VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Buick Envision20162026

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

TOP PICK
2018
Buyer Score 87/100
11
Years Analyzed
3
Total Recalls
181
Total Complaints
3
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Buick Envision

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK8yr old
2018
Strong Buy · 87/100
Reliability92/100
Value window77/100
Recalls0
Complaints8
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
#2 PICK7yr old
2019
Strong Buy · 86/100
Reliability87/100
Value window83/100
Recalls0
Complaints13
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES
#3 PICK4yr old
2022
Strong Buy · 83/100
Reliability82/100
Value window85/100
Recalls0
Complaints18
Top issue: ENGINE

Buick Envision Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2017

1 recall · 63 complaints

3 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#2 WORST
2023

0 recalls · 28 complaints

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#3 WORST
2016

1 recall · 18 complaints

Top issue: SUSPENSION

Buick Envision — Year-by-Year Comparison

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

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202600
100
40
79
Excellent
202505
95
55
81
Excellent
2024010
90
68
82
Good
2023028
72
78
74
Caution
2022018
82
85
83
Good
2021118
77
88
81
Good
202000
100
87
95
Excellent
2019013
87
83
86
Good
201808
92
77
87
Good
20171633
64
70
66
Avoid
2016118
77
63
72
Good

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

Known Buick Envision Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
32
SERVICE BRAKES
22
ENGINE
16
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
14
POWER TRAIN
11
SUSPENSION
8
STEERING
8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
7

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

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: 2020 (Buyer Score 95).

Best: 2020

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: 2016 (Buyer Score 72).

Best: 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Envision to buy?+

The 2018 Buick Envision scores highest on our Buyer Score (87/100) — combining a reliability score of 92/100 with a value score of 77/100. It has 0 recalls and 8 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which Envision years have the most problems?+

The 2017, 2023, 2016 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2017 Envision leads with 1 recalls and 63 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?+

The most frequently reported Buick Envision issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

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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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