Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, electrical, and fuel system. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2021 Buick Envision: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2021's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Buick Envision. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | AWD, FWD | 25–26 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Buick Envision, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The transmission slips out of gear while accelerating. It drops into neutral or the wrong gear, and power stops reaching the wheels. Reports place it at low speeds, from creeping in traffic to the 25 to 35 mph range. Other symptoms include hesitation from a stop followed by a sudden lunge, and lurching when the engine restarts after auto stop. No codes are set, dealers often cannot recreate the problem, and a fluid flush did not help. One report is flagged as crash-related. A separate complaint describes the engine dying in the road and cranking without starting.
Stalling from a failed fuel pump or fuel pump control module is the most serious pattern. The engine shuts off while driving, including on the highway, gives no warning light first, and will not restart. One owner reports the repair cost about $500, and another says the manufacturer would not cover it under warranty. Other complaints describe rear interior lights that turn on by themselves while driving and stay on after shutdown. A blind zone alert also lights up for guard rails but misses real vehicles, and dealers could not find the cause.
The engine quits in traffic without warning, at speeds such as 45 mph and in the middle lane of a busy freeway. It cranks but will not fire, though sometimes it restarts after a wait. Dealers trace the problem to a bad fuel pump control module. A stall gets more dangerous because the electronic shifter will not go into neutral with the engine off, so the car cannot be pushed out of traffic. In one report, trying to restart the engine also shut off the hazard flashers.
The original tires fail early. One blew out at 6389 miles with no tire pressure warning and damaged the wheel, fender, and door. The repair estimate came to $5484.66. That tire had been discontinued, so finding a compatible replacement took time and the owner's rental ran out. Another complaint describes all four Continental ProContact 20-inch tires pitting, delaminating, and shedding rubber. Both owners believe the tires were defective.
Excerpts from complaints Envision owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
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 stop and the engine starts up with my foot still on the brake, sometimes it will lurch and buck. Buick dealer did do a transmission fluid flush and it still does the same thing daily.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
Electircal System, Interior Lighting: Purchased car used 11/05/24. Interior rear lights come on while driving, once started they will not automatically turn off, and remain on when the vehicle is turned off. This incident is the same as NHTSA ID Number: 11607181, dated: 08/03/24.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2024
Car shut off in middle of the highway. Couldn’t get it to start. Fortunately there was light traffic. Couldn’t get the car in neutral to push on side of road. Had it towed to a shop and it was a faulty fuel pump module. Manufacturer won’t honor warranty.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
Driving at 45 mph the vehicle stopped running in traffic. Able to get off road and vehicle would not start. Engine turned over but did not fire. Waited about 10 min. while on phone with dealer and tried again. It started. Able to drive approx. 2 miles to dealer. Dealer says Fuel pump control module is bad. This is a dangerous situation.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2023
245/45 R 20 all four tires are pitting and delaminating and the rubber is falling off. These are Continental pro contact 99 h. Mold number s-908480 and mold number s-50879. With a DOT number of 1lf0fbbxy 4820.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 is tied for the most owner complaints of the 8 Envision years we cover, about 1.5 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2021 is the first model year of the Envision's second generation (2021–2023). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Buick fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Buick updated the Envision for 2024, so a 2021 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2024 (not on a 2021)
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recall repairs are free at any Buick dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.".
Risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Buick Envision, with their own 2021 checklists.
2021 owner complaints, side by side
