What 58 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Buick Verano

Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),I am submitting this report to express a serious safety concern with my 2015 Buick Verano, which I believe is unsafe for shorter drivers due to poor visibility and design limitations.I received this car as a gift from my father, but the moment I drove it off the lot, I realized I could not safely operate it. I am 4 feet 11 inches tall, and this vehicle seems designed for much taller drivers. The windshield is too close, and there are several significant blind spots that make it extremely difficult to see vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles around me.To try to fix this issue, we installed four extra mirrors and I used a booster seat, but these adjustments did not resolve the safety problems. I have experienced numerous close calls, including one incident where I nearly struck a pedestrian I could not see until he moved out of the way. Driving this car has become extremely stressful and frightening due to these visibility issues.I have spoken with several friends who are also under 5 feet 3 inches tall, and they reported the same difficulties when driving a Buick Verano. It appears that this model’s visibility design creates unsafe driving conditions for shorter individuals.I request that the NHTSA investigate this design concern to determine whether the 2015 Buick Verano meets safety standards for drivers of different heights, and whether design changes or warnings are necessary to protect shorter drivers.Thank you for your attention to this important safety issue.thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11706686

Sensors and wiring harness corrosion

NHTSA ODI 11654451

My passenger airbag warning lights appears on the dash several times a day stating “Airbag safety issue detected”. This has been going on for several months now.

NHTSA ODI 11654234

My vehicle was rear ended and when the wire connection was detached there was signs of corrosion cause by moisture. The insurance company wont pay for it because the Buick mechanic said this is a common issue with Buick Verano's. When moisture gets into the connectors all instruments on the dashboard goes haywire. it's my belief that this may cause the car to stall and if that happens no power steering or no power breaks.

NHTSA ODI 11609891

The light is on and the warning chime constantly goes off when someone is in the passenger seat. This is a known recall issue yet my VIN is not included. It needs to be fixed at the cost of the manufacturer and not my own.

NHTSA ODI 11580003

Took my car in due to the paint being damaged by normal sunlight just on my hood, roof and trunk lid was told that it looked like it was just scratched, if that was the case wouldn't my whole car looked like that. Heard back from the dealership auto body manager admitting that gm had messed up the clear coat when it came to the dark color vehicles. Said nothing could be done due to it being out of manufacturer warranty and that my extend warranty wouldn't cover it along with the extra care package that was separate that the dealership had offer that I purchased even though it included oxidation protection.

NHTSA ODI 11537029

Radio/Infotainment would turn itself off and then back on while driving and heat/ac would do the same. Then service side detection system alert would come up on screen. Heat stopped working 90% of the time which wasn't safe during winter when I needed the defrost on. Multiple times had to wipe windshield to get condensation off while driving due to no defrost working. Took it to the shop and replaced left sensor due to corrosion (waited a week for the part) and less than a week later the right sensor (waited a month for the part)stopped working. I was then advised if you replaced one sensor the other with fail if not replaced at the same time. How? Why? Because sensors are $755 a piece that's why. I live alone and am the sole bread winner and this made it extremely difficult to get to work. Add on the $2,500.00 to repair. I wouldn't have bothered to repair it but I needed defrost for safety reasons. Ridiculous that these things are married together in a system that isn't protected at all from the elements and the manufacturer is aware of this. Complete rip off and money grab.

NHTSA ODI 11517093

No Incident

NHTSA ODI 11500596

Advanced diagnostics alerts whether someone is sitting in the passenger seat or not. Sensor alerts constantly while driving. If there is a passenger sometimes the airbag light isn't lit notifying the airbag is on. This happens whether the vehicle is in motion or not and has happened many, many times.

NHTSA ODI 11485888

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Verano. The contact stated when she attempted to shift the gear into reverse however the lever would not shift. Once the contact was able to shift the lever, it felt lose. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 101,820.

NHTSA ODI 11479748

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Verano. The contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side air bag warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the cause of the failure might be related to crimped wiring inside the vehicle. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, the contact had not received a response. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11474517

Not sure if this is a safety problem or is just a freak, isolated incident. In either case, I am reporting this since it might impact vehicles other than just my own. I own a 2015 Buick Verano. On Tuesday, April 5, 2022, upon parking my car, I noticed that my driver’s door wasn’t closing correctly. There was a small gap preventing it from closing flush. Upon inspection, it became apparent what was causing the problem: The door lock striker plate had pulled away from the doorframe post to which it was anchored. It was secured by two Phillips head screws. My attempt to tighten same was for naught, the screws kept spinning. Fortunately, the door lock striker plate was still operable since it hadn’t pulled away from the post for more than a fraction of an inch, so my door latch was able to catch on to it, but that fraction of an inch was enough to cause the gap when I closed the door. I took the car the next day to a Buick dealer and they referred me to a nearby body shop. The owner looked at the problem and concurred with my initial assessment. He said that in all his years in the field he had never encountered a problem like that. Fortunately, he was able to get the latch striker to lay flush against the column, but he did say it could happen again. So, coming full circle, as I said up front, I don’t know if this is a systemic problem affecting other Buick vehicles from that year, or if it was just an isolate incident. But I guess recall issues have to start somewhere. Rather be safe than sorry, hence my putting this in you court.

