2016 Buick ENVISION: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
11,875 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 19 complaints (21.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 26.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 15.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Engine: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Suspension: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10986107 · 2017-05-17 (May 17, 2017)
2 HOURS AFTER SUNRISE OR 2 HOURS BEFORE SUNSET, IF DRIVING ON A SUNNY DAY AND DRIVE INTO TREE SHADOWS, BOTH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE INTELLILINK SYSTEM DISPLAYS GO COMPLETELY DARK. THIS IS WITH NO EXTERNAL LIGHTS ON (WHY SHOULD THEY BE ON A BRIGHT SUNNY MORNING OR EVENING?). RETURNING TO SUNLIT STRETCHES DO NOT MAKE THE PANELS GO BRIGHT AGAIN. YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR TO BRING THE PANELS BACK TO DAYLIGHT INTENSITY. YOU HAVE TO STARE AT THE DARK PANELS FOR 5 SECONDS TO SEE IF YOU CAN READ ANYTHING, WHICH YOU CANN…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,055 miles reported. Look up ODI 10986107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11001915 · 2017-06-28 (June 28, 2017)
JULY 2016 CHOSE 2016 BUICK ENVISION FOR FORWARD COLLISION ALERT AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM - APRIL 2017 GOT A LETTER FROM GM STATING "ENVISION CATALOG INADVERTENTLY STATED THAT FORWARD COLLISION ALERT AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGES THE VEHICLE BRAKES. IT DOES NOT ENGAGE YOUR BRAKES." WHEN WE CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER - FOUR PEOPLE LATER - WE WERE TOLD THAT GM WAS NOT PREPARED TO ADD THE FEATURE WE WERE LEAD TO BELIEVE WE HAD, WHICH WAS THE MAIN REASON WE CHOSE THIS VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. OUR GM CUSTOMER CASE NUMBER IS [phone removed] A…
Owner-reported narrative. 880 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11016177 · 2017-08-18 (August 18, 2017)
EVERY SAFETY SYSTEM. ABS, STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AWD, AIR BAGS FAULT MESSAGES AND SERVICE LIGHTS ARE ON. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR ON 7/11/2017 AND STILL AT DEALERSHIP TODAY (40 DAYS LATER) WITH NO KNOWN RESOLUTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11016177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11025352 · 2017-09-25 (September 25, 2017)
ALL DASH GAUGE AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS GO DARK AND UNREADABLE WHEN GOING FROM BRIGHT DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS TO SHADY CONDITIONS SUCH AS DRIVING UNDER A DARK GREY CLOUD SHELF , IN HEAVY RAIN, OR EVEN DRIVING INTO TREE SHADE. WHEN YOU ARE IN HEAVY DOWNPOUR AT 65, 70, OR 75 MPH IT CAN BE VERY PANICKY TO NOT ONLY DRIVE BUT SEE YOUR SPEED. ONLY VERY, VERY FAINT GAUGE INFO AND NAV INFO ARE DISPLAYED, SO YOU CANNOT TELL SPEED OR IF UNDER GUIDANCE, WHERE YOUR TURNS OR LANE GUIDANCE INFO ARE. 2 BUICK DEALERS HAVE "FLASHED THE CHIP" AND OCCURANCES HAVE LESSEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,875 miles reported. Look up ODI 11025352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11052609 · 2017-12-05 (December 5, 2017)
WHEN I PUSH THE PUSH-START BUTTON, THE VEHICLE MAKES A GRUNTING NOISE, BUT IT DOES NOT START. ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON INCLUDING THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT." IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, AND ONCE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE TO A DEALER; HOWEVER, AFTER THE VEHICLE IS THOROUGHLY CHECKED, THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. APPARENTLY, THERE IS NO TRACE OF THE PROBLEM IN THE MEMORY OF THE VEHICLE. ON 5 OCTOBER, I WAS READ…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,359 miles reported. Look up ODI 11052609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11063614 · 2018-01-18 (January 18, 2018)
ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2016, I LEASED A NEW 2016 BUICK ENVISION, SOLELY TO GET UPDATED SAFETY TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS NOT ON MY 6-YEAR OLD BUICK REGAL. I HAD SEEN THE ENVISION AT CAR SHOWS, HAD PICKED UP SALES LITERATURE THERE AND AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP, PLUS RECEIVED ONLINE INFORMATION. THIS VEHICLE WAS ADVERTISED AS HAVING FRONT END COLLISION ALERT WITH AUTOMATIC BRAKING. IN APRIL 2017, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BUICK/GM THAT MY VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTO BRAKING AND THERE HAD BEEN AN ERROR IN THEIR SALES PRODUCTS. I IMMEDIATELY WROTE TO THEM. A COUP…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11063614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11100908 · 2018-06-05 (June 5, 2018)
