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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

What owners actually said

106 reports
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

88,015 miles · Sep 2, 2020
Engine

PURCHASED THE CAR USED WITH 65K MILES AND EVERYTHING SEEMED GOOD. AT AROUND 72K THE CAR HAD A LOUD PINGING NOISE. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE DIP STICK WAS DRY. I CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER TO BE SAFE. THE CAR HAS BEEN USING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2000 MILES. AT 80K THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IN PA THAT MEANS YOU DO NOT P…

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PURCHASED THE CAR USED WITH 65K MILES AND EVERYTHING SEEMED GOOD. AT AROUND 72K THE CAR HAD A LOUD PINGING NOISE. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE DIP STICK WAS DRY. I CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER TO BE SAFE. THE CAR HAS BEEN USING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2000 MILES. AT 80K THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IN PA THAT MEANS YOU DO NOT PASS INSPECTION SO WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE SERVICED. THE BILL WAS ONLY $212 DOLLARS FOR TWO VALVE POSITION SOLENOIDS. I DID A COMPLETE OIL AND FILTER CHANGE THEN ALSO. AT 1712 MILES LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THE ENGINE OIL WAS 1,5 QUARTS LOW AGAIN. I GUESS I AM IN THE SAME BOAT AS MOST OF THE OTHERS WITH HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, SHAFTED BY GM AGAIN. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY CAN SELL SOMETHING SO BADF AND GET AWAY WITH IT. IT SEEMS ALL OF THE GM VEHICLES WITH THE 22.4 LITER 4 CYLINDER ENGINE HAVE THESE ISSUES. THE SHAME IS THE CAR ITSELF SO FAR HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE OIL ISSUE. WHEN WILL GM START TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT?

NHTSA ODI #11352768

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

118,000 miles · May 2, 2020
Engine

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. LOW OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON CAUSING CAR TO PRODUCE "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" WARNING ON DASHBOARD. LESS THAN HALF A QUART OF OIL IN ENGINE CAUSED TIMING BELT TO BREAK ALONG WITH HEAD GASKET TO COLLAPSE. ISSUE WITH CAR HAPPENED AT WORK SITTING IN STATIONARY PARKING SPOT

NHTSA ODI #11323029

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

52,000 miles · Jan 14, 2020
Structure

THE PAINT ON THE HOOD ROOF AND PARTIAL TRUNK OF MY BLACK VEHICLE IS OXIDIZING VERY BADLY. IS THIS THE CORRECT FORUM TO REPORT THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI #11299204

45,000 miles · Dec 13, 2019
Air Bags

VEHICLE DISPLAYS SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE INTERMITTENT WHILE DRIVING ALSO DOES NOT SHOW AIRBAG IS ON FOR PASSENGER

NHTSA ODI #11288983

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2019
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

WHEN IM DRIVEING AND THE PASSAGER IS SITTING NEXT TO ME THE AIRBAG LIGHT SAYS ITS OFF PLEASE HAVE IT SERVICE . THEN IT TURN ON FOR A COUPLE OF SEC AND IT SHUTS OFF . ALSO MY FOG LIGHT NOB IS LIKE MELTING AROUND IT VERY WEIRD. MYBE THE LIGHT IT HAS AROUND THE NOB IS TO STRONG DONT KNOW ALL DRIVING IS IN THE CITY

NHTSA ODI #11278517

66,000 miles · Oct 23, 2019
Air Bags

THERE WAS A RECALL WITH SPECIAL POLICY ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I DIDN'T RECEIVE A RECALL FORM IN THE MAIL. GM TOLD ME THAT IT EXPIRED SEPTEMBER 2019. I AM NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A MESSAGE ON MY CAR STATING SERVICE AIR BAG. I TAKE TO GET DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW MODULE AND SENSOR LIGHT WHICH …

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THERE WAS A RECALL WITH SPECIAL POLICY ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. I WANT TO KNOW WHY I DIDN'T RECEIVE A RECALL FORM IN THE MAIL. GM TOLD ME THAT IT EXPIRED SEPTEMBER 2019. I AM NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A MESSAGE ON MY CAR STATING SERVICE AIR BAG. I TAKE TO GET DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW MODULE AND SENSOR LIGHT WHICH WILL COST ME $1600 THAT IS NOT A FAULT OF MINE, BUT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND I HAVE A CHILD THAT RIDE'S IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME DAILY.

NHTSA ODI #11270451

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.