Buick Verano Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Buick Verano model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2017 drew the fewest (9) and the 2013 the most (107).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Among the fewest complaints |
9 | 1 | Electrical system | 5★ | 24 |
| 2015 Among the fewest complaints |
59 | 0 | Electrical system | 5★ | 24–25 |
| 2016 Among the fewest complaints |
59 | 2 | Air bags | 5★ | 24 |
| 2014 Among the most complaints |
101 | 6 | Electrical system | 5★ | 24 |
| 2012 Among the most complaints |
106 | 3 | Engine | — | 24 |
| 2013 Among the most complaints |
107 | 3 | Engine | 5★ | 24 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Buick Verano years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2013 Buick Verano: 107 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 33 (31%); Electrical system 23 (21%); Air bags 18 (17%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 35,500 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2012 Buick Verano: 106 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 48 (45%); Air bags 27 (25%); Electrical system 16 (15%).
Reports mention 8 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 56,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2014 Buick Verano: 101 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 42 (42%); Power train 19 (19%); Engine 18 (18%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 7 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 44,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
The Buick Verano years with the fewest complaints
2017 Buick Verano: 9 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 4 (44%); Steering 3 (33%); Air bags 2 (22%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 1 recall campaign listed.
2015 Buick Verano: 59 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 23 (39%); Air bags 10 (17%); Lane departure 6 (10%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 40,797 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2016 Buick Verano: 59 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 23 (39%); Electrical system 15 (25%); Engine 7 (12%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 24,500 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Buick Verano owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 59 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 24,500 |
| 2015 | 59 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40,797 |
| 2014 | 101 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 44,000 |
| 2013 | 107 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 35,500 |
| 2012 | 106 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 56,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Buick Verano recalls
- Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Not Deploy (2012 model year; 31,520 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2014; 14V300000)
- Roof Rail Air Bag Inflators May Rupture (2014 model year; 20,712 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2023; 23V870000)
- Roof Rail Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2014 model year; 9,264 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2023; 23V674000)
- Key May Be Removed When Not In Park/FMVSS 114 (2013–2017 model years; 8,367 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2016; 16V502000)
- Driver Side Frontal Air bag may not Deploy (2012 model year; 4,167 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2013; 13V023000)
All 11 Buick Verano recall campaigns · Buick Verano problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Buick Verano years FAQ
Which Buick Verano year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2017 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (9). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Buick Verano years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2013, 2012 and 2014 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Buick Verano problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (123 of 441 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Buick Verano have?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns covering the Buick Verano. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Buick Verano recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.