When vehicle does automatic software updates from gm, it "blows up" the personalization menu. I am in physical therapy now from car seat that automatically went to position 1 when I opened car door. Easy exit had been turned on by update. I had it turned off because it never worked right with memory seats. Now after another update and menu was skewed again. Easy exit turned back on as well as…
2017 Buick Envision electrical problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2crashes
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 20 electrical complaints filed for the 2017 Buick Envision, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Of the 6 model years of Buick Envision we track for electrical problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 20.
Electrical accounts for 25% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Owners report serious electrical problems including unexplained dashboard blackouts while driving, intermittent power door lock malfunctions that trap occupants, and one near-fire incident from sunroof motor overload. Multiple safety-critical failures—infotainment blackouts disabling rear cameras, brake failures coinciding with electrical cutouts, and complete engine shutdowns while moving—suggest systemic electrical issues that dealers and GM have struggled to diagnose or repair.
The 2017 Envision has a troubling pattern of electrical system failures across multiple subsystems. The most dangerous: dashboard and instrument cluster blackouts lasting 5 seconds to over a minute while driving at highway speeds, occurring repeatedly and persisting even after software updates. One owner experienced simultaneous brake failure and dashboard lights-out at deceleration, resulting in a collision. Another reported complete engine shutdown while moving, with no power to restart, hazards, or shift out of Drive.
Power door locks misbehave, with the window lock button accidentally triggering child safety locks that trap occupants and cannot be released via remote or interior handles. Infotainment systems fail intermittently, blanking out backup cameras and warnings that led to two minor accidents. The sunroof motor experienced a high-voltage short that melted internal components and created smoke and burning plastic smell—nearly a fire. Vacuum pump failure caused engine gear explosion and loss of brake assist. Auto Stop won't restart, liftgate actuators fail intermittently, and software updates reset personalized settings without user input, including auto-positioning seat movements. One owner's key fob activated the engine from inside the house. Dealers have been unable to replicate or fix most issues despite multiple visits.
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof Motor Electrical Short
High-voltage power transmitted to sunroof motor, causing melted motor, burnt wiring, smoke, and burning plastic smell. Owner reported near-fire condition requiring emergency stop and tow.
When: Early in vehicle ownership, approximately 90k miles or less based on other complaint patterns
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof popped open spontaneously; Smoke from sunroof motor area; Burning plastic smell; Motor and wiring melted; Hood liner abnormally warm near motor
Repairs/costs cited: $1400 in repairs; melted motor and wires replaced; interior cleanup performed to remove burnt-plastic residue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership investigated and confirmed electrical short
Power Door Lock and Window Lock Switch Interaction
Child safety door locks activate when window lock button is pressed, trapping occupants inside. Pressing lock button with remote while in rear seat locks all doors but prevents unlock from inside or via remote; only front driver door can be manually unlocked from inside.
When: Incident occurred during mid-day nap break
Symptoms owners cite: Child locks activate unintentionally when window lock button pressed; Rear and passenger doors lock but cannot unlock from inside; Door handle non-functional when child locks active; Remote lock does not allow remote unlock when triggered from back seat
Power Liftgate Actuator Intermittent Failure
Power liftgate operates intermittently and fails to lock in manual mode. Dealership suspects actuator failure but cannot diagnose when vehicle operates normally at service.
When: Four occurrences documented within one month
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate does not respond to automatic open/close controls from driver door; Liftgate does not respond to foot swipe under rear bumper; Liftgate fails to lock even in manual operation; Liftgate opens during deceleration when unlocked
Repairs/costs cited: Temporary workaround: cycling vehicle power and adjusting selection knob on driver door; dealership believes actuator replacement needed
Infotainment System Intermittent Failure
Infotainment system fails intermittently, disabling critical safety features including rear camera, side-view camera, and Lane Keep Assist. EPS warning light illuminated during failures.
When: At 90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Infotainment display fails intermittently; Rear camera unavailable; Side-view camera unavailable; Lane Keep Assist disabled; EPS warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic replaced infotainment unit; dealer unable to program new unit after repair
Vehicle Self-Start with Key Fob in Pocket
Vehicle cranks and runs without ignition key in vehicle, triggered while owner's key fob was in his pocket inside the house. Incident discovered when dog barking prompted check on vehicle.
When: At approximately 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle running unattended without key in ignition; Engine crank initiated remotely or without standard key activation
Repairs/costs cited: Owner declined dealer diagnostic due to out-of-pocket cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred owner to authorized dealer; dealer required payment for diagnostic
Instrument Cluster and Infotainment Display Blackout
Dashboard display goes completely dark or becomes very dim during driving, causing loss of instrument cluster, speedometer, fuel gauge, warning lights, and infotainment display. Occurs multiple times during ownership and continues across software updates.
When: Multiple occurrences over 2+ years of ownership; documented as recently as June 2019 after software update
Symptoms owners cite: Entire dashboard goes completely black; Display extremely dim and difficult to read; Instrument cluster lights go out; Speedometer and fuel gauge display disappear; Warning lights go out; Radio display blank; Display blackouts last 5 seconds to 1 minute; Occurs at various speeds including 60+ mph; Occurs during highway and interstate driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owner built troubleshooting log with photos and videos; one owner suspects clock motor spiking computer and rebooting system
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to source issue after 3 visits; GM technicians unable to solve; GM and dealer do not recognize as safety issue
Infotainment System Glitches and Unresponsiveness
Infotainment center goes blank, radio cannot be turned off, system becomes unresponsive to button presses and door opening commands. Issues persist across multiple dealer visits.
