2016 Buick Envision

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
22 mpgcombined; city 20, highway 26; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$18,290U.S. average; Ohio $17,240 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
5over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
19filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2016 Envision. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Envision. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical system4000
Engine4000
Service brakes3000
Suspension3000
Unknown or other3000
Electronic stability control (ESC)2000
Exterior lighting2000
Air bags1000
Forward collision avoidance1000
Lane departure1000
Power train1000
Service brakes, hydraulic1000
1 more part
Visibility/wiper1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 201619
  2. 201781
  3. 201815
  4. 201923
  5. 202011
  6. 202123
  7. 202226
  8. 202326
  9. 202413
  10. 202510
  11. 20260

Every Envision year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Envision over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

NHTSA campaign 18V358000 · reported May 31, 2018 · 895 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

NHTSA's record and documents

Structure

NHTSA campaign 17V412000 · reported Jun 29, 2017 · 10 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Buick Envision vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement headliner as part of a repair. These service parts might not have had impact energy-absorbing foam blocks attached. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant protection in interior impact."

Risk: If the service parts do not have energy-absorbing foam blocks, there may be an increased risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headliner assembly, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 17275.

NHTSA's record and documents

Equipment; Seats: front assembly

NHTSA campaign 17V404000 · reported Jun 27, 2017 · 768 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Buick Envision vehicles. An accessory NSV Universal Tablet Holder may have been installed incorrectly onto the front seat head restraints, preventing the head restraint posts from fully engaging in the seat back. If so, the head restraints would fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints."

Risk: If the head restraint posts are not fully engaging in the seat back, the head restraint may loosen or dislodge, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the head restraints and tablet holders for the correct installation, reinstalling them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 27, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 17239/17258.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service brakes, hydraulic

NHTSA campaign 16V922000 · reported Dec 21, 2016 · 327 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Buick Envision vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to March 18, 2016. The the master cylinder brake lines may crack and leak brake fluid.

Risk: If there is a loss of brake fluid, braking performance may be reduced or lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the master cylinder brake lines, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 16169.

NHTSA's record and documents

Equipment: other

NHTSA campaign 16V516000 · reported Jul 7, 2016 · 4,558 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Buick Envision vehicles manufactured February 4, 2016, to April 25, 2016. The Tire and Loading Information label may display the incorrect maximum weight information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: Incorrect weight information may cause an owner to overload the vehicle. Overloading may reduce vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected label as necessary, free of charge. The began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 56340.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,036 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2016 Envision, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (418), electrical system (217), engine and engine cooling (117), engine (104), power train (79).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2016 Envision.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Envision
All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic 6-spdPremium Gasoline20 / 26 / 22

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data