The 2017 draws 1.9 complaints per run and the 2018 1.08, a 1.8-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 50.2% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 70 complaints, typically at 3.1 years.
Buick Envision years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 8 | too new | |
| 2024 | 12 | 11 | too new | |
| 2023 | 26 | 22 | too new | |
| 2022 | 26 | 18 | too new | |
| 2021 | 22 | 19 | too new | |
| 2020 | 10 | 9 | yes | |
| 2019 | 23 | 17 | yes | |
| 2018 | 14 | 13 | yes | |
| 2017 | 76 | 40 | yes | |
| 2016 | 19 | 12 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2017 Envision asks a median $11,499, against $10,998 for a 2018, the next model year: 5% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.
Among the 5 Buick Envision years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2017, 2016, 2019; the three worth hunting are 2018, 2020, 2019.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 16.3% | covered | |
| 1 year | 34.8% | covered | |
| 2 years | 49.8% | covered | |
| 3 years | 60.9% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 73.4% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 80.3% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 85.4% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 93.1% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 97.4% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 49.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 50.2% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 29% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Buick Envision, the early trouble is Electrical System and Service Brakes — reported at around 3.1 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3.1 yrs | 2 | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 3.7 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Engine | 2.9 yrs | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3.4 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Power Train | 3.7 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Steering | 3.6 yrs | — | — | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Air Bags | 2.1 yrs | 3 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Envision's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota RAV4 draws 2.31, the Jeep Wrangler 4.69 and the Honda CR-V 3.7, against 1.41 for the Envision. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the Envision | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 | 168 | 1996–2026 | |
| Jeep Wrangler | 285 | 1986–2026 | |
| Honda CR-V | 207 | 1997–2026 | |
| Tesla Model Y | 100 | 2020–2026 | |
| Mazda CX-5 | 33 | 2013–2026 | |
| Nissan Rogue | 94 | 2008–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Buick Envision reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.41 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which Envision years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2017, 2016, 2019. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2018, 2020, 2019. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Envision problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 3.1 years, followed by Service Brakes.
Will the warranty cover Envision problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 49.8% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 29% of the complaints here.
Is the Envision more reliable than the Toyota RAV4?
Yes: 1.41 complaints per production run for the Envision against 2.31 for the Toyota RAV4.
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