YearToAvoid

2016 Buick Envision Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

11/100

#9 most-complained of 10 Envision years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2016 Buick Envision ranks 9th of 10 model years with a Complaint Index of 11 and 19 complaints, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other Envision years. It has 5 recalls, led by Electrical System issues (32% of complaints).

Complaints
19
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
20 city / 26 hwy

Top 2016 Buick Envision problems

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

  1. Electrical System6 (32%)
  2. Brakes5 (26%)
  3. Engine4 (21%)
  4. Other3 (16%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (16%)
  6. Airbags1 (5%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (5%)
  8. Lane Departure1 (5%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (5%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Dashboard and infotainment screens go completely dark when driving from bright sunlight into shade or tree shadows, sometimes requiring the ignition to be cycled to restore them.
  • Multiple safety system warning lights (ABS, stability control, traction control, AWD, airbags) illuminated at once, with the vehicle left at the dealership for an extended repair.
  • Brake pedal depressed to the floorboard without the vehicle stopping at slow speeds in a parking area.
  • Engine stalled unexpectedly while driving around 35 MPH at a traffic light, with no warning lights illuminated, and stalled again after restart.
  • Vehicle failed to start intermittently after being parked, though windows, radio, and door locks still functioned; owner suspected a key-fob communication issue.
  • Sunroof opened on its own overnight while the car was locked and parked, allowing rain to flood the interior.
2016 Buick Envision complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2017Sep 2017Jun 2018Jun 2020Mar 2023Jan 2024
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2017 to Oct 2025; peak Oct 2025 (3).

2016 Buick Envision recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V358000May 31, 2018Fuel System895 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    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.

  2. NHTSA 17V412000Jun 29, 2017Structure & Body10 vehicles

    Structure

    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.

  3. NHTSA 17V404000Jun 27, 2017Other768 vehicles

    Equipment

    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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2016 Buick Envision →

2016 Buick Envision fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
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 Envision years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Best1119522
2017Avoid10081424
2018Best014024

All Buick Envision years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Buick Envision reliable?
Relative to other Envision model years, the 2016 ranks well, sitting 9th of 10 years with a Complaint Index of 11 and a "Best" verdict. It had 19 NHTSA complaints and no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.
What problems does the 2016 Buick Envision have?
NHTSA complaints point mainly to the Electrical System (32% of complaints), followed by Brakes (26%) and Engine issues (21%). Owners reported dash/infotainment screens going dark in shade and intermittent no-start conditions.
Does the 2016 Buick Envision have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Envision, covering the fuel system, headliner, head restraints/tablet holder, brake master cylinder lines, and a tire label labeling error. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2016 Envision compare to other years?
The 2016 Envision (Complaint Index 11) has far fewer reported problems than the 2017 model (Complaint Index 100, "Avoid"), and it ranks near the best years among the 10 model years with data.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Buick Envision?
EPA rates the 2016 Envision at 22 MPG combined (20 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,650.

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.