NHTSA ODI 11460234

The Service Side Detection System (SSDS) maintenance light appears on my dashboard and remains unless I cancel it out by pressing the menu button on the turning signal. Both sides of the vehicle cannot accurately detect when vehicles are approaching and passing…the SSDS indicator lights in the side mirrors come on and off randomly. Currently, my left mirror indicator light remains lit even when the vehicle is turned off. The problem started with my fan…it stopped blowing air. I made a stop and when I restarted my vehicle the fan started again. This problem started about 6-8 months ago. Now…it is getting worst…I am getting errors on all my systems when I start my car. Yesterday, I couldn’t turn my car off…finally when I did, I couldn’t start it. I was not able to engage the brake pedal and couldn’t turn over the vehicle. I remote started the vehicle; however, when I tried to actually start the vehicle by pressing the Engine start button it would not turn to green…now, unable to turn over the car completely and again unable to turn off the car I utilized the remote to shut the engine off. This morning, engine turned on and only the SSDS light came on and Theft Detection…fan blower going off and on randomly. A recall is needed.

NHTSA ODI 11425272

THE CAR CONSTANTLY HAS THE SAME ERROR STATING THAT THE AC IS OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPS. EVEN WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNINGS. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SHOWED AN ERROR STATING THAT THE STABLITRAK NEEDED SERVICED. IT THEN JUMPED LANES AND LEFT THE ROAD. I LOST STEERING CAPABILITY AS WELL AND MY SCREEN FOR THE RADIO AND SUCH KEEP BLACKING OUT AND REBOOTING OVER AND OVER.

NHTSA ODI 11413380

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BUICK VERANO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TODD WENZEL BUICK GMC OF DAVISON (1146 S STATE RD, DAVISON, MI 48423, (810) 515-8778) WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 11406917

SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON OUT OF NOW WHERE, BEFORE IT CAME ON A FEW DAYS PRIOR THERE WAS NO ONE INFRONT OF ME, I WAS IN THE FREEWAY RAMP GETTING ON AND IT HAD THE AVOID FORWARD CRASH ALARM CHIME AND POP UP ON THE DASH. DRIVING TO WORK AND THE SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. I'M READING IT'S A VERY VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE BUICK, AND CHEVY PUT OUT AN RECALL ON IT FOR THE CRUZE WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11406428

THE CAR STOPPED, I GOT A BOOST AND IT IMMEDIATELY CUT OFF AGAIN, HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP, THEY STATED IT WAS ALTERNATOR SO I PURCHASED A NEW ONE AND IT DIED AGAIN, PURCHASED A NEW BATERY AND STILL DEAD. THE RECALLS SHOWING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR 2013 AND 2014 BUT I HAVE A 2015

NHTSA ODI 11403303

RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER BLIND SPOT DETECTION DOES NOT WORK AND "SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM" ERROR MESSAGE NOW APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. UPON REVIEW THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE CHEVY CRUZE OF SAME YEAR FOR WHICH CAMPAIGN #N172097060 WAS ISSUED IN APRIL 2019. THE SENSOR MODULE SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED DUE TO POOR DESIGN THAT ALLOWS WATER TO GET IN EASILY. (THE VERANO IS VIRTUALLY THE SAME CAR).

NHTSA ODI 11386323

IT ALL STARTED WITH THE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM. TOLD ME TO HAVE IT SERVICED, AS I WAS ON THE HIGH WAY THE ELECTRICAL STATED GOING CRAZY. GAUGES GOING BACK AND FOURTH CONSTANTLY, RADIO TURNED OFF, FANS TURNED OFF, AND BLIND SPOTS KEPT BLINKING. THE MECHANIC FOUND A CORROSION ISSUE. THEY WERE ABLE TO UNPLUG IT BUT IT ALSO MADE IT SO MY REAR BRAKE LIGHT ON THE RIGHT WOULD NOT WORK (WHICH IS ILLEGAL). IT WOULD COST ME OVER $1,000 TO FIX THIS ISSUE SINCE THE CORROSION ISN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE WAS MADE WITH A FAULTY ITEM GOING OUT OF THE FACTORY THAT WAY. I AM APPALLED IN GM FOR LETTING A VEHICLE GO OUT ON THE STREET THIS WAY.

