Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim, NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,245,377 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports, when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report, that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints, specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened, feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 28,307 complaints for BUICK
Incident date: Jun 10, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Buick LaCrosse. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer wa... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2020
The contact owns a 2010 Buick LaCrosse. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer wa... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Cascada. The contact stated that the rear windshield separated from the convertible top making it difficult to secure the top of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that the window and top of the vehicle needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2021
Drive with care service power steering
Incident date: Jun 6, 2021
Within 90 days of purchasing my used 2014 Buick Enclave the alert came on telling me to have the air bag serviced. It was within the 90 warranty from the used dealership so at no cost they took it in and then let me know it was a recall issue the dealership had to address. After almost a week I got my vehicle back and “all was corrected” for a month or so. Then one day it just came back on aga... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2021
Within 90 days of purchasing my used 2014 Buick Enclave the alert came on telling me to have the air bag serviced. It was within the 90 warranty from the used dealership so at no cost they took it in and then let me know it was a recall issue the dealership had to address. After almost a week I got my vehicle back and “all was corrected” for a month or so. Then one day it just came back on aga... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2021
when applying the brakes it sounds lile metal on metal
Incident date: Jun 2, 2021
Was rear ended by a suspect fleeing police, he hit me about 100 mph, pushed my car into the rear of the car in front of me. Air bags did not deploy.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 2, 2021
I purchased the buick regal new in Feb 2016. After about two years, it skid on a perfect road surface in a perfect weather, the traction control light and the engine light came on, but disappeared after 30 seconds or so. The problem was scary enough that I brought the car to a neighborhood dealership to see if there was any safety recall for that issue. There was none. The replaced a sensor or som... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Buick LaCrosse. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact called the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufactu... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2021
I have a 2021 Buick Enclave Premium purchased 01.03.2021from Alden Buick-GMC been having problems with my brakes when I apply my brakes I have a brake noise grinding growling noise coming from the brakes. Took vehicle to dealership today 06.01.2021. Was told cause is Composition of brake material, dealers informed by GM not to replace any parts or attempt any repairs at this time. Was informed veh... Read more
Incident date: May 28, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Buick LaCrosse. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer wa... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that on multiple occasions the vehicle would not immediately start-up. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump relay was faulty and needed to be replaced. After replacing the fuel pump relay the failure was temporarily fixed before it recurring. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The l... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2009 Buick Lucerne. The contact stated that on multiple occasions the vehicle would not immediately start-up. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump relay was faulty and needed to be replaced. After replacing the fuel pump relay the failure was temporarily fixed before it recurring. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The l... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2021
The contact owns a 2011 Buick LaCrosse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2003 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that after his friend drove the vehicle to his residence, there was a burning oil odor detected. The contact opened the hood and there was smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic as a valve cover gasket leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was concerned that the failure could lead to an ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 21, 2021
The contact owns a 2014 Buick Verano. The contact stated while shifting the gear shifter into park, the gear shifter button fractured and detached in her hand. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.
Incident date: Apr 25, 2021
The contact owns a 2011 Buick LaCrosse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V764000 (SUSPENSION) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms pa... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2021
Car engine started making noise in front right side. Had oil changed 2000 miles prior and there was no oil when checked. Mechanic said the motors are known to have the timing belt go out and the pistons. There are recalls for this issue, however my VIN number doesn't come up!! Have had the car 2 months!!!! Pretty pissed off!
Incident date: Feb 1, 2021
The contact's sister owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently loss motive power without warning. The vehicle would restart independently and resumed normal operation. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic determined that the turbocharger assembly was defective. The vehicle was repaired. The contact... Read more
BUICK
PARK AVENUE
(1996) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
May 24, 2021
Incident date: Apr 21, 2021
Sub-frame rust is severe where 2 at front of the engine mounting bushings all have rust, but the worst are the ones supporting the transmission -under the transmission, 2 have almost no metal frame and engine/transmission could drop down, as seen on some of the You tube videos. Inspected and find the engine appears to have dropped some... there is a gap where the steering wheel cover connects to... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2021
I recently put the back seats down to put some boxes back there. It is stuck down. I don't know if the seat itself is stuck or if the seatbelt is messed up in there. Either way. I need my seat back up.
