What year Buick Terraza should I avoid?

The 2005 Terraza has the highest complaint index (100) and complaint count (120) of any Terraza year, making it the one to avoid relative to other Terraza model years.

What is the best year for the Buick Terraza?

No Terraza year reaches a Best verdict. The 2007 model year is rated Good, with only 33 complaints and the lowest complaint index (33) among years with reported data.

Are there recalls on the 2005 Buick Terraza?

NHTSA lists two recall campaigns for the 2005 Terraza, one for brake caliper lever slippage and one covering a wheelchair-conversion tie-down defect.

What are the most common problems with the Buick Terraza?

Across all years, brakes are the top problem area with 72 complaints (35%), followed by structure & body issues (59 complaints, 29%) and electrical system problems (54 complaints, 26%).

Is the 2006 Buick Terraza reliable?

The 2006 Terraza carries a Caution verdict, with 54 complaints and a complaint index of 67, better than the 2005 model but worse than the 2007 Good year.

Buick Terraza Best and Worst Years (2005–2008)

The 2005 Buick Terraza is the year to avoid, with 120 complaints and a complaint index of 100, the highest among all Terraza years. The 2007 model is the Good year, with just 33 complaints and an index of 33. No Terraza year earns a Best verdict.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2005

Model years: 4; 2005–2008
NHTSA complaints: 207
Recall campaigns: 3
Crashes reported: 9
Fires reported: 1
Top problem area: Brakes

Terraza Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Buick Terraza problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2005	Avoid	100	120	5	1	2	Brakes	17.5	—
2006	Caution	67	54	4	0	2	Brakes	19	—
2007	Good	33	33	0	0	1	Structure & Body	19	—
2008	No verdict	0	0	0	0	1	—	19	—

Terraza years to avoid: what went wrong

2005 Buick Terraza Index 100 · 120 complaints · 2 recalls

The 2005 Terraza logged 120 complaints, the most of any year, with a complaint index of 100. Brakes were the top issue, at 45 complaints (38%) with a median mileage at failure of 73,500. Electrical problems followed with 39 complaints (33%), typically surfacing much earlier at a median of 35,875 miles, including flickering headlights and voltage regulator failures. Structure & body issues (27 complaints, 23%) and suspension problems (18 complaints, 15%) round out the picture. NHTSA also recorded two recalls for this year, covering brake caliper lever slippage and a wheelchair-conversion tie-down defect. Owners reported crashes tied to brake seizure and unexpected stalling, with five crashes and four injuries logged for the year.

2005 brakes problems →2005 electrical system problems →2005 structure & body problems →

Most common Buick Terraza problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Brakes72 (35%)
Structure & Body59 (29%)
Electrical System54 (26%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires31 (15%)
Steering21 (10%)
Engine19 (9%)
Transmission & Powertrain10 (5%)
Airbags9 (4%)
Other9 (4%)
Fuel System5 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What year Buick Terraza should I avoid?: The 2005 Terraza has the highest complaint index (100) and complaint count (120) of any Terraza year, making it the one to avoid relative to other Terraza model years.
What is the best year for the Buick Terraza?: No Terraza year reaches a Best verdict. The 2007 model year is rated Good, with only 33 complaints and the lowest complaint index (33) among years with reported data.
Are there recalls on the 2005 Buick Terraza?: NHTSA lists two recall campaigns for the 2005 Terraza, one for brake caliper lever slippage and one covering a wheelchair-conversion tie-down defect.
What are the most common problems with the Buick Terraza?: Across all years, brakes are the top problem area with 72 complaints (35%), followed by structure & body issues (59 complaints, 29%) and electrical system problems (54 complaints, 26%).
Is the 2006 Buick Terraza reliable?: The 2006 Terraza carries a Caution verdict, with 54 complaints and a complaint index of 67, better than the 2005 model but worse than the 2007 Good year.