RoadVitals

2013 Buick Verano Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Nov 2, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 107 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Buick Verano submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Nov 2, 2022

The car power steering locked and stopped working while driving on the freeway, this incident put at risk myself and my children safety. After exiting the freeway the steering wheel stopped working again. this is a known issue as the car steering power was not recalled but the issue was acknowledged but GM. The car is a safety hazard for the person who drive it and the public.

NHTSA ID
11491982
Incident
Oct 27, 2022
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Nov 2, 2022

Power steering an steering wheel locks, Once this happens the car becomes a safety hazard, first time it happened two children were in the car and seconds from an accident on the freeway. Exited the freeway and car steering wheel failed again this time stopped working completely putting my children’s life in danger.

NHTSA ID
11491979
Incident
Oct 27, 2022
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 29, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Buick Verano. The contact stated while driving at 25-30 MPH, the shift lock release button mounted on the gear shifter fractured and she was unable to shift into park (P). The contact drove to the nearest independent mechanic and maintained the brake pedal depressed in order to keep the vehicle idle. The contact stated that she was also able to shift into neutral. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the gear shifter needed to be replaced. The contact provided the contact with a tool to depress the remaining part of the shift lock release button in order to park the vehicle. Upon arriving to her residence, the contact utilized the tool to park the vehicle. The contact contacted a tow company to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The tow agent was able to pull the remaining part of the shift lock release button out. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11481816
Incident
Aug 26, 2022
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 9, 2020

ON 10/6/2020, I WAS RIDING AS THE FRONT PASSENGER IN OUR 2013 BUICK VERANO. WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY (70 MPH) AND HIT A BUMP AT THE START OF A BRIDGE. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY INCREASED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED, THE CAR DECELERATED AND MY WIFE PULLED TO THE SHOULDER. WE STOPPED, CHECKED THE GEAR SHIFT AND IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE, THE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED, AND EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL.

NHTSA ID
11363526
Incident
Oct 6, 2020
Mileage
89,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 16, 2019

THE 2013 BUICK VERANO IN QUESTION HAS 52K MILES. AT A STOP LIGHT, WHEN THE GAS WAS PUSHED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT AND THEN SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND WOULD NOT COME OUT. AFTER TRYING TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION SETTING SEVERAL TIMES, THE DRIVER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTARTED, THE TRANSMISSION WORKED AT THAT POINT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE. THEY RECOMMENDED CLEARING CODES FOR INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAM SOLENOIDS BY REPLACING THEM AND UPDATING SOFTWARE. THESE WERE DONE AND WE HOPE THAT TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS A SERIOUS SYSTEM FAILURE AND FORTUNATELY OCCURRED IN A LOCATION WHICH WAS NOT AS DANGEROUS AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

NHTSA ID
11244545
Incident
Aug 12, 2019
Mileage
53,500 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 4, 2019

THE KEY HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES. THIS PREVENTS THE CAR FROM MOVING AND TURNING OFF COMPLETELY. AT ONE POINT THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT TO GET ASSISTANCE. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GO ONTO YOUTUBE AND DISCOVERED THE ISSUE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE CHEVY MALIBU, SO I USED THE SAME TECHNIQUE DESCRIBED IN THE YOUTUBE VIDEO TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED ON THE EVENING ON FEBRUARY 21, 2019. THE VALET SUPERVISOR WENT TO RETRIEVE MY CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE INTO THE PARK GEAR. I WOULD MOVE INTO DRIVE, NEUTRAL AND REVERSE BUT NOT PARK. I BELIEVE MY CAR IS ALSO IMPACTED UNDER THE FOLLOWING RECALL NUMBER:50490 AND 50491. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS.

NHTSA ID
11193760
Incident
Feb 21, 2019
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 3, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK VERANO. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM THE PARK POSITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. AFTER VARIOUS ATTEMPTS, THE GEAR WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER (PERRY BUICK, 6633 E VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, NORFOLK, VA, 23502, 757-828-5431) SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.