When: Multiple occurrences over ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Infotainment display goes blank; Radio cannot be shut off via controls; System unresponsive to button presses; System unresponsive to door opening/closing commands
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer 7 times; owner provided videos to dealer but issue remains unresolved
Vacuum Pump Failure Causing Engine Damage
Vacuum pump failed, causing internal gear to explode and damaging camshaft. Loss of brake assist required extreme force to depress brake pedal. Engine would not restart after shutdown.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal required extreme force to depress; Funny sound when turning off engine; Engine will not start after shutdown; No warning lights illuminated prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to independent mechanic then to Buick dealership for diagnosis; repairs documented as available for inspection
Complete Engine Shutdown While Driving
Vehicle completely shuts off during driving or at low speeds, with loss of all electrical power and inability to restart immediately. Occurs multiple times over 3-month period, creating major safety hazard as vehicle cannot shift out of Drive.
When: 4 occurrences over 3-month period
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown while driving; All electrical power lost; Hazard lights inoperable; Unable to restart immediately; Vehicle stuck in Drive gear; Unable to shift to Park; Power returns after time passes
Automatic Software Update Alters Seat Settings
GM automatic software updates overwrite personalization menu settings, particularly affecting Easy Exit seat memory function and seat heaters, causing unwanted automatic seat adjustments. Owner reports being injured by unexpected seat movement.
When: After June 2019 software update and subsequent update
Symptoms owners cite: Easy Exit feature automatically re-enabled after being turned off; Seat moves to position 1 when car door opened; Seat heater automatically activates on startup despite being disabled; Personalization menu corrupted after software update
Repairs/costs cited: Owner in physical therapy from auto-positioning seat injury
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM performs automatic software updates that reset personalization settings
Gear Shift Lock Failure
Vehicle allows shifting out of Park without key fob present, violating safety interlock design. Related to Takata recall issue.
When: Vehicle already running
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle allows shift out of Park without key fob in car
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall issued
Auto Stop Function Failure to Restart
Auto Stop feature activates but engine fails to restart when needed, leaving vehicle immobilized in traffic. Owner reports related unresolved electrical issues.
When: Stopped at traffic signal
Symptoms owners cite: Engine will not restart after Auto Stop engages; Vehicle immobilized for over 20 minutes
Repairs/costs cited: Owner had to push vehicle into parking lot; vehicle eventually restarted
Brake System Failure with Dashboard Blackout
Brakes failed during vehicle deceleration coinciding with complete dashboard and radio blackout. Owner crashed into vehicle ahead. Issue unresolved by GM Buick.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes failed during deceleration; All dash and radio lights went out simultaneously; Shifter lights went out; Dashboard lights returned same time as brake failure; Vehicle collision resulted
Repairs/costs cited: Brake issue not fixed by GM Buick
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Misidentification
TPMS incorrectly identified which tire had lost pressure, showing rear passenger tire low when rear driver tire was actually flat.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS alert for wrong tire location
Rear Climate Control Blowing Hot Air
Rear air conditioning unit blows hot air regardless of temperature selection or mode settings.
When: Discovered within couple days of purchase in January
Symptoms owners cite: Rear AC blows hot air; Temperature selection has no effect; Mode selection has no effect
Backup Camera and Warning Beeper Intermittent Failure
Backup camera display and audible warning beeper fail intermittently during reversing, resulting in two minor accidents. Dealership has not treated as a problem despite 2+ years of complaints and owner documentation.
When: Intermittent over 2+ years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera display goes out; Warning beeper fails to sound; Both systems fail simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Owner has photos, videos, and handwritten log of occurrences
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner in contact with Buick; dealership has not addressed issue despite documented complaints
Dashboard Display Brightness Insufficient
Instrument panel cluster and integrated center stack display are not bright enough to read during daylight driving.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard display difficult to see during day; Instrument panel brightness inadequate
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Car has electronic child safety door locks activated when using the hard button that typically locks only windows. Wife took a nap in back seat on lunch break at work, didn't realize window lock button was accidentally engaged, locked with remote from back seat while car was running. Door remote would not allow the back doors and passenger door to remain locked and door handles would not…
Brakes failed while coming to a stop causing me to crash into the back of someone. Also all dash and radio and shifter lights went out and came back on at the same time brakes failed. Brake issue still not fixed by GM Buick.
Tire pressure monitoring system, or 'TPMS' notified me of a flat tire. It showed loss of tire pressure in the rear passenger rire, however, the driver rear tire was the one that was flat.
During multiple drives the vehicle completely shuts off when driving or at lower speeds. When this occurs (4 times over the last 3 months) the vehicle has no power or ability to restart creating a major safety issue. You cannot turn on the hazards or anything in the vehicle. The vehicle is still in drive (because you were driving when it occurred) and so you're unable to shift back into park to…
The infotainment center goes blank and at times cant shut the radio off. Restarted car, opening doors and pressing buttons doesn't shut radio off. Car is at dealer for 7th time. Shown dealer videos and they have been unable to figure out source.
Entire dash cluster has gone out. Screen completely black. Including after update in june 2019. Car was in motion, happens at various speeds. Almost cause an accident. Dealer unable to source issue after 3 visits to date in 2019. Gm technicians unable to solve issue. Gm and dealer does not believe this to be safety is and keeps allowing car to be returned to service.
Had electrical trouble with your 2017 Buick Envision?
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 electrical problem on the 2017 Buick Envision?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 7,000 and 33,500 miles, with the median around 27,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,000; a quarter make it past 33,500. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2017/Buick/Envision.
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.