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.
Best Years to Buy a Buick Envision
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Buick Envision Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 66 complaints
3 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
0 recalls · 31 complaints
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 recall · 15 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Buick Envision — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 100 | 48 | 82 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 0 | 6 | — | — | 100 | 63 | 87 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 1 | 15 | 6 | — | 87 | 76 | 83 | Caution |
| 2023 | 0 | 31 | — | — | 86 | 86 | 86 | Caution |
| 2022 | 0 | 20 | — | — | 96 | 93 | 95 | Good |
| 2021 | 1 | 19 | — | — | 94 | 96 | 95 | Good |
| 2020 | 0 | 2 | — | — | 100 | 95 | 98 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 0 | 21 | — | — | 95 | 91 | 94 | Good |
| 2018 | 0 | 11 | — | — | 100 | 85 | 95 | Good |
| 2017 | 2 | 66 | 3 | — | 78 | 78 | 78 | Avoid |
| 2016 | 2 | 18 | — | — | 92 | 71 | 85 | 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.
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 98).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Envision to buy?+
The 2020 Buick Envision scores highest on our Buyer Score (98/100) — combining a reliability score of 100/100 with a value score of 95/100. It has 0 recalls and 2 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Envision years have the most problems?+
The 2017, 2023, 2024 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2017 Envision leads with 2 recalls and 66 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
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.