2013 Buick VERANO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10473758 · 2012-09-04 (September 4, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK VERANO (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE ENGINE ON/OFF BUTTON LOCATED IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD, CLOSE TO THE RADIO AND GPS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND BELIEVED THAT A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE TURNED OFF BY PRESSING A BUTTON, WHILE IN MOTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210.
Owner-reported narrative. 210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10512894 · 2013-05-20 (May 20, 2013)
MY NEW BUICK VERANO 2013 JUST BACKED ITSELF OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HIT MY NEIGHBOR'S MAILBOX. HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTS LIKE THIS? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10512894 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 10552047 · 2013-11-13 (November 13, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK VERANO EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL PROCONTACT TIRES, SIZE: 235/45/R18. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BEGAN LOOSING AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRE. AFTER THE TIRE WAS REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRES ALSO BLEW. THE CONTACT STATED ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF BOTH TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553073 · 2013-11-20 (November 20, 2013)
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND THE NEXT DAY THE FRONT SEAT BELTS BEGAN TO RATTLE, AND THERE IS AN AIR NOISE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. WE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WE TOLD THEM WE WERE ON OUR WAY AND THAT WE WOULD JUST HAVE IT FIXED WHEN THE OIL REQUIRED CHANGING. WE FINALLY TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE NEXT DAY WE WERE TOLD THE CAR WAS READY. WHEN WE WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE SEAT BELTS NOR COULD THEY FIX THE AIR LEAK. THEY SAID IT WAS A …
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564771 · 2014-02-18 (February 18, 2014)
I BOUGHT THIS BUICK VERANO WITH IN 3000 MILES A TIRE BUBBLED NOW IM AT 13000 MILES 2 MORE TIRES HAVE BUBBLED IN TWO MORE TIRES IS THIS A PROBLEM WITH THE CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO CONTACT TIRES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564771 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V417000 · Equipment:Electrical
Reported: 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
Consequence: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V502000 · Electrical System:Ignition | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Reported: 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V516000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2023-07-27 (July 27, 2023)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232413120.
NHTSA campaign record ↗