AI DamageBuick Terraza: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Buick Terraza across 3 model years: 207 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Electronic stability control 21% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 17% of all complaints
- 5 Latches, locks, linkages 14% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 12% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 52 complaints (25% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electronic stability control: 44 complaints (21% of all).
- Service brakes: 39 complaints (19% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 36 complaints (17% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 29 complaints (14% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2005–2006
- 3.9 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2006–2008
- automatic, 4-speed 2005–2008
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 207 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 52 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 39 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 29 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 21 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Engine | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 0 | 0 |
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 sparks and smoke coming from the air bag. The contact did not sustain an injury, and medical attention was not received. A police report was not filed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was not deemed totaled by the insurance company.
The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a fire hydrant. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (ron smith buick gmc 1900 auto center drive, merced, [ZIP]), but the cause of the failure could not be determined.
The contact stated that while driving 25 mph on an icy road, the vehicle stalled without warning causing the contact to crash into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
The vehicle was not repaired or inspected for the cause of the steering failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
On 10/14/12, I pulled into a residential drive way to turn my vehicle. I was then hit on the passenger side(t-boned) which impacted the middle of my vehicle. However since the force was so hard to entire right side of my vehicle was damaged.
The vehicle then rolled down into a ditch and landed on its side. No air bags deployed. A police report was filed. Both the driver and passenger sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent garage and was awaiting investigation. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 87,560.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other models of this make
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 2026-11-05.