2016 Buick Envision Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 Buick Envision, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes417.4%
- Electrical417.4%
- Engine417.4%
- Suspension313.0%
- Driver assistance313.0%
- Exterior lighting28.7%
- Visibility14.3%
- Powertrain (other)14.3%
- Airbags14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
This is the second time my brake line has cracked and started leaking brake fluid without any warnings from my dashboard that my brake fluid was low. First time was [XXX] and this time is [XXX] it's only a matter of time before the back ones fail. I hope and pray that I don't be driving cause I don't want to hurt anyone or myself. General motors knows about this problem on the 2016 Buick envision but my vin don't fall under the recall. They only recalled three hundred and something vehicle for this problem out of all the suv they have manufactured. I am not sure if any of the other vehicles in the Gm family is affected by this but in my opinion all of these [XXX] China built vehicle should be recalled for as something as brakes lines defects. I would say put an after market one on your vehicle they may be safer but I am not sure. I will never ever buy another General motors vehicle. They don't care about humans life. Who ever reads this I hope you get your vehicle checked or switch out your brake lines with another brand don't use AC Delco at all. Cheap [XXX] parts. First time my vehicle had only 50000 miles I will stick to ford vehicle their parts lasted on my car for almost 200000 thousand miles and my brake lines or clippers never failed. If it wasn't for someone crashing into and totalling my vehicle ain't no telling how long it would have lasted. It had 201000 miles never no engine or transmission problems at all. It was built ford tough. Also my coolant temperature sensor went out at about 45000 miles never had that problem on my 2011 ford fusion at all still had the original one on it and worked fine. These new vehicles are trash. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Envision. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at slow speeds in a parking area and attempting to stop with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V922000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 105,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The lane assists and cruise control does not work and the GM dealership here in Southern Pines, NC can't fix it. They are sending the car back on the street with a 19-year-old girl behind the wheel of a car with electrical issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My car was parked in the driveway, and it was locked. The keys were in a bowl next to the door. During the night the sunroof opened with no contact from anyone and it rained that night and flooded the inside of the car. We did research on the issue and this has happened to many Buick owners. I put the car under shelter and got out as much water as I could. The sunroof would not operate to close it. First thing Monday morning I was at the dealers. The dealer stated that had never seen that problem. I gave them some of the information I found on the internet. They could not get the sunroof to close. They ordered the parts and kept the car to continue drying it out. Once the parts arrived and were installed they got the sunroof to close but then it opened about half way. They are talking to Buick engineers. Luckily this happened while my car was parked. However, had I been driving and rain started poring into the car it could easily cause an accident. It would be a serious distraction to the driver in addition to the steering wheel becoming slick with water and hard to handle. Also it could cause other electrical components to fail due water in their system and cause an accident. I believe this is an electrical manufacturing defect and needs to be addressed. Currently my car is still at the dealer.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Buick Envision 2016 Mileage - 58315 One owner The car has had three events over the last year where it would not start. After the car is driven for awhile and after it's parked and turned off, it will not start. Everything in the car will function (windows, radio, door locks) but there seems to be a disconnect between the key-fob and the device that communicates with it. There is never a warning light or other indication this is about to happen. We tried to jump the car but it has no effect. If we wait twenty to forty minutes it will start on its own. On the third failure, we had the car towed to the dealership where it was purchased. When the car was unloaded from the tow truck it started. The dealership service department ran diagnostics but the error codes were not helpful. They kept the car for ten days and could not duplicate the error.
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Envision. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled at a traffic light. The contact received assistance from passengers nearby and pushed the vehicle to the side of the roadway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact started the vehicle again and it inadvertently stopped again and there were numerous warning lights illuminated, which the contact did not remember. The contact then disconnected the battery and reconnected it, then restarted the vehicle. The contact also stated the battery was replaced last year. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no failure was diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,076.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
GM is out of control . I have a front passenger control arm assembly in the shop for 2 months. No update on service part because they have changed the part number as the 2016 is unsafe. I need my service part or a new car . It's unsafe to drive and GM will not provide any update on ETW because there is a safety issue with this part. They already killed over 100 people from the ignition switch problem. Cruise dragged a person under a self driving taxi. Hold them accountable for once. They are an un responsible company. Help me as I have no car and my car is unsafe to drive.
