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2012 Buick Verano

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Buick Verano do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 80.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

75 reports with mileage · 31 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

27 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2024
Air Bags

The passenger airbag indicator goes on and off with person in passenger seat. We first noticed this Summer 2023. It has gotten worse. Now a passenger can shift weight slightly one way or another and cause the indicator status to change which disables the airbag. Dealer also confirmed (4/16/24) DTC code B0081(internal malfunctio…

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The passenger airbag indicator goes on and off with person in passenger seat. We first noticed this Summer 2023. It has gotten worse. Now a passenger can shift weight slightly one way or another and cause the indicator status to change which disables the airbag. Dealer also confirmed (4/16/24) DTC code B0081(internal malfunction with passenger presence module). I have recently learned there was a warranty extension for this failure (which had expired) which I was unaware of. I now have a vehicle which I feel is unsafe to travel with a passenger! If GM is aware of the problem and the dealer (imperial Chevrolet) has charged me $160 diagnostic fee for a known problem and tells me it will cost approx. $1,800 to repair/replace the sensor and module.

NHTSA ODI #11583410

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2023
Air Bags

This airbag is supposed to last the lifetime of the vehicle and it has not. On top of it not lasting I am being charged to fix the airbag issue replacement and it is at fault of General Motors for not offering a lifetime lasting airbag.

NHTSA ODI #11501242

106,000 miles · Sep 29, 2022
Air BagsCrash

The contact owned a 2012 Buick Verano. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, another vehicle was traveling in the opposite direction and struck the front driver side of the contact’s vehicle causing damage to the front end of both vehicles. The air bags did not deploy in the contact's vehicle but in the other vehicle, the …

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The contact owned a 2012 Buick Verano. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, another vehicle was traveling in the opposite direction and struck the front driver side of the contact’s vehicle causing damage to the front end of both vehicles. The air bags did not deploy in the contact's vehicle but in the other vehicle, the air bags did deploy. No major injuries and no one seeking medical attention. The police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed total lost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.

NHTSA ODI #11487144

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2022
Air Bags

I was in a traffic jam and had a blowout. My airbags didn't go off no accident was able to pull over. Got it towed to get a new tire. Now I took my car in to get the aribag light off and it's $2000 for seatbelt sensor and another sensor from a blowout that's redicilous. The airbags didn't go off. Now I don't have any air ba…

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I was in a traffic jam and had a blowout. My airbags didn't go off no accident was able to pull over. Got it towed to get a new tire. Now I took my car in to get the aribag light off and it's $2000 for seatbelt sensor and another sensor from a blowout that's redicilous. The airbags didn't go off. Now I don't have any air bags because of a tire blowout. No damage to the car either. Please help and thank you for your time!

NHTSA ODI #11469802

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2021
Air Bags

SAYS SERVICE AIG BAG THIS IS NOT SAFE..

NHTSA ODI #11390876

60,700 miles · Nov 13, 2020
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

WHILE PULLING INTO MY HOME DRIVEWAY, WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES . AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE CAUSING ME TO HIT MY OTHER VEHICLE AND THEN THE CAR PROCEEDED INTO THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE . I JUST 2 DAYS PRIOR HAD MY CAR INSPECTED AT FIRESTONE, I ALSO JUST HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED LESS THAN 5 MONTHS PRIOR, ALSO THE AIRBAG L…

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WHILE PULLING INTO MY HOME DRIVEWAY, WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES . AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE CAUSING ME TO HIT MY OTHER VEHICLE AND THEN THE CAR PROCEEDED INTO THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE . I JUST 2 DAYS PRIOR HAD MY CAR INSPECTED AT FIRESTONE, I ALSO JUST HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED LESS THAN 5 MONTHS PRIOR, ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON EARLIER THAT DAY, I WAS COMING HOME FROM FIRESTONE AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING AND DECELERATION WHILE DRIVING WHICH WAS LESS THAN 10 MILE FROM MY HOME .

NHTSA ODI #11374577

38,600 miles · Sep 22, 2020
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. DOES THIS WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THIS MAKES AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE INFORMATION CENTER OF DASH COME ON OR TURN OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11360523

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2020
Air BagsEngine

THE SYSTEM AIR BAG NOTICES KEEPS COMING IN THE CAR, WHEN YOU PUT YOUR SEAT BEAT ON IT GOES AWAY. ALSO THE OIL BUTTON DOESN'T COME ON , THE CAR CONSTANTLY SHAKES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE KEEPS COMING ON AFTER EVEN BEING REPAIRED. I NEEDED A FUEL PUMP AND THAT'S BEEN FIXED BUT THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #11327599

72,500 miles · Mar 20, 2020
Air Bags

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY WHEN PASSENGER GETS IN CAR. GOES OFF ONCE PASSENGER BUCKLES SEATBELT AND VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, MOST OF THE TIME. A COUPLE TIMES IT HAS STAYED ON FOR PART OF A DAY EVEN WITHOUT A PASSENGER AND AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING.

NHTSA ODI #11318765

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2020
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK VERANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. JOSEPH BUICK GMC 8700 COLERAIN AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45251, (513) 741-1000, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN INCORRECT INFORMATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECTED TO A FREE WARRANTY REPAIR. THE CONTAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK VERANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. JOSEPH BUICK GMC 8700 COLERAIN AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45251, (513) 741-1000, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN INCORRECT INFORMATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECTED TO A FREE WARRANTY REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS INSTEAD QUOTED $858.35 FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11309199

Official recalls

3

14V300000 · Air Bags

Jun 6, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.

13V023000 · Air Bags

Jan 24, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

12V522000 · Air Bags

Oct 31, 2012

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

RQ13002 · Air Bag Non-deployment

Opened May 31, 2013 · Closed Jul 9, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags:frontal

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags:frontal

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.