2016 Buick VERANO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
24,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 59 complaints (39.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 7 | 11.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 11.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 10.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 8.5% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 8.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 23 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
Air Bags: 23; Electrical System: 15; Engine: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Power Train: 6; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Exterior Lighting: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 25 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2016: 5; 2017: 9; 2018: 8; 2019: 9; 2020: 6; 2021: 5; 2022: 5; 2023: 2; 2024: 4; 2025: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10939199 · 2017-01-03 (January 3, 2017)
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 PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR BUT THIS MORNING I SEE SEVERAL OTHER YEARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I'M LUCKY I WASN'T IN A TERRIBLE WREAK. AGAIN SCARED THE [XXX] OUT OF ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10939199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10939206 · 2017-01-03 (January 3, 2017)
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 PROBLEMS WITH VERANO UPON CHECKING THIS MORNING I HAVE FOUND MANY YEARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10939206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115114 · 2018-08-01 (August 1, 2018)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115888 · 2018-08-06 (August 6, 2018)
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM, TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM NOT TEADING PROPERLY, SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM, BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE, SERVICE POWER STEERING, SERVICE AIR BAG
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11061181 · 2018-01-08 (January 8, 2018)
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 I AUTO STARTED IT TO MUCH.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,530 miles reported. Look up ODI 11061181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11300082 · 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)
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 AFTER THE SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THE CAR HAS NO OPEN RECALLS OR HISTORY OF COLLISION. THE LOCALIZED SHAKE IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE PENSACOLA KIA SALESPERSON, THEIR DEALERSHIP MECHANIC, AND THE NEARBY BUICK DEALERSHIP MECHANIC.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,415 miles reported. Look up ODI 11300082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11398935 · 2021-03-03 (March 3, 2021)
ALMOST ALL MAKES AND MODELS OF MY VEHICLE YEAR ARE PART OF A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, BUT NOT MINES. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT IN MY VEHICLE AND ALL THOUGH ALLDATA SHOWS THAT ALL MAKES AND MODELS OF MY VEHICLE YEAR SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL, GMC BUICK IS TELLING ME MINES DOESNT QUALIFY! TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULES NEVER GO OUT!! NO MACHANIC I CAN FIND HAS SEEN ANY GO OUT OUTSIDE RECALL, ONLY MINES! I DO BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I WILL PAY GMC 2700 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11398935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876968 · 2016-06-27 (June 27, 2016)
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 SYSTEM (ABS), NO TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TSC), AND NO HEATING ELEMENTS FOR THE FLUID CASE HOLDERS. HENCE FORTH MY "BUICK VERANO 2016 CAR DID NOT COMPLY TO THE MUST REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL CARS IN SNOW COUNTRY LIKE USA". THE BUICK MANUFACTURING AND CAR INS…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10983274 · 2017-05-03 (May 3, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK VERANO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-2909153881. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SERIOUS AND WOULD REACH BACK OUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,703 miles reported. Look up ODI 10983274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11460200 · 2022-04-08 (April 8, 2022)
Fuel level sensor failure. I haven't checked but I don't think a regular dealer would inspect for free because it's inside of the gas tank. The gas gauge gets stuck at around a quarter of a tank leading a sensible person to assume their is gas in the vehicle. This is a safety risk because your vehicle can stall in the middle of the road as it did in my case. You lose the ability to steer the vehicle and put other vehicles behind you or around you at risk. The problem has been reproduced by me when comparing the range for my vehicle (396 miles…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11460200 at NHTSA ↗