Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Buick Envision problems

Owners filed 19 complaints about the 2016 Buick Envision with NHTSA between May 2017 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (4).

Complaints
19
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system4
  2. Engine4
  3. Suspension3
  4. Service brakes3
  5. Electronic stability control (esc)2
  6. Exterior lighting2
  7. Forward collision avoidance1
  8. Lane departure1
  9. Power train1
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  11. Visibility/wiper1
  12. Air bags1
  13. Other / unknown3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20175
20183
20191
20201
20210
20222
20233
20243
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

4 reports
“The lane assists and cruise control does not work and the GM dealership here in Southern Pines, NC can't fix it. They are sending the car back on the street with a 19-year-old girl behind the wheel of a car with electrical issues.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2025Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departureODI 11690958

Engine

4 reports
“Buick Envision 2016 Mileage - 58315 One owner The car has had three events over the last year where it would not start. After the car is driven for awhile and after it's parked and turned off, it will not start. Everything in the car will function (windows, radio, door locks) but there seems to be a disconnect between the key-fob and the device that communicates with it. There is never a warning light or other indication this is about to happen. We tried to jump the car but it has no effect. If we wait twenty to forty minutes it will start on its own. On the third failure, we had the car towed to the dealership where it was purchased. When the car was unloaded from the tow truck it started. The dealership service department ran diagnostics but the error codes were not helpful. They kept the car for ten days and could not duplicate the error.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 3, 2022Electrical system, EngineODI 11487652

Suspension

3 reports
“GM is out of control . I have a front passenger control arm assembly in the shop for 2 months. No update on service part because they have changed the part number as the 2016 is unsafe. I need my service part or a new car . It's unsafe to drive and GM will not provide any update on ETW because there is a safety issue with this part. They already killed over 100 people from the ignition switch problem. Cruise dragged a person under a self driving taxi. Hold them accountable for once. They are an un responsible company. Help me as I have no car and my car is unsafe to drive.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2024SuspensionODI 11568215

Service brakes

3 reports
“This is the second time my brake line has cracked and started leaking brake fluid without any warnings from my dashboard that my brake fluid was low. First time was [XXX] and this time is [XXX] it's only a matter of time before the back ones fail. I hope and pray that I don't be driving cause I don't want to hurt anyone or myself. General motors knows about this problem on the 2016 Buick envision but my vin don't fall under the recall. They only recalled three hundred and something vehicle for this problem out of all the suv they have manufactured. I am not sure if any of the other vehicles in the Gm family is affected by this but in my opinion all of these [XXX] China built vehicle should be recalled for as something as brakes lines defects. I would say put an after market one on your vehicle they may be safer but I am not sure. I will never ever buy another General motors vehicle. They don't care about humans life. Who ever reads this I hope you get your vehicle checked or switch out your brake lines with another brand don't use AC Delco at all. Cheap [XXX] parts. First time my vehicle had only 50000 miles I will stick to ford vehicle their parts lasted on my…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2023Service brakesODI 11560385

Electronic stability control (esc)

2 reports
“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR MY DASHBOARD COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. THE SCREEN WENT COMPLETELY BLACK NO RADIO,CLOCK,DASH DISPLAY. STOPPED, TURN CAR OFF AND RESTARTED STILL DID NOT TURN BACK ON DASH BOARD OR AND RADIO/ NAVIGATION SCREEN. WAITED TILL NEXT DAY TRIED AGAIN STILL NOT SUCCESSFUL BOTH SCREEN COMPLETELY BLACK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 14, 2020Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11328778

Exterior lighting

2 reports
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2017Exterior lightingODI 11025352
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.