YearToAvoid

2012 Buick Verano Engine Problems

Engine complaints account for 54 of 106 total complaints filed on the 2012 Buick Verano, or 51% of all issues reported that year. The dominant pattern is sudden stalling at highway speed, with median mileage at failure around 65,000. NHTSA lists no related recall for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
54
51% of 106
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
65,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the engine suddenly stalling at highway speeds around 65-70 mph with no warning, sometimes leaving the dashboard dark and no power steering assist.
  • Several complaints describe the car losing power at lower speeds too, including while braking, slowing to a stop, or backing out of a parking spot.
  • Some owners say the stall recurs intermittently over weeks or months, and dealers are often unable to replicate or diagnose the cause during inspection.
  • A few complaints mention the check engine light coming on before or during a stall, with one owner citing an onboard diagnostic code related to the timing system.
  • One complaint describes unintended acceleration behavior tied to the engine that resulted in a low-speed crash into a pole.
  • One report links a stall to an electrical fault, described as a frayed wire that blew a fuse and cut engine power on the highway.

When 2012 Buick Verano engine complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 13, 2012, latest May 26, 2024.

2012 Buick Verano engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2012Sep 2014Oct 2016Oct 2018May 2019May 2020Nov 2021Apr 2023
54 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2012 to May 2024; peak Mar 2018 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2012 Buick Verano

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Verano model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201254 (51%)
  2. 201335 (33%)
  3. 201423 (23%)
  4. 20155 (9%)
  5. 20169 (15%)
  6. 20171 (11%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2012 Buick Verano?
NHTSA lists 54 engine complaints out of 106 total complaints for the 2012 Verano, making up 51% of all reported issues that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Buick Verano engine stalling issue?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to this engine complaint pattern for the 2012 Verano.
At what mileage do these engine problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine issue is 65,000 miles, though some owners reported stalling much earlier and others much later.
What is the main engine complaint owners describe?
The most common pattern is sudden engine stalling while driving, often at highway speed, sometimes with the dashboard going dark and no ability to restart immediately.
Did the engine stalling issue cause any crashes?
NHTSA data lists 1 crash associated with these engine complaints and no fires or injuries reported.

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.