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What 106 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Buick Verano

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (106)Crash / fire / injury (9)Engine (48)Airbags (27)Electrical system (16)Steering (9)Speed control (7)Transmission & drivetrain (7)Visibility & wipers (6)Brakes (4)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (4)Fuel system (4)

4 of 106 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Aug 10, 2022Engine & 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.

NHTSA ODI 11478617

Oct 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel 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.

NHTSA ODI 11265453

Apr 19, 2018Electrical systemFuel system

OUR BUICK VERANO 2012 DID NOT PASS INSPECTION LAST YEAR. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED, THE DATE AND TIME WENT BACK TO THAT WHEN THE CAR WAS MADE. THE DATE AND TIME WERE ADJUSTED TO TRUE DATE AND TIME. DURING INSPECTION, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WAS ON ALL THE TIME WHILE STATIONARY & IN MOTION. WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE IT A LONG DISTANCE TO CLEAR ITSELF. IT CLEARED & IT PASSED INSPECTION AFTER DRIVING IT FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES. THEN THE NOT EVEN ONE YEAR OLD BATTERY STARTED DRAINING ITSELF WITHOUT REASON BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE ON AUTOMATIC. WE JUMPED IT WHEN NOT HOME AND CHARGED IT WHEN HOME. THIS YEAR IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION SAYING FUEL SYSTEM NOT READY, EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM NOT READY. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CAME ON AGAIN AND DISAPPEARED AFTER DRIVING IT HUNDREDS OF MILES. THERE IS ONLY ONE ERROR MESSAGE NOW ABOUT FUEL SYSTEM. MILEAGE NOW IS 29,449. WE HAVE USED A LOT OF GAS DRIVING IT JUST FOR THE TEST AS IT STARTED WITH 29,065. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT WE HAVE TO DRIVE IT JUST TO CLEAR IT WHILE WE POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT. SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG SOMEWHERE EITHER THE TESTING MACHINE AS IT WAS DOWN THE FIRST TIME WE WENT FOR INSPECTION OR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OF THE CAR. THE INSPECTION FAILURE HAPPENED 02/2017 THE FIRST TIME & 02/2018 & 04/2018 THE LAST TIMES. THE DRAINING OF THE BATTERY HAPPENED BEFORE THE LAST YEAR'S INSPECTION. EVERY NOW AND THEN IT GETS DRAINED AGAIN! WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION BECAUSE WE EXCEEDED THE TIME LIMIT ALLOWED FOR THE FIRST FEE.

NHTSA ODI 11089036

Oct 12, 2016Electrical systemSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

BROUGHT CAR FROM CARMAX THEY SOLD ME A CAR WITH A MESSED UP MOTHERBOARD WHENEVER ONSTAR COMES THROUGH THE CAR IT PUT THE CAR IN CRUISE CONTROL ABOUT 50 OR LESS MPH. IT STAYS ON 24/7 AND NOW ITS DRAINING MY BATTERY AND NOW THE CAR COMPLETELY CUTS OFF WHILE IM DRIVING OR IT WONT EVEN START.

NHTSA ODI 10915498

Working with the data? Download all 106 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Buick Verano verdict →