Check a vehicle VIN check Latest recalls Latest complaints Common problems Rankings Compare vehicles Recall roundups All makes Guides Share your experience
Theme

Engine & cooling

2012 Buick Verano Engine problems

Owners have filed 50 complaints about the 2012 Buick Verano's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 47% of all its complaints, most recently on May 26, 2024. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
50
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

On 2 separate occasions, I have gone through 4 quarts of oil in 2000 miles. No leaks as verified by mechanic. Just excessive burn. The check oil light does not come on to warn you and says I still have 50% oil life but almost bone dry.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11590837
Engine & cooling

Oil Consumption- Burning through 2 qts of oil every 2000 miles. No warning lights coming on. Last oil change my car had no oil in it.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11518026
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Car has had excessive oil consumption since start. Easily consuming 1-2 quarts of oil on monthly basis. Had timing chains replaced at 75000 miles. Car suddenly stopped without warning 1/16/23 and completely shut off while driving. Now, at 170000 miles the engine is blown, due to chains loosening, and valves getting bent and scattered.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11504036
Engine & cooling

My car started burning an excessive amount of oil this caused my car to die with no engine warning while driving. My mechanic found it to be completely out of oil. The car only has 67000 miles on it and now I have to constantly put oil in the car. It does not leak it just burns oil. I just drove 400 miles and when I got to my destination my car was completely out of oil again. My motor is not going to last if this keeps happening.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11485476
Engine & coolingFuel system

The contact owns a 2012 Buick Verano . The contact stated there was an abnormal odor of fuel entering through the vents. In addition, while driving, there was an abnormal very loud knocking noise. The contact noticed that there was oil or fuel leaking from the injection system. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 11478617
Engine & cooling

Technical Service Bulletin #13-06-01-003H (TSB 003H) in regards to GM's 2.4L engines & excessive oil consumption. (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/MC-10116880-9999.pdf) This release not only concedes a persistent issue found in at least six GM models, but more importantly fails to acknowledge the serious and fatal risks as a result of the Oil Consumption Defect. As a direct result of GM's known defect, I was left in a dangerous situation. I crossed a divided residential street, engine stalled and the...

Read the full complaint

vehicle turned off, stranded in the middle. It is not unreasonable to imagine other similar situations occurring, leaving people directly susceptible to serious injury or death. Here, the dipstick was completely dry. It took two quarts before any oil appeared on the dipstick. The oil light did not illuminate and I was approximately 1500 miles from my next scheduled oil service. The diagnosis: pistons excessively worn from lack of oil, engine failure. My situation is not unique. https://www.carcomplaints.com/Buick/Verano/2012/engine/engine.shtml Sanchez et al v. General Motors LLC, found in favor of the plaintiffs. The issue: the Oil Consumption Defect, found in 2010-13 Equinox & Terrain, both vehicles listed on TSB 003H with the 2012 Verano. https://www.classaction.org/media/sanchez-et-al-v-general-motors-llc.pdf The primary cause: faulty piston rings and defective crankcase ventilation system, leading to excessive oil consumption. The oil monitoring systems are defective. "Reliance on the [system] instead encourages owners to drive with a false sense of security." "Problems include, but are not limited to: unanticipated engine shutdowns, engine stalls." "[This] is a substantial safety concern because [failure]... cannot be reasonably anticipated or predicted." To allow GM to ignore this documented and persistent issue, without further investigation, would be a failure carry out the NHTSA's core duty: to save lives and prevent injuries. Thank you.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11468706
Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2012 Buick Verano. The contact stated that her vehicle was constantly loosing oil however, there was no warning light illuminated on the vehicle to indicate that the oil level was low. The contact stated that when the oil level was low, the vehicle made a loud rumbling sound. The contact would then top off the engine oil. The contact stated that without the knocking sound she would not know that the vehicle required additional oil. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and an independent mechanic however, the mechanic was unable to locate an oil leak. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 176,768.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11458242
Engine & cooling

My car has started to burn oil quickly in the past and I was bringing my car to get oil changes more frequently than the sticker was saying at the dealership. Recently my car showed no oil on the dipstick after my car stopped running. 2 quarts of oil was added and the oil only showed at the tip of the dipstick. My engine was tapping a few weeks prior to my car no longer running. I brought the car to the dealership and they informed me that there was not a recall on my vehicle, but upon checking there was a recall...

Read the full complaint

in 2016 for this exact matter. My car is still not running and has been down since October 22, 2021. The dealership is stating that they cannot fix my car because there is not an open recall, but this recall was in 2016 and I was never made aware of the recall nor was I said any correspondences about this recall.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11440121
Engine & cooling

Replaced many components and still has cylinder misfire . Replaced coils . Spark plugs. Vvt solenoids . Pigtails for vvt and still jerks, stalls, and radio doesn't work.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11430491
Engine & cooling

Car engine started making noise in front right side. Had oil changed 2000 miles prior and there was no oil when checked. Mechanic said the motors are known to have the timing belt go out and the pistons. There are recalls for this issue, however my VIN number doesn't come up!! Have had the car 2 months!!!! Pretty pissed off!

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11418281
Engine & cooling

Car using excessive oil, but not leaking. Non oil light ever has come on. Car also showed p0011 which ties in with issue.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11398555
Engine & cooling

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...

