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Buick Car Guide: Common Problems, Maintenance & Best Used Models

What Buick owners report most, model by model, drawn from 5,069 complaints filed with the U.S. safety regulator. Plus recalls, a service schedule and the model years to check carefully.

Data as of 2010 to 2026 model years

Quick facts

Buick

Origin
American
Status
Sold new in the U.S.
Most complaints
Enclave (1,745)
Most-reported area
Engine
Busiest model year
2011 (710 complaints)
owner complaints on file with NHTSA
5,069
models with at least one complaint
11
of complaints mention engine
22%
recall campaigns covering the Enclave
24

01Common problems by model

Buick Common Problems by Model

The 8 Buick models with the most owner complaints, and the part of the car each complaint was about.

Buick models with the most NHTSA complaints, 2010 to 2026 model years
ModelComplaintsMost-reported areasModel year with the mostRecalls
Enclave1,745Airbags and engine2014 (292)24
Lacrosse902Electrical system and engine2012 (206)19
Regal636Engine and electrical system2011 (280)17
Encore601Engine and electrical system2015 (124)13
Verano441Electrical system and engine2013 (107)11
Envision245Electrical system and brakes2017 (81)8
Encore GX231Electrical system and engine2020 (70)4
Lucerne103Electrical system and fuel or propulsion system2010 (54)2
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases, read on October 12, 2026. Complaints are reports filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each model were sold, so best-selling models appear higher.

The Enclave leads with 1,745 complaints, most of them about airbags and engine. That does not make it the worst Buick. A model that sells in large numbers collects more reports, and these counts are not adjusted for sales.

Use the table to know where to look. If you own or are buying one of these models, ask about the area in the third column first, and price the repair with the repair cost estimator.

02Problem areas

Where Buick Problems Concentrate

Every Buick complaint names the part of the vehicle involved. These are the areas named most often across all 11 models.

By part of the vehicle

  1. Engine1,123 · 22%
  2. Electrical system1,017 · 20%
  3. Airbags907 · 18%
  4. Powertrain583 · 12%
  5. Steering532 · 10%
  6. Brakes446 · 9%

One complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

By model year

  1. 2010519
  2. 2011710
  3. 2012536
  4. 2013449
  5. 2014554
  6. 2015431
  7. 2016410
  8. 2017429
  9. 2018209
  10. 2019181
  11. 2020164
  12. 2021111
  13. 202280
  14. 202375
  15. 2024108
  16. 202596
  17. 20267

Recent model years have had less time to gather complaints, so a short bar at the bottom is not yet good news.

03Best and worst used models

Buick Model Years to Check Carefully

The model years of each popular model that drew the most complaints. Start your questions there when you shop used.

How to choose a used car

  • 1,745 complaints

    Buick Enclave

    1. 2014292 complaints
      7 recalls
    2. 2010275 complaints
      6 recalls
    3. 2011212 complaints
      6 recalls

    Mostly about airbags and engine.

  • 902 complaints

    Buick Lacrosse

    1. 2012206 complaints
      5 recalls
    2. 2010189 complaints
      2 recalls
    3. 2011169 complaints
      4 recalls

    Mostly about electrical system and engine.

  • 636 complaints

    Buick Regal

    1. 2011280 complaints
      4 recalls
    2. 201292 complaints
      7 recalls
    3. 201391 complaints
      6 recalls

    Mostly about engine and electrical system.

  • 601 complaints

    Buick Encore

    1. 2015124 complaints
      4 recalls
    2. 201789 complaints
      2 recalls
    3. 201986 complaints
      2 recalls

    Mostly about engine and electrical system.

A year with many complaints is one to inspect closely, not one to rule out. The fault may have been fixed under recall, and a well-maintained car from a busy year can be a better buy than a neglected one from a quiet year.

Before you buy any used Buick, decode the VIN, check it for open recalls and follow the inspection checklist. A complaint count cannot tell you about the one car in front of you.

04Recalls

Buick Recalls by Model

The number of safety recall campaigns that cover each model, with the most recent ones listed.

  • Buick Enclave recalls

    24

    recall campaigns, 2010 to 2026 model years

    1. Feb 26, 2026Equipment: other26V114000
    2. May 10, 2023Airbags: frontal23V334000
    3. Apr 14, 2022Airbags: frontal22V246000
    4. Mar 31, 2022Airbags: side/window22V210000
    5. Oct 7, 2021Airbags: frontal21V782000

  • Buick Lacrosse recalls

    19

    recall campaigns, 2010 to 2019 model years

    1. Dec 22, 2021Suspension: rear21V00F000
    2. Aug 12, 2021Suspension: rear21V633000
    3. Dec 21, 2020Suspension: rear20V764000
    4. Oct 29, 2020Powertrain: automatic transmission20V668000
    5. Aug 30, 2018Hydraulic brakes: foundation components18V576000

