AI Damage2018 Buick Cascada: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Buick Cascada filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine and cooling. The maker issued 500 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 11
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 500
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 36% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- Engine: 4 complaints (36% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 48.
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 72.
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 43.
- Structure: 1 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 32.
- Visibility: 1 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 11 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 48 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 72 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 43 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 32 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 182 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 74 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 10 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was knocked unconscious and was able to exit the vehicle with the assistance of emergency services. The contact went to the hospital the next day and was informed she had sustained a broken sternum. A police report was filed.
A squealing sound was coming from the top of my engine and I had low/rough idle and it progressed to a low voltage output and check engine lights. This happened while i was driving on the highway and my speed was eratic and I had to cross 2 lanes to get the next exit.
Vehicle is a 2018 requiring valve cover replacement due to an issue that was recalled on previous years, most recently 2016. Extended warranty was offered for these repairs. TSB Special Coverage N192291620 – Camshaft Cover Replacement (later superseded by N232395320). This should be reviewed for additional recalls.
The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the air intake valve was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired.
PCV Failure at 62,000 miles. GM extended warranty on 2016 models that demonstrated this problem. Appears to be a design flaw and often fails again after repair. $2000 + job to repair
Chirping sound from under hood took to GM dealer, they changed the belt and transitioned and was still chirping. Now say it is pvc/camshaft cover.
The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a whistling sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the intake manifold was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired.
Damage it could cause if flys off while driving could cause an accident for driver or other cars on the road who are hit with window or avoid being hit.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,457 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 31% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Cascada has 13 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 11, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000…
This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
NHTSA lists 500 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Buick Cascada?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (36%), knocking, grinding or other noise (27%), airbags did not deploy (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Buick Cascada?
NHTSA lists 500 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Buick Cascada from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.