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Buick Envision: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Buick Envision problems by model year, from 222 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2022 (59%, 13 drivetrain complaints) and 2023 (42%, 10 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 3 Buick Envision years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2017 (29%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2017 drew the most drivetrain complaints (21 of 44 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Buick Envision year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Envision | too few to score | – | 5 | 19 | – | 5 |
| 2017 Envision | no elevated signal | 29% | 21 | 81 | 3/3 | 4 |
| 2018 Envision | too few to score | – | 4 | 14 | – | 0 |
| 2019 Envision | too few to score | – | 3 | 23 | – | 0 |
| 2020 Envision | too few to score | – | 4 | 11 | – | 0 |
| 2021 Envision | too few to score | – | 11 | 23 | – | 2 |
| 2022 Envision | high | 59% | 13 | 26 | 1/3 | 1 |
| 2023 Envision | high | 42% | 10 | 25 | 2/3 | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Buick Envision years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Buick Envision fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Buick Envision involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2018 | 18V358000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2017 |
4 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2016 | 16V516000 | equipment: other: labels | 2017 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V404000 | equipment | 2017 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V412000 | structure | 2017 |
| Dec 2022 | 22V903000 | exterior lighting: lighting control module: software | 2022–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Buick Envision
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Buick Envision
What are the worst years for the Buick Envision?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Buick Envision years are the 2022 (59% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2023 (42% of relevant complaints, high). 2 of 3 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Buick Envision?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Buick Envision years are the 2017 (29%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Buick Envision have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 3 scored years, 44 of 120 relevant NHTSA complaints (37%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2022 and 2023.
Is the Buick Envision reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 3 Buick Envision years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 37% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Buick Envision?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Buick Envision years we track, out of 5 in total: 18V358000 (May 2018, 2017). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.