NHTSA ID
11031558
Incident
Sep 19, 2017
Mileage
38,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 26, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK VERANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD ALERT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CORRECT GEAR POSITION WAS NOT DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GREATER LOWELL BUICK DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLIES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PAID A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,134. *TR

NHTSA ID
11010689
Incident
Jul 20, 2017
Mileage
20,134 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 17, 2017

THE SHIFT LEVER IS ON A CONSOLE BETWEEN THE TWO FRONT SEATS. PUSHING THE LEVER TOWARD THE DRIVER CHANGES THE TRANSMISSION MODE FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL. THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL PUSHES SWITCHING THE TRANSMISSION TO MANUAL MODE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MY PASSENGER, WHILE ADJUSTING HER COAT, HAS SWITCHED THE CAR TO MANUAL MODE WHILE THE CAR WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND I HAVE SEEN HER PURSE SOMETIMES VERY CLOSE TO THE LEVER WHILE SHE IS DOING THINGS WITH THE PURSE (THE CAR IS A COMPACT--THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO BOTH FRONT SEATS). FORTUNATELY WHEN SHE ACCIDENTALLY SWITCHED THE TRANSMISSION TO MANUAL MODE I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCERATOR WHILE I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RACING; FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHERE THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10955321
Incident
Apr 16, 2014
Mileage
24,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 18, 2015

2013 BUICK VERANO, VIN [XXX]. ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN MINNESOTA. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. FIRST, CAR WAS "HARD-SHIFTING" LIKE IT WAS HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME LOCATING THE NEXT GEAR TO SHIFT INTO. THE HARD SHIFT OCCURS BETWEEN 15-25 MPH, AND AGAIN BETWEEN 50-60 MPH. IT IS CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AND ACT VERY SLUGGISHLY. HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR UNTIL A LONG ROAD TRIP RELOCATING TO UTAH IN MARCH 2015 THAT LED UP TO ALL THESE NEW PROBLEMS. DEALER SAYS DIAGNOSTIC SHOWS NOTHING WRONG, BUT WHEN TEST DRIVING, CAN FEEL AND HEAR THE HARD SHIFT. ATTEMPTED TO FIX. PROBLEMS WENT AWAY FOR 2 MONTHS AND THEN RETURNED IN LATE MAY / EARLY JUNE 2015. SECOND, WHEN A/C IS ON FULL BLAST INSIDE CAR AND WE USE REMOTE START TO START THE CAR, THE CAR IDLES FINE FOR 10 SECONDS. THEN AS SOON AS THE A/C SYSTEM KICKS ON IN THE CAR, THE ENGINE REV'S UP FROM 800 RPM'S (NORMAL IDLE) TO ABOUT 1,500 RPM'S AND THE ENGINE IS VERY LOUD. THE DEALER STATES "DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG." WE CAN HEAR HOW LOUD IT IS, AND THOSE ARE THE COOLING FANS, BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO COME BACK DOWN TO NORMAL IDLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES. WE CAN HAVE THE CAR IDLING FOR 10+ MINUTES AND IT DOES NOT REDUCE IN NOISE VOLUME OR RPM LEVEL. IT CONTINUES TO IDLE VERY HIGH RPM'S AND DOES NOT SOUND LIKE ANY OTHER BUICK ON THE GM DEALERSHIP LOT. DEALER MECHANIC'S CAN HEAR THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEIR STUPID COMPUTERS DON'T SAY ANYTHING IS WRONG. SO NOW WE ARE EXPERIENCING 2 ISSUES - THE LOUD REV RPM NOISE IN IDLE WHICH IS MAKING THE ENGINE VERY LABORED SOUNDING, AND THE HARD-SHIFTING PROBLEM THAT STILL HASN'T GONE AWAY. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN, OR COOLING SYSTEM BUT OF COURSE GM WON'T FIX IT OR RECALL IT. I CAN'T EVEN FIND A RECALL LIST NEWER THAN 12/31/14. *TR

NHTSA ID
10726119
Incident
Mar 16, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 3, 2014

BETWEEN 8 & 17 MIL THE TRANS HAS A DEED SPOT, WHEN THE TRANS CATCHES THE CAR JUMPS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10641126
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Mileage
35 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed May 20, 2013
Crash reported

MY NEW BUICK VERANO 2013 JUST BACKED ITSELF OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HIT MY NEIGHBOR'S MAILBOX. HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTS LIKE THIS? *TR

NHTSA ID
10512894
Incident
May 20, 2013

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .