Buick Verano: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Buick Verano: 6 model years scored from 440 NHTSA owner complaints and 15 recall campaigns. Worst year 2014, best year 2015.
Buick Verano: which years to avoid
Across 6 scored model years the Buick Verano ranges from 66/100 in 2014 to 93/100 in 2017 — a 27-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Electrical System (42 of them).
Safest years: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 — scored 70 or better.
Check carefully: 2014.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2015 (score 91). Worst: 2014 (score 66, CAUTION).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 93 | BUY | $4,269 | 9 | 1 |
| 2016 | 84 | BUY | $4,502 | 59 | 2 |
| 2015 | 91 | BUY | $4,630 | 58 | 0 |
| 2014 | 66 | CAUTION | $4,830 | 101 | 6 |
| 2013 | 74 | BUY | $4,966 | 107 | 3 |
| 2012 | 76 | BUY | $5,093 | 106 | 3 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Verano, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Buick Verano
Across every Verano model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Electrical System122 complaints across all Verano years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Engine106 complaints across all Verano years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Air Bags93 complaints across all Verano years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Power Train52 complaints across all Verano years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Steering50 complaints across all Verano years · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement$1,020–$2,500
- Unknown Or Other42 complaints across all Verano years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Buick Verano years to buy?
2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2017 at 93/100, on 9 complaints and 1 recall campaigns.
Which Buick Verano years should I avoid?
The 2014 is the weakest year we score, at 66/100 (CAUTION), on 101 complaints and 6 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Buick Verano problem?
122 of the complaints filed against the Verano across all its model years sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04