2016 Buick Verano

Showing the 2016 Verano Sport Touring. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

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

Fuel economy
24 mpgcombined; city 20–21, highway 29–31; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$13,530U.S. average; Ohio $12,090 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
2over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
59filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2016 Verano. 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 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Verano. 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
Air bags23102
Electrical system15010
Engine7000
Power train7000
Unknown or other7010
Electronic stability control (ESC)4000
Exterior lighting4000
Fuel/propulsion system4000
Seats4010
Steering4000
Lane departure3000
Suspension3000
7 more parts
Visibility/wiper3000
Service brakes2000
Structure2000
Wheels2000
Engine and engine cooling1000
Tires1000
Vehicle speed control1000

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. 2012106
  2. 2013107
  3. 2014101
  4. 201559
  5. 201659
  6. 20179

Every Verano year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Verano 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 16V595000 · reported Aug 11, 2016 · 189 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to May 12, 2016, equipped with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine. The engine fuel line assembly may be misrouted, allowing the fuel line to contact the surface of the engine.

Risk: If the fuel line contacts the engine, the fuel line may wear, resulting in a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line assembly, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 54180.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system: ignition; Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 16V502000 · reported Jul 5, 2016 · 8,367 vehicles potentially affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,063 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2016 Verano, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (455), electrical system (222), engine and engine cooling (108), engine (99), power train (77).

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 Verano.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: compact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Verano
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline21 / 29 / 24
Verano
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboManual 6-spdRegular Gasoline20 / 30 / 24
Verano
Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cylAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline21 / 31 / 24

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