The 2005 draws 2.91 complaints per run and the 2007 1.09, a 2.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 57.6% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 41 complaints, typically at 3.2 years.
Buick Terraza years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 24 | 22 | yes | |
| 2006 | 49 | 29 | yes | |
| 2005 | 102 | 35 | yes |
Among the 3 Buick Terraza years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2005, 2006, 2007; the three worth hunting are 2007, 2006, 2005.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 19.4% | covered | |
| 1 year | 35.9% | covered | |
| 2 years | 42.4% | covered | |
| 3 years | 53.5% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 59.4% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 69.4% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 74.7% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 78.2% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 83.5% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 90% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 94.1% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 97.1% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 97.6% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 98.8% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 42.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 57.6% 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 few of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Buick Terraza, the early trouble is Electrical System and Structure — reported at around 3.2 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Service Brakes at 5.4 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3.2 yrs | 2 | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 5.4 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 7.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Structure | 2.7 yrs | — | — | |
| Suspension | 4.3 yrs | — | — | |
| Steering | 5.4 yrs | 4 | 1 | |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2.5 yrs | 2 | 1 | |
| Hydraulic | 2.1 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Terraza's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Sienna draws 6.57, the Honda Odyssey 7.17 and the Kia Carnival 2.83, against 2.03 for the Terraza. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the Terraza | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Sienna | 165 | 1995–2026 | |
| Honda Odyssey | 206 | 1995–2026 | |
| Kia Carnival | 16 | 2022–2026 | |
| Chrysler Pacifica | 98 | 2004–2026 | |
| Chrysler Town and Country | 174 | 1990–2016 | |
| Kia Sedona | 70 | 2001–2021 |
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
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Buick Terraza reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.03 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which Terraza years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2005, 2006, 2007. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2007, 2006, 2005. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Terraza problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 3.2 years, followed by Service Brakes.
Will the warranty cover Terraza problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 42.4% of reported failures fall inside it.
Is the Terraza more reliable than the Toyota Sienna?
Yes: 2.03 complaints per production run for the Terraza against 6.57 for the Toyota Sienna.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.