Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Buick Terraza problems
Owners filed 120 complaints about the 2005 Buick Terraza with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Jan 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (37).
Complaints
120
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system37
- Electronic stability control (esc)22
- Latches/locks/linkages16
- Steering14
- Structure12
- Suspension12
- Service brakes11
- Traction control system9
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Power train7
- Electronic stability control7
- Exterior lighting5
- Air bags4
- Wheels4
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 Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
18
17
6
10
7
12
10
3
6
12
5
7
1
3
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
37 reports2 crashes1 fire
“BRAKES FELT UNEASY STOPPING DID NOT RESPOND RIGHT AWAY SOMETIME HAD TO PULL A SIDE TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. ALTERNATOR DON'T START AT ALL AND ABS LIGHT STAYED ON MOST OF TIME MANY REPAIRS DONE SAME PROBLEM AT DEALER SHIP.”
Electronic stability control (esc)
22 reports
“HELLO, I HAVE A 2005 BUICK TERRAZA CX AWD. MY ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND WHEN IT DID THE VEHICLE STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES ITSELF PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. I COULDN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I STARTED READING UP ON THIS, AND IT APPEARS MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE BEEN HAVING THIS SAME UNSAFE PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS AND NO RECALL IS BEEN DONE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE!!! I'M SURPRISE NO ONE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND BEEN KILLED. I ALSO NOTICE THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES AS WELL TO THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT COME UP WITH EXCUSES TO THE OWNERS LIKE MYSELF. DO SOMEONE HAS TO BE KILLED BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE? I MYSELF IS GOING TO TAKE MY VIDEO I HAD FILMING ON MY WINDSHIELD WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCURRED AND SEND IT TO ALL THE MAJOR NEWS MEDIA GROUPS IN THIS COUNTRY AND PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING MY COMPLAINT, AND HOPEFULLY THE GOVERNMENT MAKE BUICK THE MANUFACTURE DO A SAFETY RECALL ASAP. I CAN'T UPLOAD MY VIDEO BECAUSE IT'S OVER THE MAXIMUM SIZE ALLOWED TO UPLOAD ON THIS WEBSITE.”
Latches/locks/linkages
16 reports2 crashes1 fire
“DURING CRUISE ON HIGHWAY (I-95 IN FLORIDA) WHILE ON VACATION THE LEFT REAR POWER SLIDING DOOR BECAME UNLATCHED AND WARNING CHIMES SOUNDED REPEATEDLY AND INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN ON THIS TRIP THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA IN 2008 REPORT #EA07019 WHICH DETERMINED NO DEFECT WAS PRESENT WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A RECALL. I BEG TO DIFFER WITH THAT ASSESSMENT THERE MOST CERTAINLY IS A PROBLEM HERE, GM ISSUED TSB #07-08-007 AND #07-08-007 A-D WHICH TELLS DEALERSHIPS HOW TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AGAIN IT IS VERY UNSETTLING TO HAVE MY KIDS RIDING IN THE REAR AND HAVING A DOOR UNLATCH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR”
Steering
14 reports2 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2005 Buick Terraza. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, while making a left turn, the vehicle loss motive power and jerked before stalling. The electronic stability warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering angle sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the failure was related to the transmission however, the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.”
Structure
12 reports
“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE REAR DOOR ALARM STARTED SOUNDING AND THE REAR POWER SLIDING DOOR BEGAN TO OPEN. PULLED THE CAR OVER SHUT THE DOOR AND LOCKED IT. *TR”
Suspension
12 reports1 related recall
“AS WE WERE DRIVING HOME IN MAY OF 2014 THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE GRABBED AS IF I HAD APPLIED THE BRAKE,SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS BUT NOTHING HAS CHANGED. IT HAS GRABBED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN,THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH, I REFUSE TO LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE VAN ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE OUR FIVE CHILDREN WITH US BECAUSE WHEN THIS OCCURS IT JERKS THE TO THE LEFT TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.