Incident date: May 14, 2021
I recently put the back seats down to put some boxes back there. It is stuck down. I don't know if the seat itself is stuck or if the seatbelt is messed up in there. Either way. I need my seat back up.
Incident date: May 14, 2021
I recently put the back seats down to put some boxes back there. It is stuck down. I don't know if the seat itself is stuck or if the seatbelt is messed up in there. Either way. I need my seat back up.
Incident date: Mar 8, 2021
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 Buick Enclave C1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE REVERSED OUT OF THE GARAGE HOWEVER HAD TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR IN THE DRIVE AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CRASHING INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE CONTACTS WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK AND NE... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 12, 2021
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY DECELERATED TO 10 MPH. THE THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST TIP. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION AND THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER WAS DEFECTIVE AND THERE WAS... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2021
The contact owns a 2015 BUICK ENCORE. The contact stated that whenever the vehicle was placed in reverse the vehicle felt as if the tires were dragging. When the steering wheel was being turned in any direction, the vehicle would show signs of hesitation before turning. The contact stated that the failures were related to TSB number: 10161933 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 10139246 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ST... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2021
The contact owns a 2015 BUICK ENCORE. The contact stated that whenever the vehicle was placed in reverse the vehicle felt as if the tires were dragging. When the steering wheel was being turned in any direction, the vehicle would show signs of hesitation before turning. The contact stated that the failures were related to TSB number: 10161933 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 10139246 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ST... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2021
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 Buick LaCrosse. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V764000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2021
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V764000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. Moses Cadillac Buick Gmc Truck, Inc (1406 Washington St E, Charleston, WV 25301) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECA... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2021
This car has the engine shutoff feature when stopped. My wife was waiting in the left turn lane of a major street with three lanes on her side plus two left turning lanes. Due to the busy intersection the wait for a green light is long, perhaps three minutes. The engine shut off and would not restart when she released the brake pedal. Also, almost everything electrical was inoperable, including th... Read more
Incident date: Jun 18, 2019
THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS GET WATER IN THEM AND FOGS UP..CAUSING YOUR HEADLIGHTS TO LOOK DIM AT NIGHT.
Incident date: May 5, 2021
MY WIFE TOOK A TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD ILL. FROM PARIS MO. ON 5/5/21 SHE DROVE APPOX 50 MILES TOWARD SPRINGFIELD ON I72 E.HER TACHOMETER STARTED SHOOTING UP ABOUT 5-6 THOUSAND RPM AT 70MPH .HOT TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON.I TOLD HER TO STOP AN LET IT COOL.THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND SHE PUT IT IN GEAR ONLY TO FIND SHE ONLY HAD LOW GEAR.WE TOOK IT TO S & K BUICK IN SPRINGFIELD ILL. WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT ... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2021
DURING PERIODS OF HIGH HEAT (AND ONLY HIGH HEAT) AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE SUN, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL STIFFEN AND SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WILL VIOLENTLY SHAKE, AS IF THE CALIPERS ARE STUCK. ONCE PARKED, ALL FOUR WHEELS ARE HOT AND OMITS A BURNING SMELL. I HAVE REPLACED TWO TIRES, 2 FRONT CALIPERS, FRONT BRAKE PADS, ALL HOSES A... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
THE BLIND SPOT DETECTORS STOPPED WORKING AND A WARNING ON THE DASH APPEARED SAYING "SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM". THIS WARNING POPS UP EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE CAR AND THE BLIND SPOT DETECTORS DO NOT WORK WHEN I AM DRIVING.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
THE BLIND SPOT DETECTORS STOPPED WORKING AND A WARNING ON THE DASH APPEARED SAYING "SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM". THIS WARNING POPS UP EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE CAR AND THE BLIND SPOT DETECTORS DO NOT WORK WHEN I AM DRIVING.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
THE BLIND SPOT DETECTORS STOPPED WORKING AND A WARNING ON THE DASH APPEARED SAYING "SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM". THIS WARNING POPS UP EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE CAR AND THE BLIND SPOT DETECTORS DO NOT WORK WHEN I AM DRIVING.
Incident date: May 9, 2021
ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS ALERTS WHETHER SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. SENSOR ALERTS CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING. IF THERE IS A PASSENGER SOMETIMES THE AIRBAG LIGHT ISN'T LIT NOTIFYING THE AIRBAG IS ON. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR NOT AND HAS HAPPENED MANY, MANY TIMES.
