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#BS-2012-BUIVER-144E2012 Buick VeranoProblems, Recalls & Reliability
Based on reports from 146 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.
Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026
Preliminary Verdict
Think Twice
Based on 146 complaints, 9 crashes, 2 fires, and 3 recalls.
Top reported problems
oil consumption
20 complaints • Severity 7.3/10
car shuts down while driving
6 complaints • Severity 7/10
dead battery
2 complaints • Severity 6/10
bad o2 sensor
2 complaints • Severity 4/10
running roughly
2 complaints • Severity 6/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
50 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 56K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (33 reports) • Median: 56K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Engine (50 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2012 Buick Verano: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 34% of all reports filed for the 2012 Buick Verano, with 50 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 56,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 56K-mile mark.
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 2012 Buick Verano, with 27 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2012 Buick Verano, with 16 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Steering Issues
Steering complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2012 Buick Verano, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2012 Buick Verano. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (3 recalls)
AIR BAGS
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
AIR BAGS
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
AIR BAGS
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
2012 Buick Verano NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall
Not ratedFrontal crash
Not ratedSide crash
Not ratedRollover
Not ratedFrom NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.
NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)
All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.
Air Bag Non-deployment
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
The worst model year for the Buick Verano is the 2014 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
2012 Buick Verano vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)
This vehicle
146
Class avg
242
Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical compact cars vehicles. A good sign.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 146 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.
2012 Buick Verano: Frequently Asked Questions
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Get the Full 2012 Buick Verano Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 146 owner reports. Know before you buy.