YearToAvoid

2013 Buick Verano Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#3 most-complained of 6 Verano years

The 2013 Buick Verano has 107 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 60, ranking 3rd worst out of 6 model years, earning a "Caution" verdict. Engine complaints (33% share) dominate, alongside 3 recalls covering airbags, electrical systems, and engine oil pan cords.

Complaints
107
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 31 hwy

Top 2013 Buick Verano problems

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

  1. Engine35 (33%)
  2. Electrical System23 (21%)
  3. Airbags18 (17%)
  4. Other15 (14%)
  5. Steering14 (13%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (12%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain13 (12%)
  8. Structure & Body8 (7%)
  9. Brakes4 (4%)
  10. Seat Belts4 (4%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel reportedly locks up or becomes very hard to turn while driving, in one case leading to a collision with a guardrail.
  • Airbags and seat belts reportedly failed to activate during collisions, including a head-on crash that caused rib, knee, and shoulder injuries.
  • Electrical wiring issues reportedly triggered a burning smell followed by a fire inside the rear driver-side door.
  • Owners report the engine unexpectedly revving up while shifting into park, causing sudden unintended acceleration.
  • Continental ProContact tires reportedly bubble or blow out repeatedly, with multiple tires failing on the same vehicle at low mileage.
  • An accidental bump of the dashboard-mounted engine on/off button reportedly shut the vehicle off while driving.
2013 Buick Verano complaints: complaints filed per quarter132012 Q32014 Q32016 Q22017 Q42019 Q22021 Q22023 Q22026 Q2
151 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q2 (13).

2013 Buick Verano recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V516000Jul 27, 2023Airbags767 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232413120.

  2. NHTSA 16V502000Jul 5, 2016Electrical System8,367 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

    Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

  3. NHTSA 14V417000Jul 2, 2014Other2,990 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

    Risk: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

2013 Buick Verano fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
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.

2013 compared with other Verano years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Avoid100106324
2013Caution60107324
2014Avoid80101624
2015Best2058024

All Buick Verano years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Buick Verano reliable?
NHTSA data shows a Complaint Index of 60 for the 2013 Verano, ranking 3rd worst among 6 model years tracked, earning a "Caution" verdict relative to other Verano years.
What is the top problem area for the 2013 Buick Verano?
Engine complaints lead with 35 reports, making up 33% of all complaints for this model year, with a median failure mileage of 20,600 miles.
Does the 2013 Buick Verano have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 Verano, covering a driver-side airbag inflator defect, an electronic park lock lever issue, and an engine oil pan/block heater cord replacement.
How does the 2013 Verano compare to other Verano model years?
The 2013 Verano's Complaint Index of 60 is worse than 2015 (20, Best), 2016 (40, Good), and 2017 (0, Best), but better than 2012 (100, Avoid) and 2014 (80, Avoid).
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Buick Verano?
The 2013 Verano is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined (21 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700.

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.