Reliable Auto DB

2021 Buick Envision reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Buick Envision over 6 years — 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Envision years here — under the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Lighting control module, software and SRS malfunction warning light.

2016 Buick Envision
Photo by Mr.choppers, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

23

Per year

2

Recalls

2

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Fuel and propulsion system (6 of 23), then Electrical system (5) and Powertrain (5). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Envision has 11 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2022 has 25 complaints, 6 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Buick Envision. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall exterior lighting, lighting control module, software 2022-12-08 · NHTSA campaign 22V903000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.
Recall air bags, SRS malfunction warning light 2021-06-10 · NHTSA campaign 21V421000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
Remedy The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.

Complaints by component (23 total)

Fuel and propulsion system
6
Electrical system
5
Powertrain
5
Engine
2
Tires
2
Air bags
1
Back-over prevention
1
Equipment
1
Exterior lighting
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Service brakes
1
Speed control
1
Structure
1
Suspension
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

2202252023520248202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "got a check engine light on, took to dealer was a code 1098, the part is on back order told that it would not be available until middle of may, this happened to me at the end of march, now am learning that GM issued a…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-24
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Buick Envision. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed on the freeway, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated around a corner, with the floor mat stuck under the…"
    Speed control, Service brakes, Equipment · filed 2026-02-20
  • "When I start at a low speed it's like it does not know which gear to go in. You push on the gas and it does not move much and then launches forward. It has done this since I purchased it in April 2025 used.When in auto…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-01-02
  • "11/25/25 DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED, THE TRANSMISION WAS IN DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. THE CAR STOP. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND CONTINUED TO THE FINAL DESTINATION. 3 DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED…"
    Powertrain · filed 2025-11-29
  • "Fuel pump and fuel control module failed. Car will not stay running. Currently at GM dealership. Confirmed and repair cost about $500. No warning lights."
    Electrical system, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-11-26

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Buick Envision SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2021 Buick Envision SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Envision all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (9-speed) All-wheel drive 22 29 25 MPG $2600
Envision front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (9-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 31 26 MPG $2500

Specs and fitment

Second generation (US built), 2021–present
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (2.0L turbo four-cylinder) , 5.3 qt capacity
Tire size 235/55R18 (common)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 22V903000 covers certain 2021-2023 Buick Envision vehicles (with Cadillac CT4 and CT5, Escalade, Silverado, Tahoe, and related GM models) whose daytime running lights may not deactivate when the headlights are on (FMVSS 108); dealers or an OTA update revise body control module software. Recall 21V421000 covers certain 2021 Envision vehicles (with CT4, CT5, Escalade, Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, Yukon, and Yukon XL) whose communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing and diagnostic module; dealers or an OTA update revise gateway software.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Buick Envision Next year 2022 Buick Envision See every Buick Envision model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Buick Envision reliable?

Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Buick Envision over 6 years — 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Envision years here — under the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Lighting control module, software and SRS malfunction warning light.

What are common problems with a 2021 Buick Envision?

The complaints owners file most often name Fuel and propulsion system (6 of 23), then Electrical system (5) and Powertrain (5). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Is the 2021 Buick Envision more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Envision has 11 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2022 has 25 complaints, 6 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Buick Envision been recalled?

The 2021 Buick Envision has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Buick Envision?

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2021 Buick Envision with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Buick Envision get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Buick Envision is 25.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Buick Envision take?

1st gen (2016-2020) 2.0L turbo: dexos1 5W-30 (0W-30 below −29 °C), about 6.0 qt. 2nd gen (2021+) 2.0L turbo: 0W-20, about 5.3 qt.

Does recall 18V358000 cover early Buick Envisions?

It covers certain 2016-2017 Envision vehicles (with other GM models on the same campaign) for a high-pressure fuel pump concern; dealers apply the published remedy.

What generation is a 2022 Buick Envision?

2nd generation (2021 onward). 2016-2020 are 1st generation.