  • Buick Regal recalls

    17

    recall campaigns, 2010 to 2020 model years

    1. Feb 26, 2026Suspension: rear26V113000
    2. Jun 30, 2022Hydraulic brakes: power assist22V465000
    3. Dec 22, 2021Suspension: rear21V00F000
    4. Aug 12, 2021Suspension: rear21V633000
    5. Dec 21, 2020Suspension: rear20V764000

  • Buick Encore recalls

    13

    recall campaigns, 2013 to 2022 model years

    1. Oct 29, 2020Powertrain: automatic transmission20V668000
    2. Sep 3, 2020Seats: critical fasteners20V537000
    3. Nov 1, 2018Airbags18V774000
    4. Jul 10, 2017Airbags: frontal17V437000
    5. Sep 8, 2016Airbags: frontal16V651000
Check your VIN at NHTSA

A recall is free to have repaired at a Buick dealer. The lookup shows only the recalls still open on your vehicle.

05Maintenance schedule

Buick Maintenance Schedule

Typical service intervals for a gasoline Buick. Your owner’s manual has the exact figures for your engine.

Build a schedule for your mileage
Typical maintenance intervals for a Buick
ServiceTypical intervalGood to know
Engine oil and filter5,000 to 10,000 milesFull synthetic sits at the long end. Short trips and towing shorten it.
Tire rotation5,000 to 8,000 milesEasiest to do at every oil change.
Cabin air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesSooner in dusty or high-pollen areas.
Engine air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesInspect at every oil change and replace when dirty.
Brake fluidEvery 2 years or 30,000 milesIt absorbs moisture with age, whatever the mileage.
Transmission fluid30,000 to 60,000 milesVaries widely, and some manuals allow longer. Use only the specified fluid.
Engine coolant30,000 to 60,000 milesLong-life coolants can go further. Never mix types.
Drive belt inspection60,000 to 100,000 milesReplace at the first cracks, fraying or squeal.
Timing belt, if fitted60,000 to 100,000 milesEngines with a timing chain do not have this service.
Spark plugs30,000 to 100,000 milesCopper plugs wear fastest. Iridium and platinum last longest.
Typical intervals drawn from AAA's maintenance guidance, not Buick's own schedule. Follow the schedule in your owner's manual, and use its severe-service intervals if you tow, make short trips or drive in extreme heat or cold.
Maintenance by mileageOil change calculatorWhat each service costs

06Manufacturer OBD2 codes

Buick OBD2 Codes

How to read the codes a Buick stores, and why some of them mean something different on another make.

A Buick stores two kinds of trouble code. Generic codes, which have 0 as their second character, mean the same thing on every make: P0420 is a catalyst efficiency fault on a Buick exactly as it is on any other car. Manufacturer-specific codes, which have 1 as their second character, are defined by Buick and can mean something different elsewhere.

We do not publish a list of Buick’s own P1 codes, because we could not verify one against Buick’s service information. For a P1 code, use a scanner that reads Buick codes, or ask a Buick dealer to look it up.

Free toolLook up a generic codeMeaning, common causes and whether it is safe to keep driving.
How OBD2 code types work

07Related guides and tools

Next steps for Buick owners and buyers.

Guides

Free tools

All car brandsUsed car buying guide

08Questions

Buick: common questions.

What are the most common Buick problems?

Among 2010 to 2026 model-year Buick vehicles, the areas owners report most often to NHTSA are engine (22% of complaints), electrical system (20% of complaints) and airbags (18% of complaints). A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect.

Which Buick model has the most complaints?

The Enclave, with 1,745 complaints on file for 2010 to 2026 model years. Its 2014 model year has the most, at 292. Popular models attract more complaints simply because more of them are on the road.

How do I check a Buick for recalls?

Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows safety recalls that have not been repaired on that exact vehicle, and recall repairs are carried out by the manufacturer's dealers at no charge.

How often does a Buick need servicing?

Most gasoline cars need an oil change and tire rotation every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, filters every 15,000 to 30,000 miles and brake fluid every two years. Your Buick owner's manual gives the exact schedule for your engine.

09About this guide

Where the figures come from.

Every count on this page comes from records published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was read on . We count the records. We do not reproduce owners’ statements, and we do not rate or rank models ourselves.

CarTipsMentor is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Buick. The Buick name and logo belong to their owner and are used only to identify the make. Full disclaimer.

Sources

  1. [1]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Vehicle owner complaints database
  2. [2]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety recalls by vehicle
  3. [3]AAA Automotive, Time-Stamped Car Maintenance Checklist

Complaint counts cover 2010 to 2026 model years. Each complaint is counted once and assigned to the model named in the complaint. Counts change as new complaints are filed.