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Electrical system

2016 Buick Verano Electrical problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2016 Buick Verano's electrical system with NHTSA - 25% of all its complaints, most recently on March 29, 2026. They describe 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Complaints
15
Recalls
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Electrical recalls for the 2016 Buick Verano

Electrical system: ignition

16V5020008,367 vehicles affected

The problem
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
The risk
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Electrical complaints

SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

While driving on the highway there was a random harsh jerk on my car, and I was immediately unable to maintain safe speeds driving nearly causing a serious crash. All of the service lights (Service Parking Assist, Service Power Steering, Service StabiliTrak, and Check Engine Light) should up on the dashboard. Trying to engage the vehicle into drive after parked had a harsh jerk shifting into gear and the accelerator was not working properly (going extremely slower than applied pressure). Mobile mechanic reader...

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coded my vehicle with U0101 "Lost Communication with TCM". After touching that TCM connection all of the service lights randomly turned back off, and the vehicle drove (temporarily) normal. No repairs were performed due to possible recall concerns.

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 11727752
Electrical system

The contact owns a 2016 Buick Verano. The contact stated that the doors of the vehicle were locking and unlocking independently, and the radio failed to turn off as needed. The contact stated that an unknown relay and sensors were previously replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was hacked. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11670260
Electrical systemDriver assistance

The side detection system got corroded as it was exposed to water. My airbags, turn signals, speedometer, cameras, blind spot warnings, etc. went out. This costed almost $2k to replace and get fixed when this could have been avoided if the side detection parts weren't easily exposed to water. Knowing that this could happen again as this is the way the car was manufactured does not sit well with me. It started failing while on an interstate which caused very unsafe driving conditions for me and the drivers around me. This seems to be a common issue with the Buick Verano that has not been addressed in a recall. The warning lights came on as soon as the failure started occurring.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Lane departureNHTSA 11582612
Electrical systemAirbagsDriver assistance

- The side detection module became corroded, blew a fuse and stopped functioning. This was reported in a service bulletin and extended warranty protection for some GM vehicles, but not the Buick Verano. [[redacted]] - This happened while driving. The vehicle would still drive, but lost all gauge functions (No speedometer, tachometer, fuel, or temp gauges). -The side obstacle detection system does not work. -The system also interferes with the passenger side airbag and leaves it turned OFF with a passenger in...

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the seat. These obviously all create a serious safety risk and have not been covered by a recall for this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Lane departureNHTSA 11561719
SteeringSuspensionElectrical system

Power Steering, Brakes, Turn Signals, Monitor Screen. The Cars steering will lock up and pull to the right hand side and the brakes get mushy. This could be deadly to myself and other motor vehicles. It happens suddenly with out warning and if there is a vehicle in the right hand lane, you will crash into it. I am waiting to take it to the dealer but prior to the steering and electrical, I told them on 10/12/21 oil service about the brakes feeling mushy and they said that's the way they're supposed to be. Only...

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other passengers have witnessed the electrical and steering problem happen. At the exact same time the steering goes out the stability trek light flashes on the panel, the media screen goes out and my turn signal (if on) has no audio. I bought the car 3/26/21 @ 44,690 miles. On 10/12/21 I mentioned the brakes and about 2 months after that this electrical/steering problem started happening. It started out as little quirks but has progressively gotten worse. There is not 1 specific thing that seems to trigger the effect, it is variable.

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · Electrical systemNHTSA 11507977
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemAcceleration & cruise control

While driving home from work, my car, lost power a few times. Though, the maintenance malfunction light did come on, it was while the issue was occurring. I mention this because, in the car's manual, it states that the light will come on BEFORE the malfunction takes place. I finally made it home, however, the car did continue to lose power while driving. The next morning I took the car to my mechanic, who experienced the same issues, then did a diagnostic test and found these results: P0011; CAM Position; RCTISATOR...