NHTSA ODI 11384364

THE GEARSHIFT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE IT AROUND TO GET IT TO WORK AND THE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO PUSH BACK IS VERY LOOSE AND THIS JUST HAPPENED LATELY I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S A RECALL ON IT BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH IT SO IT'S EASIER TO PUT YOUR CAR IN PARK

NHTSA ODI 11361374

SERVICE SIDE DETECTION LIGHT CAME ON, BLIND SPOT WARNING LIGHTS MALFUNCTION EVEN WHEN SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF. FROM OTHER REPORTS THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW OF THE SENSOR THAT ALLOWS IT TO CORRODE QUICKLY/EASILY. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL, MANY HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11322114

BLIND SPOT DETECTION SENSORS BECOME CORRODED DUE TO BEING EXPOSED TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN AND AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE SYSTEM CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE SENSORS BECOME CORRODED, THEY COULD ALSO CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE, THOUGH THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME YET. I'VE TWO[2] SENSORS FAIL WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOW THE 3RD ONE HAVE FAILED, WHILE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. BIG DOLLAR FIX THE BUICK IS CLEANING UP ON.

NHTSA ODI 11321743

UPON STARTING THE CAR WE HAVE NO WORKING GUAGES. THE TEMPERATURE AND GAS LEVEL DON'T WORK. AND THE FOLLOWING ERROR MESSAGES SHOW UP ON THE DASH. SERVICE AIR BAG, TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM, FRONT CAMERA, PARKING ASSIST, SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM, AND THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM. THE CAR IT BASICALLY UNDRIVEABLE. THE BLINKERS DO NOT WORK, HEATED SEATS (THOUGH THAT IS MINOR) RADIO STOPS WORKING. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE IS, HOW MUCH FUEL WE HAVE AND HOW FAST WE ARE GOING. THERE IS ONLY 68,800 MILES ON IT. WHEN I CALL THE DEALERSHIP (THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES WITH THE TECHNOLOGY TO LOOK AT THIS AND TROUBLESHOOT) THEY TELL ME IT'S A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS JUST TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THE CAR IS THIS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT I HAVE TO PAY TO DIAGNOSE IT. THEN I FIND OUT JUST TO REPLACE THE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM WILL COST ME LIKE $700. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO FIX THIS BIGGER ISSUE. I'M FORCED TO PAY TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RUN AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER DRIVING AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT'S THIS UNSAFE. I ALSO HAVE A VIDEO I CAN UPLOAD IF NEEDED. BUT FOR NOW I TOOK SCREENSHOTS OF THE VIDEO AND WILL UPLOAD THEM. WHAT CAN BE DONE ON STUFF LIKE THIS? I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, JASON

NHTSA ODI 11320315

CHEVY CRUZE SERVICE SIDE DETECTION MODULE WAS RECALLED. BUICK VERANO USES THE SAME PART. MY BUICK SHOWED SERVICE SIDE DETECTION. THE DESIGN ALLOWS WATER AND SALT TO INTERFERE WITH THE PERFORMANCE. IT SHUT DOWN MY CAR. ENABLED MY ANTILOCK THEFT SYSTEM AND ALL VOLTAGE SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ERRATICALLY. I WAS ADVISED ONLINE BY A BUICK MECHANIC TO UNPLUG THE DEVICE. MY CAR IS DRIVABLE AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PAID EXTRA FOR THE BLIND SPOT DETECTOR. EVEN IF I REPLACE IT THE DESIGN WILL ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. IT IS NOT PROTECTED WHERE IT IS LOCATED AND IT SENDS VOLTAGE ERROR CODES OFF(ALL VOLTAGE CODES) SERVICE AIRBAGS, SERVICE EVERYTHING. I HAVE PICTURES AS PROOF. PROOF OF THE CONVERSATION ADVISING ME TO DISCONNECT IT AND A READ OUT FROM A LOCAL GM DEALER SHOWING EVERY VOLTAGE CODE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11318979

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS UNSTABLE CAUSING AC OPERATION PROBLEMS, FAN MOTOR PROBLEMS, ENGINE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS, REMOTE DOOR SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ALL AT ONCE WHILE MOVING OR STANDING STILL. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS, ROADS, FREEWAYS.

NHTSA ODI 11310934