Unsafe driving condition. Control arm assembly front passenger. Car in the dealer for a month. GM has no service parts and refuses to give update on availability. Dealer states unsafe to drive and I have seen multiple complaints for this issue.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
The lane assists and cruise control does not work and the GM dealership here in Southern Pines, NC can't fix it. They are sending the car back on the street with a 19-year-old girl behind the wheel of a car with electrical issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR MY DASHBOARD COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. THE SCREEN WENT COMPLETELY BLACK NO RADIO,CLOCK,DASH DISPLAY. STOPPED, TURN CAR OFF AND RESTARTED STILL DID NOT TURN BACK ON DASH BOARD OR AND RADIO/ NAVIGATION SCREEN. WAITED TILL NEXT DAY TRIED AGAIN STILL NOT SUCCESSFUL BOTH SCREEN COMPLETELY BLACK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALL DASH GAUGE AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS GO DARK AND UNREADABLE WHEN GOING FROM BRIGHT DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS TO SHADY CONDITIONS SUCH AS DRIVING UNDER A DARK GREY CLOUD SHELF , IN HEAVY RAIN, OR EVEN DRIVING INTO TREE SHADE. WHEN YOU ARE IN HEAVY DOWNPOUR AT 65, 70, OR 75 MPH IT CAN BE VERY PANICKY TO NOT ONLY DRIVE BUT SEE YOUR SPEED. ONLY VERY, VERY FAINT GAUGE INFO AND NAV INFO ARE DISPLAYED, SO YOU CANNOT TELL SPEED OR IF UNDER GUIDANCE, WHERE YOUR TURNS OR LANE GUIDANCE INFO ARE. 2 BUICK DEALERS HAVE "FLASHED THE CHIP" AND OCCURANCES HAVE LESSENED, BUT STILL THERE. ONE INSTANCE ONLY "FIXED" BY RESTARTING THE CAR AFTER TAKING A HIGHWAY EXIT, THE OTHER I COULD RESTORE BY USING THE DASH LIGHT BRIGHTNESS OPTION AFTER HOLDING THE SWITCH FOR 15 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION EACH TIME AT VARYING SPEEDS BOTH IN CITY AND ON HIGHWAY. WE SHINED A FLASHLIGHT ON THE SENSOR LOCATED CENTER FRONT OF DASH WITH NO RETURN TO NORMAL INTENSITY. I THINK PROBLEM LIES IN BOTH THE PROGRAMMING AND THE LIGHT SENSOR CIRCUIT ITSELF. SERVICE PERSONNEL CANNOT DUPLICATE (OF COURSE). THIS 2ND REPORT TO YOU, THE CHIP WAS FLASHED AFTER THAT REPORT. THANKS.
2 HOURS AFTER SUNRISE OR 2 HOURS BEFORE SUNSET, IF DRIVING ON A SUNNY DAY AND DRIVE INTO TREE SHADOWS, BOTH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE INTELLILINK SYSTEM DISPLAYS GO COMPLETELY DARK. THIS IS WITH NO EXTERNAL LIGHTS ON (WHY SHOULD THEY BE ON A BRIGHT SUNNY MORNING OR EVENING?). RETURNING TO SUNLIT STRETCHES DO NOT MAKE THE PANELS GO BRIGHT AGAIN. YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR TO BRING THE PANELS BACK TO DAYLIGHT INTENSITY. YOU HAVE TO STARE AT THE DARK PANELS FOR 5 SECONDS TO SEE IF YOU CAN READ ANYTHING, WHICH YOU CANNOT, AND THIS IS MAKING FOR EYES-OFF-THE-ROAD-TIME VERY DANGEROUS. MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT 2/22, BUT ONLY THE SALESMAN AND SERVICE WRITER LOOKED AT CAR IN THE SERVICE LANE AND STATED NOTHING WRONG. THE CAR DID NOT ENTER THE SERVICE BAYS AT ALL, BUT ONLY 1 SERVICE REQUESTED SO FAR.THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES; 2/22, 4/16, AND 5/11/17. I SAW ON A BUICK ENVISION TROUBLE WEB PAGE WHERE 1 PERSON WITH SAME PROBLEM SAID THEY FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS, BUT NO REFERENCE TO WHERE THEY FOUND IT OR THE BULLETIN ITSELF. I AM STILL LOOKING AND AM GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER SERVICE APPOINTMENT, BUT IN PERSON THIS TIME AND NOT VIA THE DEALER'S WEB PAGE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WE HAD HAD SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT WERE ONLY FIXED AFTER THE EVENT OCCURRED, AT WHICH TIME THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT SOFTWARE UPDATES WERE AVAILABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WE HAD. ONE INVOLVED THE DISPLAY SCREEN/BACK-UP CAMERA WHICH WAS VERY DARK AND DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE DAYTIME, OBSERVED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN 2017 - A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. THE OTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED LAST WEEK, WHEN THE CAR DIED AFTER STARTING IT, AS I WAS TRYING TO PULL AWAY FROM THE CURB - ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. IF SOFTWARE UPDATES ARE AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THESE SORTS OF ISSUES, WHY AREN'T OWNERS BEING INFORMED BEFORE HAVING TO EXPERIENCE THEM? SHOULDN'T THESE SORTS OF ISSUES BE THE SUBJECT OF RECALLS?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving RPM’s bouncing. Upon acceleration experienced delay and hesitation Hesitation in acceleration causing safety issue when entering traffic’s and passing other vehicles Full transmission replacement was needed and completed
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
EVERY SAFETY SYSTEM. ABS, STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AWD, AIR BAGS FAULT MESSAGES AND SERVICE LIGHTS ARE ON. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR ON 7/11/2017 AND STILL AT DEALERSHIP TODAY (40 DAYS LATER) WITH NO KNOWN RESOLUTION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .