Are Buicks Reliable? Buick Reliability by Model
Across the 6 most-documented Buick models, CarWhere's analysis of 5,823 NHTSA complaints finds 5 carry at least one model year to avoid; the cleanest federal records belong to the Verano. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Data as of July 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of July 2026 · How we rate model years
5,823 NHTSA complaints
model years flagged on federal data
Verano
What Buick owners report most
The vehicle systems drawing the most federal service-bulletin activity across the 6 Buick models we analyze — a signal of where problems concentrate.
Buick reliability by model
| Model | Complaints | Years to avoid | Best years | Worst year vs. its avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Lacrosse | 1,245 | 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 | 2015, 2016 and 2017 | 2.4× |
| Buick Enclave | 2,470 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014 | 2021 and 2023 | 4.6× |
| Buick Regal | 635 | 2011, 2012 and 2013 | — | 8.7× |
| Buick Encore | 585 | 2019 | 2020 | 1.6× |
| Buick Verano | 439 | None | 2015 | — |
| Buick Lucerne | 449 | 2008 and 2009 | — | 2.8× |
Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA owner complaints), not adjusted for sales volume. A model year is flagged when its severity-weighted complaint rate is among the highest within that model's own history — never a comparison against other brands. Follow any model for its full year-by-year verdict. Full methodology.
Where Buick owners report the most trouble
Buick Regal: 3 model years flagged to avoid (2011, 2012 and 2013) — the worst logged up to 8.7× the model's own average complaint rate. See the year-by-year verdict →
Buick Enclave: 5 model years flagged to avoid (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014) — the worst logged up to 4.6× the model's own average complaint rate. See the year-by-year verdict →
Buick Lucerne: 2 model years flagged to avoid (2008 and 2009) — the worst logged up to 2.8× the model's own average complaint rate. See the year-by-year verdict →
Cleanest Buick records: the Verano carries no model year flagged to avoid in the current federal data.
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FAQ
Are Buicks reliable?
Buick reliability varies sharply by model and year, not by brand. Across the 6 most-documented Buick models, 5 carry at least one model year we flag to avoid on NHTSA complaint and recall data. The Verano carries no year we flag to avoid. These are raw federal complaint counts, not adjusted for how many vehicles Buick sold, so they can't be read as a single cross-brand reliability score — use the per-model verdicts below.
What is the most reliable Buick?
Among the Buick models we analyze, the Verano carries no model year flagged to avoid in the current federal data — the cleanest record in the lineup. Reliability still comes down to the specific model year, so check the year-by-year verdict before buying.
Which Buick models have the most years to avoid?
The Buick models carrying the most flagged years are the Regal (3 years flagged, worst up to 8.7× its own average), the Enclave (5 years flagged, worst up to 4.6× its own average), the Lucerne (2 years flagged, worst up to 2.8× its own average). A flag means that model year has one of the highest severity-weighted complaint rates within that model's own history — it is not a comparison against other brands.
How do I check a specific Buick before buying?
Start with the free Buick window sticker lookup at carwhere.com/window-sticker/buick to confirm the exact trim and factory options, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year plus a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — across the 6 most-documented Buick models and every model year on record for each. Retrieved July 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered, so they cannot be read as a single cross-brand reliability ranking; each model year's verdict compares it only against the rest of that model's own history. Full scoring at the methodology page.