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BNK 1; TIMING OVER ADVANCE. Today while reading over all of the complaints, it is evident that this is a SERIOUS ISSUE! This malfunction is extremely dangerous and can prove to be fatal, due to losing driving power/car cutting off while driving. I am surprised that this potentially fatal malfunction is not considered to be a recall. PLEASE DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND SET A RECALL I also saw someone's post that stated, there was a Recall and Free replacement on cars with the letters PP within the VIN#, we're NOT BE SOLD or Leased in the US due to a Federation Violation and Restricted code. Somehow, I was sold one of these UNSAFE and BANNED vehicles. How do those who fall into that same category rectify this problem? Thank You for your help.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11435225
Electrical systemDriver assistance

The blind spot detectors stopped working and a warning on the dash appeared saying "service side detection system". This warning pops up every time I turn on the car and the blind spot detectors do not work when I am driving.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · Lane departureNHTSA 11416069
Electrical systemDriver assistanceFuel system

The intake cam solenoid value failed without any warning. No light came on to warn me. The car would not accelerate and almost completely stop. I was entering a very usy interstate I - 20 and the car was stalling as other cars were speeding behind me. I could not accelerate at a safe speed. I made it to an exit. The car shut off . I put gas in because I was on a half tank. I thought it was gas related. I tried to leave the gas station the car cut off again. I had the car tolled to the dealership. I was...

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told they didn't know why that happened. This was very dangerous to me with no warning that something was wrong. I could have been injured. Please explain to me what happen. I consider this a major safety issue. The vehicle was in motion on an interstate and stationary trying to go from a gas station.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Electronic stability control (ESC) · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11269516
Electrical system

SIDE SENSORS HAVE BECOME DISABLED.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11265804
Electrical systemAirbags

Passenger airbag is on when no passenger and seatbelt not buckled. When passenger is sitting with seat belt the airbag is off. Been this way since purchase. Another issue is with thermostat and degrees . Does not show outdoor temperature and also relays the change in thermostat controls in celsius not ferinheight. No option to change .

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11233317
Electrical systemDriver assistanceEngine & cooling

Beginning in may, I started noticing odd declines in accelerations, randomly, even when using cruise control. Then, I almost stalled out on the road & lost power steering. This is dangerous & scary. I took it to the dealership & reported a hard shift from 1st to 2nd gear and my radio shutting off randomly, too. After looking over my car, I was told they could not 'replicate the issue' of losing power, and that they needed a code or an error message & to bring it back when I had that! I guess, it's ok with gm if...

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I'm in an accident (or die) in the meantime, & I was told that the hard shift is just how the car runs. These answers are unacceptable. If a car is dangerous, you don't send a person back out on the road because you can't 'replicate' the issue. Furthermore, a serious hard shift between 1st and 2nd gear is not how a car is made. I believe these are 'canned' statements that are used and taught in hopes that the owner will go away'which I did, but shouldn't have. Then in august my car stalled out twice & I lost power steering and could have been in a serious accident. But now, things are even worse. My radio has cut off again, the hard shift is more obvious, and now my passenger seat says there is someone there when they are not, so it beeps at me. The car is possessed. There is no was it should have this many problems at one time. It seems electrical. Dealership has had it for two weeks. I had a message this time; stabilitrak needs serviced. They again said "can't replicate it", but I was not allowing that answer this time. The car is dangerous. Gm has been sued over very similar issue & some are reporting their fix isn't working & still lose power on the highway. Other 2016 gm cars have this issue. I am researching this & it obvious gm has an on-going dangerous issue & is ignoring it again. How many people have to die? Nhtsa help!

Filed Incident Electrical system · Electronic stability control (ESC) · EngineNHTSA 11124253
Electrical systemAirbagsFuel system

Service tire monitor system, tire pressure system not teading properly, service battery charging system, battery saver active, service power steering, service air bag

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11115888
Electrical systemAirbagsDriver assistance

Service tire monitor system, tire pressure not reading properly, service battery charging system, battery saver active, service power steering, service air bag, radio powers off & on while driving. All light indicators

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 11115114
Electrical systemSeats & seat beltsFire

While car was unattended at night and parked in the driveway, a fire started, apparently under the drivers seat. The fire burned through the seat and into the driver side door, starting at the bottom and continuing up to the window opening. The drivers door would not open the next day and all the windows were completely smoked over so the interior was not visible. We entered the vehicle through the passenger door and discovered the damage. This event occurred during the night of 12/6/17. As of 1/23/18 buick has not determined the cause of the problem and has not offered a settlement but has determined the vehicle is a complete loss. The current mileage is approximately 5,500 miles.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Seats · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11064377
Electrical systemAirbags

Jan 2018, the system airbag light came on while driving took it into the shop and turns out the airbag module itself has to be removed and replaced. How annoying is this on a still fairly new vehicle. Let's keep in mind I just brought it in to the shop dec 2017 for a dead battery because apparently I auto started it to much.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bagsNHTSA 11061181

Buick Verano electrical complaints by year

Verano electrical problems, every year

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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

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