GM USES A SEPARATE CONTROL ARM BUSHING CONNECTOR FOR VARIOUS MODELS SUCH AS BUICK ENVISION. THIS CONNECTOR IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN! THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING CONNECTOR MUST USE A RIGID ONE-PIECE STRUCTURE THAT IS SUBJECTED TO VERY LARGE FORCES AND THEREFORE MUST BE OF A RIGID, HIGH STRENGTH AND TOUGH STRUCTURE.THE GM'S SPLIT-TYPE CONTROL ARM BUSHING CONNECTOR CONSISTS OF TWO BOLTS INSERTED INTO A HOLLOW BUSHING, AND THE CONNECTOR AND THE OUTER BUSHING ARE VULCANIZED TO FORM THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING ASSEMBLY.THE CONTROL ARM ARM CONNECTOR HAS A CIRCUL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11100908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11118486 · 2018-08-08 (August 8, 2018)
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WE HAD HAD SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT WERE ONLY FIXED AFTER THE EVENT OCCURRED, AT WHICH TIME THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT SOFTWARE UPDATES WERE AVAILABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WE HAD. ONE INVOLVED THE DISPLAY SCREEN/BACK-UP CAMERA WHICH WAS VERY DARK AND DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE DAYTIME, OBSERVED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN 2017 - A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. THE OTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED LAST WEEK, WHEN THE CAR DIED AFTER STARTING IT, AS I WAS TRYING TO PULL AWAY FROM THE CURB - ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. IF SOFTWARE…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118486 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V516000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2016-07-07 (July 7, 2016)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Buick Envision vehicles manufactured February 4, 2016, to April 25, 2016. The Tire and Loading Information label may display the incorrect maximum weight information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: Incorrect weight information may cause an owner to overload the vehicle. Overloading may reduce vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected label as necessary, free of charge. The began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 56340.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V922000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Reported: 2016-12-21 (December 21, 2016)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Buick Envision vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to March 18, 2016. The the master cylinder brake lines may crack and leak brake fluid.
Consequence: If there is a loss of brake fluid, braking performance may be reduced or lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the master cylinder brake lines, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 16169.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V404000 · Equipment | Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
Reported: 2017-06-27 (June 27, 2017)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Buick Envision vehicles. An accessory NSV Universal Tablet Holder may have been installed incorrectly onto the front seat head restraints, preventing the head restraint posts from fully engaging in the seat back. If so, the head restraints would fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."
Consequence: If the head restraint posts are not fully engaging in the seat back, the head restraint may loosen or dislodge, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the head restraints and tablet holders for the correct installation, reinstalling them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 27, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 17239/17258.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V412000 · Structure
Reported: 2017-06-29 (June 29, 2017)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Buick Envision vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement headliner as part of a repair. These service parts might not have had impact energy-absorbing foam blocks attached. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant protection in interior impact."
Consequence: If the service parts do not have energy-absorbing foam blocks, there may be an increased risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headliner assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 17275.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2018-05-31 (May 31, 2018)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
NHTSA campaign record ↗