This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Buick Verano powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Buick Verano have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 53,500 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Verano | 5 |
| 2013 Verano (this page) | 11 |
| 2014 Verano | 13 |
| 2015 Verano | 4 |
| 2016 Verano | 6 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 11 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Buick Verano, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Buick Verano in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin informs the technician of an alternate lift procedure that has been developed when the lift plate does not fit the top of the transmission case for 6T30, 6T35, 6T40, 6T45, and 6T50 Transmissions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a troubling cluster of powertrain and shift-mechanism failures. Hard shifting occurs at 15–25 mph and 50–60 mph, causing jerking and sluggish acceleration despite dealer diagnostics showing no fault codes. One owner reports elevated idle RPM when the A/C engages, with the engine sitting at 1500 RPM instead of 800, accompanied by loud cooling fans that don't subside.
Shifter problems span mechanical and electrical failures: shift lock release buttons crack, gear shifters become stuck when shifting from Park, and one transmission locked in Reverse after a Check Engine light. A few owners report unintended gear selection—one passenger accidentally switched the transmission to manual at highway speed due to the console lever's proximity to the front seats. A key stuck in the ignition prevented vehicle shutdown and Park engagement. One owner reports the vehicle rolled backward out of a driveway; another notes unintended downshifting at 70 mph following a highway bump.
Several owners report dealers either refusing diagnosis (citing clean diagnostic scans) or offering only partial repairs. The manufacturer has sometimes declined recalls but paid partial repair costs in at least one case. Failures have occurred across a wide mileage range, from 20,000 to 100,000 miles.
Same Buick Verano powertrain reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Hard shifting / rough gear engagement
Transmission exhibits delayed or forceful shifts between gears, causing jerking motion and sluggish acceleration. Occurs repeatedly at specific speed ranges but dealer diagnostics show no fault codes.
When: 15–25 mph and 50–60 mph; also reported between 8–17k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hard shift between gears; Jerking during acceleration; Sluggish acceleration; Engine rev spike during downshift after highway bump
Repairs/costs cited: Attempted fix resulted in 2-month symptom relief before recurring; no permanent resolution documented
Elevated idle RPM and cooling fan noise
Engine idles at 1500 RPM instead of normal 800 RPM when A/C compressor engages, with abnormally loud cooling fans and labored engine sound. Condition persists for 10+ minutes without returning to normal idle.
When: Upon A/C system engagement after remote start
Symptoms owners cite: Idle RPM rises from 800 to 1500 RPM; Loud cooling fan noise; Labored engine sound; High idle does not decrease after 10+ minutes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer refused repair citing negative diagnostic result
Shift lock release button fracture
Plastic shift lock release button on gear shifter fractured, preventing shift into Park without use of workaround tool. Occurs mid-drive with no impact or known cause.
When: ~60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shift lock release button fractured; Unable to shift into Park without tool; Able to shift to Neutral
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed gear shifter replacement needed; dealer notified but vehicle not repaired
Unintended manual mode engagement
Console-mounted shift lever easily shifted to manual transmission mode by passenger movement or nearby objects (coat, purse) during highway speeds, with no physical guard preventing accidental activation.
When: Highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission unexpectedly switched to manual mode; Engine racing while vehicle slowed; Lever easily moved by passenger activity in close quarters
Key stuck in ignition
Ignition key becomes mechanically stuck and cannot be removed while vehicle is running or in Drive/Neutral. Prevents Park engagement and vehicle shutdown. Owner identified similar issue on Chevy Malibu via online forums.
When: Multiple occurrences; February 21, 2019 valet incident
Symptoms owners cite: Key stuck in ignition; Cannot remove key from ignition; Vehicle stuck in Drive/Neutral, unable to shift to Park
Repairs/costs cited: Owner used YouTube technique (similar to Chevy Malibu fix) to remove key; valet unable to resolve
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner believes vehicle may be covered by recall numbers 50490 and 50491
Transmission stuck in Reverse, Check Engine light
During acceleration from stop, Check Engine light illuminated and transmission suddenly shifted into Reverse and locked in that gear. Restarting vehicle restored normal operation.
When: ~52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminated; Transmission locked in Reverse gear; Unable to shift out of Reverse until restart
Codes mentioned: Intake cam solenoid fault, Exhaust cam solenoid fault
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced intake and exhaust cam solenoids and updated software
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer software update and solenoid replacement performed after diagnostics
Gear shifter mechanical failure / stuck in Park detection
Gear shifter fails to engage from Park position, requiring multiple attempts to shift. Shifter button also failed. Separate complaint: shifted into Park but vehicle alerts that it is not in Park, with incorrect gear display.
When: ~38,000 miles; ~20,134 miles for Park detection failure
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to shift from Park (requires multiple attempts); Gear shifter button failure; Vehicle alert states gear not in Park despite shifted to Park; Incorrect gear position displayed
Repairs/costs cited: Shifter assembly replacement needed (confirmed at Greater Lowell Buick dealer)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer paid portion of repair after diagnosis at dealer
Vehicle rolls in Drive due to lack of hill-hold engagement
Vehicle parked on inclined driveway in Drive (rather than Park) rolled away when unattended. Driver recovered vehicle by applying brakes and shifting to Park. Dealer advised that all Buick vehicles behave the same way when left in Drive on an incline.
When: ~100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolled away while in Drive gear on incline
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated all Buick vehicles perform the same action in Drive on incline; no repair performed
Unintended vehicle movement (rollback)
Vehicle backed itself out of driveway without driver input and struck neighbor's mailbox. No other details provided.
When: Unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle reversed without driver command; Vehicle rolled backward out of driveway
Transmission downshift lag and engine surge at highway speeds
While traveling at 70 mph over highway bump, warning light illuminated, engine RPM increased sharply as if downshift occurred, and vehicle decelerated noticeably. Warning light disappeared after stopping and checking shifter, which remained in Drive.
When: Highway speeds (70 mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Warning light illuminated; Engine RPM suddenly increased; Transmission appeared to downshift unexpectedly; Vehicle decelerated despite remaining in Drive
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
The contact owns a 2013 Buick Verano. The contact stated that while the vehicle was off on an inclined driveway, the vehicle rolled away. The contact had accidentally not shifted out of the drive gear position. The contact was able to jump back in the vehicle where he pressed the brake pedal and shifted into the park position. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was examined, but not…
On 10/6/2020, I was riding as the front passenger in our 2013 Buick verano. We were traveling on the highway (70 MPH) and hit a bump at the start of a bridge. A warning light illuminated, the engine RPM suddenly increased as if the transmission downshifted, the car decelerated and my wife pulled to the shoulder. We stopped, checked the gear shift and it was still in drive, the warning light…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Buick verano. When the contact attempted to shift the vehicle from the park position, the gear shifter failed. After various attempts, the gear was eventually able to shift into drive. The failure recurred a total of four times. In addition, the contact stated that the gear shift button failed. The local dealer (perry Buick, 6633 e virginia beach blvd, norfolk, va,…
Between 8 & 17 MIL the trans has a deed spot, when the trans catches the car jumps. *tr
Had powertrain trouble with your 2013 Buick Verano?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 Buick Verano?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 30,000 and 89,500 miles, with the median around 53,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 89,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Buick/Verano.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.