MODELYEARINDEX

Which Buick Envision years to avoid

Across 6 scored model years, the 2017 model year carries the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Buick Envision Full report
F
Grade 2016–2021
2017 vs model median 3.5×
Model median3× median
Electrical 16
Lights & Visibility 7
Engine 6
Avoid

2017

Best

2018 · 2019

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2016
0.81× 15 C
2017
3.48× 59 F
2018
0.63× 11 B
2019
0.72× 10 B
2020
1.30× 17 C
2021
1.19× 22 C
2022 P
2.92× 42 F
2023 P
2.25× 38 D
2024 P
1.62× 21 C

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2017 F 59 reports · median 16,375 mi

  1. Electrical 16

    The instrument panel cluster and integrated center stack display details are not bright enough and difficult to see during the day. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Lights & Visibility 7

    The headlight illumination on the 2017 buick envision or inadequate. They are dim and lack distance projection even on bright. We can barely see to get up and down the hill of our driveway. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 6

    There is a problem with the exhaust system or maybe not, with a horrendous groaning rattle that occurs within specific parameters. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

1 crash · 4 injuries

2021 C 22 reports · median 24,000 mi

  1. Fuel System 6

    Driving at 45 MPH the vehicle stopped running in traffic. Able to get off road and vehicle would not start. Engine turned over but did not fire. Waited about 10 min. While on phone with dealer and tried again. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 3

    Car shut off in middle of the highway. Couldn’t get it to start. Fortunately there was light traffic. Couldn’t get the car in neutral to push on side of road. Had it towed to a shop and it was a faulty fuel pump module. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 3

    Vehicle engine died in the middle of the road. Would turn over but not start. Seemed like fuel system stopped working owner complaint filed with NHTSA

1 crash

The best year for the Envision

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2018 is the best-scoring Envision model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 84.3 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2018 0.63× 11 B
2019 0.72× 10 B
2020 1.30× 17 C

Recalls

8 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
22V903000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE 2021–2023 740,108
21V421000 AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT 2021 285,622
16V516000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2016, 2017 4,558
18V358000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2016, 2017 895
17V404000 EQUIPMENT 2016, 2017 768
24V710000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2024 527
16V922000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2016 327
17V412000 STRUCTURE 2016, 2017 10

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2017 were reported at a median of 16,375 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Buick Envision years should you avoid?
2017 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Buick Envision model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Buick Envision?
2018 is the best-scoring Buick Envision model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 84.3 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Buick Envision have?
8 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Buick Envision model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2017 Envision
Complaints in window
59
Severity-weighted
77.5
Model median (weighted)
22
vs model median
3.48×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
4
Open investigations
0
Score 15 F