING TO UTAH IN MARCH 2015 THAT LED UP TO ALL THESE NEW PROBLEMS. DEALER SAYS DIAGNOSTIC SHOWS NOTHING WRONG, BUT WHEN TEST DRIVING, CAN FE…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10882715 · 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)
MY CAR HAS ONLY 55, 148 MILES AND THE POWER STEERING MODULE HAS GONE OUT ALREADY. I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR ONLY 3 YEARS AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW THE POWER STEERING. I AM NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO GET IT REPAIR. MY CAR LOCKED UP AS I WAS DRIVING IT. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW MY DASHBOARD FLASHING SAYING THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE SERVICE. I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR AT FIRST. ALL I COULD DO IS JUST GO STRAIGHT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR, BUT IT WAS VERY HARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,148 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10604725 · 2014-06-20 (June 20, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK VERANO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,700. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900. R
Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10604725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10620915 · 2014-08-08 (August 8, 2014)
THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT 35 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY AND PARK. THE ENGINE STARTED THE FIRST TIME I PUSHED THE START BUTTON. DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE THE TYPE OF FUEL. I STARTED USING THE TYPE FUEL THEY SUGGESTED AND KEPT THE GAS TANK HALF FULL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE MAY. AGAIN ON JULY 13TH THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN I PULLED UP AND STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY KEPT IT THREE DAYS AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE LATEST INCIDENT HAPPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,070 miles reported. Look up ODI 10620915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10703789 · 2015-04-05 (April 5, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING ON A SUBURBAN STREET, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, WHEN ENGINE TURNED ITSELF OFF, DASHBOARD WENT DARK, TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WORK, AND STEERING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT. I DRIFTED TO THE CURB, AND AFTER A MINUTE RESTARTED THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEM; IT HAS A PUSH-BUTTON STARTER. DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. DEALER SAYS IT MAY BE A SMALL ANIMAL (A RAT OR SQUIRREL) LIVING IN THE CAR?S ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT NIGHT, AND CHEWING ON ELECTRICAL LINES. DEALER CANNOT, HOWE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,913 miles reported. Look up ODI 10703789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958638 · 2017-03-04 (March 4, 2017)
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON SOMETIME THEN IT WILL GO OFF. ITS LIKE SOMEONE IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DASH SEAT LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF TOO. MY COLLISION LIGHT STARTED ACTING UP AND NOW IT DOESN'T WORK BUT TONIGHT THE PASSENGER MIRROR IS PARTIALLY ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT. BUTTONS ON THE DASH DISAPPEARS THEN SHOWS UP LATER. BLUETOOTH, COLLISION SETTING BUTTONS, I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. MY BUMPER TO BUMPER HAS EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD THEIR IS CORROSION IN THE LINE AND IT WILL COST ME $1300 TO 16…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536796 · 2013-08-22 (August 22, 2013)
I WAS PARKING MY VERANO IN A FLAT PARKING SPACE (NO HILLS) ON DRY PAVEMENT. I WAS IN THE SPACE, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO PUT IT IN PARK, BUT BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN PARK, THE ENGINE REVVED UP, AND THE CAR TORPEDOED LIKE A ROCKET (VERY FAST) OVER THE PARKING BARRIER INTO A THREE OR FOUR FOOT DRAINAGE DITCH, WHICH STOPPED THE CAR FROM SHOOTING ACROSS ON-COMING TRAFFIC IN THE STREET. AS THE CAR JUMPED ACROSS THE PARKING BARRIER, I TRIED TO BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT STOP. THE CAR ENDED UP FACE FIRST…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10908823 · 2016-09-22 (September 22, 2016)
WHILE AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT (STATIONARY) THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON IT'S OWN. I WILL HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND IT MOVES. IT DOES IT AT RANDOM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO BUICK AND EVEN CONTACTED CORPORATE ABOUT THIS AND NOW AM AT A STAND STILL. BUICK STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL, NO ERROR CODES, AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT IT MAY ONLY BE MOVING ABOUT A FOOT NOW BUT LATER WILL IT JUST KEEP GOING CAUSING ME…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10908823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10661786 · 2014-12-02 (December 2, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING IN VERNON BC AND COMING TO A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. I HAD TO STOP PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART. THE PROBLEM OCCURED IN A PARKING LOT ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IF NO ENGINE LIGHT ON THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I DROVE FOR OVER 2000 MILES AND THE FUEL PUMP BECAME NOISY AND THAT WAS CHANGED. ALL WAS WELL UNTIL DEC.1 2014 WHEN DRIVING IN FLORIDA THE CAR STALLED WHILE SLOWING FOR A STOP LIGHT. PUT IN PARK AND STARTED AGAIN. CALLED DEALER AND THEY CAN'T HELP. THE ONLY OTHER THING WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 17,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661786 at NHTSA ↗