Buick Verano — the 6 years we've written up
2012–2017, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 5 of the 6 carry a high-severity issue.
What this page is
These are the 6 Buick Verano model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Buick built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.
Buick Verano by year
How many owner complaints NHTSA holds. A big number usually means a lot were sold; the shape matters more than the total.
Year by year
Dash electronics dropping out at speed, taking the steering assist with them — $400–$1,100 for an alternator, tensioner and belt; $600–$1,800 for a body control module
2.4L timing chain and oil consumption — $1,200-$2,500
Corrosion in the wiring connectors takes the whole dashboard with it — $150–$450 to clean and reseal corroded connectors; $600–$1,800 for an instrument cluster or body control module
Roof-rail side airbag inflators can rupture — three recall campaigns and counting — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
Driver's airbag inflator may explode when it deploys (recall 23V516000) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
The 2.4 Ecotec burns oil, and the dash will not warn you in time — $300–$700 if it is only the PCV system; $2,500–$4,500 for pistons and rings
1 of these 6 have no high-severity issue in our write-up. That means we didn't find an expensive recurring fault — not that one cannot exist on the specific vehicle you're looking at.
Looking at one in particular?
This page covers the Buick Verano in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for that year.
Known issues are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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