Read the full complaint

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?

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11352768
AirbagsEngine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Air bags · EngineNHTSA 11327599
Engine & cooling

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

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11323029
Engine & cooling

As I was driving in the city the car suddenly stopped and there was a smell of burning oil. I noticed dark oil on the pavement. I was good about changing my oil per manufacturer recommendation. I wasn't aware that other similar cars had this same issue. I wish a recall had been done prior to this major loss.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11268783
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFuel system

Vehicle stalled at red light on city street. Vehicle ended up needed 4 quarts of oil which caused a broken timing chain and complete engine replacement. Engine was the 2.4L ecotec, which has bulletins for oil consumption issues. The low oil light did not come on in the vehicle.

Filed Incident Power train · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11265453
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 buick verano. While driving, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the camshaft solenoid failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to kendall auto group (1400 executive pkwy # 400, eugene, or 97401, (541) 335-4000) and the contact was informed that there was no history of a failure code; however, the piston and rings. Were repaired. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator...

Read the full complaint

illuminated. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer where the contact left the engine running and showed the technician the failure. The technician found the code and informed the contact that the camshaft solenoid needed to be replaced and an oil consumption test was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle had an oil consumption test performed on three different occasions. The contact was informed that the vehicle was down to three quarters of a quart of oil. The contact stated that the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: sr 9-5484491631. The approximate failure mileage was 81,207.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11257728
Engine & cooling

I have a 2012 buick verano with about 115000 miles on it. I have been to several gm dealers with complaints of excessive oil consumption to the point of there being no oil in the car whatsoever and they claimed there was no issue. I went to a third service center and they did over 700 dollars worth of work that needed to be done because of damage to the engine from low oil. General motors customer service denies that there is an issue even though there are recalls for other vehicles with the same exact engine (2.4...

Read the full complaint

Liter 4 cylinder). I do not feel safe with this vehicle knowing there's a possibility of engine failure while I am on the highway. I have service records to prove I've had this work done and I've been to several dealerships. There are also numerous complaints about the same issue I am describing online. I do not understand why this issue hasn't been recalled because it is something that is happening to numerous vehicles and in addition there is a recall out for vehicles made by general motors with the same exact engine as mine.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11252452
Engine & cooling

Excessive engine oil consumption. Need to add more than 3-4 quarts every 2k miles. Note that low level oil light never turns on. At a recent oil change in late july '19 there was ~1 quart of oil in the reservoir when oil was drained. Oil changes have been performed at specified intervals since purchased in july of '15 (~39,900 miles when purchased). Started noticing excessive oil consumption in '17.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11241433
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Car jerks when sitting at stop signs, red light, in congested stop and go traffic. It also hesitates when you initially press the gas and are going under 20 miles per hour. The check engine light doesn't come on and when you take it to the dealership they run diagnostic and can not detect the issue

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11231469
Engine & cooling

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BETWEEN OIL CHANGES

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11228892
SuspensionDriver assistanceEngine & cooling

Excessive oil consumption causing piston rings and pistons to go bad or warning light never appear on dish so that's not working either. I have to get all change every week to every two weeks.

Filed Incident Suspension · Electronic stability control (ESC) · EngineNHTSA 11219463
Engine & cooling

Excessive oil consumption causing piston ring and pistons to be replaced. Oil light never warned of low oil. Excessive carbon buildup led to early maintainence fee of $450.00. Car has only 55000 miles.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11208053
Acceleration & cruise controlBrakesEngine & cooling

I own a 2012 buick verano with only 48k on it, ownership transferred over from my father in law who bought this vehicle brand new. Car hesitates, does not pick up speed after slowing/stopping which we noticed at 36k, burns through a lot of oil- oil light does not go on when low, rear brakes and rotors were already compromised at less than 45k, and just recently lost brakes completely while driving a month ago due to a bad caliper. Car also accelerates sometimes when applying the brake. The brake light has never come on at any point during any of this, though the low windshield washer fluid light comes on even though it is not low. Also downshifts pretty rough.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11197329
Engine & cooling

My 2012 buick verano has stalled out and died several times while driving on highway and when accelerating from stops. My verano has 64,000 miles and is well kept and maintenanced but continues to stall over and over. I have seen several complaints from other 2012 verano owners who have experienced the same problem and have come to the conclusion that gm has sold us a faulty product that can cause death or a serious injury. Being that I am a individual who lives paycheck to paycheck I cant afford to throw money...

Read the full complaint

into a 7 yr old car with less than 70,000 miles that im still making payments on and I hope that gm will be held accountable for selling a faulty, dangerous vehicle that is not safe to be on the road! Please investigate before someone is killed!

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11191152

Buick Verano engine complaints by year

Verano engine problems, every year

Had a engine problem with your 2012 Verano? Tell other owners.

Your experience goes live straight away and helps every owner and buyer who checks this vehicle. Anonymous, free, no account.

Overall, how would you rate it? *

0/4000 · Please leave out names, phone numbers and your full VIN.

By posting you confirm it's your own, honest experience and agree to the rules. Safety defect? Also report it to NHTSA - that's how recalls start.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

Owners helping owners

Know before you drive.

Every experience you share - good or bad - shows on that vehicle's page and helps the next owner and buyer. Two minutes, anonymous.

Share your experience