2016 Buick VERANO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10871213 · 2016-05-27 (May 27, 2016)
AS SOON AS I BOUGHT THIS NEW CAR I WAS DRIVING IT AT NIGHT WITH MY DIM HEAD LIGHTS ON AND I COULD NOT SEE VERY FAR AHEAD OF ME UNLESS I PUT MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON, SO THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED OR AN ACCIDENT CAN OCCUR VERY EASILY !!!!
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10875028 · 2016-06-18 (June 18, 2016)
THE 1ST TIME I DROVE THIS CAR AT THE VISIBILITY RANGE OF LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WAS HORRIBLE. WHAT A DIFFERENCE FROM MY 2007 BUICK LUCERNE! I AVOIDED NIGHT DRIVING BECAUSE OF IT. THEN IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I SAW A REPORT ONLINE AND ON NATIONAL NEWS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF 30 NEW CARS AND THEIR HEADLIGHT RATING BY THE INSURANCE INSTITUE GO HIGHWAY SAFETY. MY CAR, A 2016 BUICK VERANO WAS LISTED IN THE TOP 3 WORST CARS TESTED. THE NEWS REPORT SUGGESTED DRIVING WITH HIGH BEAMS WHICH IS ILLEGAL. LAST WEEK CAR WAS SERVICED FOR 1ST TIME WITH ONLY 3800 MILES.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10875028 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 10916244 · 2016-10-15 (October 15, 2016)
I PURCHASED MY 2016 BUICK VERANO ON JULY 23, 2016. THAT EVENING WHILE VISITING FRIENDS, MY WIFE AND I LEFT AFTER IT BECAME DARK. AS WE STARTED TO DRIVE WE NOTICED WE COULD ONLY SEE OUT OF THE LOWER QUARTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. IF I PUT THE HIGH BEAMS ON VIEWING BECOMES BETTER. BUT YOU CANNOT DRIVE AROUND WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON, ALL THE TIME! I CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT FOR FEAR OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT AND HURTING MY FAMILY OR ANOTHER FAMILY IN ANOTHER VEHICLE. TRIED TO TRADE BUT THEY WANTED TO DEDUCT $10,000.00 OF MY VEHICLE. GM HAS NO C…
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10919087 · 2016-10-26 (October 26, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK VERANO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, PART OF THE SUBFRAME CONNECTED TO THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VISION. THE ISSUE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO EFFECTIVELY COMPLETE THE TURN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/23/16*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919087 at NHTSA ↗
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 10939563 · 2017-01-04 (January 4, 2017)
I WAS DRIVING IN KENWOOD IN CINCINNATI PULLED INTO GO TO STARBUCKS BARELY HIT THE CURB AND MY CONTINENTAL TIRE BLEW. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT IT HAPPENED SO EASY. ACTUALLY LOOKING BACK IT WAS SCARY HOW THE TIRE BLEW THAT EASY. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I HAD TO PAY 241.00 OH AND I HAVEN'T MADE MY FIRST CAR PAYMENT YET. PURCHASED THE CAR ON 11/29/2016. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 275 miles reported. Look up ODI 10939563 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗16V595000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2016-08-11 (August 11, 2016)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to May 12, 2016, equipped with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine. The engine fuel line assembly may be misrouted, allowing the fuel line to contact the surface of the engine.
Consequence: If the fuel line contacts the engine, the fuel line may wear, resulting in a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line assembly, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 54180.
NHTSA campaign record ↗