YearToAvoid

2016 Buick Cascada Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 4 Cascada years

The 2016 Buick Cascada is the worst year of the four with data, ranked 1 of 4 with a complaint index of 100 and 22 complaints. Structure & Body issues, mainly the rear window separating from the convertible top, dominate at 45% of complaints.

Complaints
22
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 27 hwy

Top 2016 Buick Cascada problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body10 (45%)
  2. Other7 (32%)
  3. Engine5 (23%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers4 (18%)
  5. Electrical System3 (14%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (9%)
  7. Brakes1 (5%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the rear windshield glass separating or lifting away from the convertible top fabric, sometimes described as coming unsealed at the bottom corner.
  • Some describe the electrical system suddenly shutting the vehicle off while driving, with repeated dealer visits and parts like the battery and turbocharger replaced without fixing the failure.
  • One owner reported the front camera failing at startup, disabling several safety features shortly after purchase.
  • A driver reported a cracked frame discovered during a routine oil change after driving over a curb at low speed.
  • One owner reported the front brakes locking up twice within a two-week period, once on a city street and once on a highway.
  • Paint chipping on the wheel rims was reported alongside the convertible top window separation.
2016 Buick Cascada complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2016Mar 2019Dec 2020Feb 2022Mar 2024Jul 2025Apr 2026
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2016 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2017 (3).

2016 Buick Cascada recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V844000Nov 21, 2016Visibility & Wipers4 vehicles

    Visibility:power window devices and controls

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Cascada vehicles manufactured December 1, 2015, to February 24, 2016. The affected vehicles may have had the original convertible roof control module (CRCM) replaced with an incorrect CRCM, that allows the windows to close automatically when the roof is closed and can allow the windows to be closed remotely from distances beyond 11 meters using the key fob. As such, these vehicles no longer meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."

    Risk: If the windows close automatically or can be closed remotely in ways that do not meet all the requirements of FMVSS 118, the unexpected closure can increase the risk of injury to the passengers.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the CRCM with correct module, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 16126.

2016 Buick Cascada fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Cascada years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Avoid10022123
2017Good3315023
2018Caution6711024

All Buick Cascada years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Buick Cascada a bad year?
Compared with other Cascada years in the data, 2016 ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and 22 NHTSA complaints, mostly tied to Structure & Body issues.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Buick Cascada?
Structure & Body complaints make up 45% of all reports, largely involving the rear window separating from the convertible top, with a median failure mileage of 36,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Buick Cascada have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (16V844000) covers the convertible roof control module on vehicles built between December 1, 2015, and February 24, 2016; GM replaced the module free of charge.
How does the 2016 Cascada compare to the 2019 model?
The 2019 Cascada has a complaint index of 0 and is rated Best, while the 2016 model has a complaint index of 100 and is rated Avoid relative to other years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Buick Cascada?
The 2016 Cascada is rated 23 mpg combined (20 city / 27 highway) by the EPA, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.