Incident date: Aug 29, 2020
I'VE HAD THE SENSOR TO MY TIRE MONITOR REPLACED 3 TIMES AND IT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND CAUSE MY TIRE LIGHT TO COME ON, ALTHOUGH MY TIRES ARE FINE. IT CONTINUES TO STALL WHEN I'M GOING INTO 1ST GEAR OR CHANGING GEARS ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN ACCELERATING MY PEDAL WILL SHAKE
Incident date: Apr 2, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WITH 'CAN NOT SHIFT IN THIS POSITION' MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SOMERSET BUICK LOCATED AT 1850 W. MAPLE RD, TROY, MI 48084, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE FUEL TANK SENSO... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V764000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FAIREY CHEVROLET CADILLAC (2885 ST MATTHEWS RD, ORANGEBURG, SC 29118; (803) 937-4751) AND SUPERIOR MOTORS, INC. (835 FIVE CHOP RD, ORANGEBURG, SC 29115: (803) 387-0735) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRM... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2021
CAR HAS LESS THAN 30 (THIRTY) MILES ON IT; GARAGED SINCE PURCHASE BC OF PANDEMIC; STARTED OCCASIONALLY; BATTERY DEAD WHEN I TRIED TO GO OUT LAST WEEK; CHARGED BATTERY; DIED AGAIN; CHARGED AGAIN; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALERTED ONSTAR, WHO SENT EMAIL STATING PROBLEMS W/ENGINE & TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, POSSIBLE ISSUES W/FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, EMISSIONS CONTROL, MISFIRE CONDITION... ONLY 30 MILES! NEW CAR! ... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2021
CAR HAS LESS THAN 30 (THIRTY) MILES ON IT; GARAGED SINCE PURCHASE BC OF PANDEMIC; STARTED OCCASIONALLY; BATTERY DEAD WHEN I TRIED TO GO OUT LAST WEEK; CHARGED BATTERY; DIED AGAIN; CHARGED AGAIN; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALERTED ONSTAR, WHO SENT EMAIL STATING PROBLEMS W/ENGINE & TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, POSSIBLE ISSUES W/FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, EMISSIONS CONTROL, MISFIRE CONDITION... ONLY 30 MILES! NEW CAR! ... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2021
CAR HAS LESS THAN 30 (THIRTY) MILES ON IT; GARAGED SINCE PURCHASE BC OF PANDEMIC; STARTED OCCASIONALLY; BATTERY DEAD WHEN I TRIED TO GO OUT LAST WEEK; CHARGED BATTERY; DIED AGAIN; CHARGED AGAIN; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALERTED ONSTAR, WHO SENT EMAIL STATING PROBLEMS W/ENGINE & TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, POSSIBLE ISSUES W/FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, EMISSIONS CONTROL, MISFIRE CONDITION... ONLY 30 MILES! NEW CAR! ... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BUICK REGAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. SERPENTINI CHEVROLET BUICK OF ORVILLE (1107 N MAIN ST, ORRVILLE, OH 44667) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES WITH AN OIL CHANGE WHILE TWO UNKNOWN TRANSMISSION PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAI... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2019
THE OIL CONSUMPTION IN THE CAR IS HORRIBLE, I HAVE TO ATLEAT ADD OIL IN MY CAR ABOUT 5 TIME IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, AND MY OIL CHANGES ARE DONE REGULARLY, IVE ALSO HAVE THE ISSUE OF MY OIL AND GAS MIXING, I DID TAKE IT TO THE SHOP ONCE AND THEY FIXED A RECALL THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, BUT IM GUESSING THEY DIDNT FIX THE ISSUE ONCE THAT REPAIR WAS DONE LIKE THEY SAID IT WOULD.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2019
THE OIL CONSUMPTION IN THE CAR IS HORRIBLE, I HAVE TO ATLEAT ADD OIL IN MY CAR ABOUT 5 TIME IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, AND MY OIL CHANGES ARE DONE REGULARLY, IVE ALSO HAVE THE ISSUE OF MY OIL AND GAS MIXING, I DID TAKE IT TO THE SHOP ONCE AND THEY FIXED A RECALL THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, BUT IM GUESSING THEY DIDNT FIX THE ISSUE ONCE THAT REPAIR WAS DONE LIKE THEY SAID IT WOULD.