NHTSA vehicle safety data
2012 Buick Verano Recalls & Complaints
The 2012 Buick Verano has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 106 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Buick dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Buick Verano. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2012 Buick Verano owner complaints
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Buick Verano, describing incidents dated January 20, 2012 to May 5, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Engine 50 complaints
- Air Bags 27 complaints
- Electrical System 16 complaints
- Steering 9 complaints
- Power Train 7 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 7 complaints
Of the 106 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 106 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11735765 · Filed
Rear window shattered while driving. No rock or other damage. I just heard a loud bang and it exploded
ODI #11592534 · Filed
NAV display and radio stopped working black screen blank
ODI #11590837 · Filed
On 2 separate occasions, I have gone through 4 quarts of oil in 2000 miles. No leaks as verified by mechanic. Just excessive burn. The check oil light does not come on to warn you and says I still have 50% oil life but almost bone dry.
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Buick Verano in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Recall Query RQ13-002: Air Bag Non-deployment
Closed July 9, 2014
Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Not Deploy
NHTSA #14V300000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice
Reported June 6, 2014 · General Motors LLC
Potentially affected: 31,520 vehicles
Repair completion: 81.71% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 12261 · Owners notified July 25, 2014 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Safety consequence
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Driver Side Frontal Air bag may not Deploy
NHTSA #13V023000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice
Reported January 24, 2013 · General Motors LLC
Potentially affected: 4,167 vehicles
Repair completion: 86.44% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 12261 · Owners notified February 13, 2013 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Safety consequence
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Notes
This is General Motors recall number 12261 and is an expansion of NHTSA recall 12V-522.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Driver Side Frontal Airbag may not Deploy
NHTSA #12V522000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice
Reported October 31, 2012 · General Motors LLC
Potentially affected: 2,949 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 12261 · Owners notified January 11, 2013
Defect description
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Safety consequence
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Notes
This is General Motors recall number 12261.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other Buick Verano model years
Check your 2012 Buick Verano VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Buick Verano at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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