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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Buick Envision2016–2026

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🏅 LUXURY
Buick Envision
2016–2026
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
1.5/yr · seg. median 0.0
Safety
Moderate
0 inj.
Open Federal Investigation
Engineering Analysis: service brakes
50% of EA investigations historically become recalls
6
Recalls
0
Complaints
2024
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Avoid 2016
11
Years Analyzed
6
Total Recalls
0
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Buick Envision Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2016

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#2 WORST
2017

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#3 WORST
2024

1 recall · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall.

OPEN · EAEngineering Analysisopened Aug 2026NHTSA #EA26006
electronic brake module component failure
Component: service brakes · affects 2024–2026
⚠ Historically, 50% of EA investigations became recalls — an in-depth Engineering Analysis — the most serious stage, just before a recall decision.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 13, 2026.

Buick Envision — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202610——
77
39
64
Caution
202500——
77
54
69
Excellent
202410——
77
67
74
Caution
202300——
77
77
77
Excellent
202200——
77
84
79
Excellent
202100——
77
87
81
Excellent
202000——
77
86
80
Excellent
201900——
77
82
79
Excellent
201800——
77
76
77
Excellent
201720——
70
69
70
Avoid
201620——
70
62
67
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Envision compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 81).

Best: 2021
2021 · 812020 · 802019 · 792022 · 792018 · 772023 · 772024 · 742025 · 692026 · 64

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 70).

Best: 2017
2017 · 702016 · 67

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Envision to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Envision model year.

Which Envision years have the most problems?+

The 2016, 2017, 2024 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2016 Envision leads with 2 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Envision problems?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Buick Envision.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar luxury vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Envision year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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