Last updated: 2026-10-10

2021 Buick Envision
RELIABILITY SCORE: 74/100 (GOOD)

2021 Buick Envision Reliability Report

The 2021 Buick Envision rates good for reliability, but owners report fuel pump stalling with no warning and a transmission that slips out of gear.

Recalls

2

Complaints

23

Complaint Rate

5per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$573

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,300–$2,400

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity72/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact80/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity81/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

First year of the second generation and the weakest of nine scored Envision years, with fuel pump stalling reports and two recalls.

Top Issues to Watch

  • POWER TRAIN (5)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)
  • TIRES (2)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Redesign Year

2021 is the first model year of the Second generation (2021).

  • First-year models may have unresolved issues from the new design.
  • Redesigned for the 2021 model year.
  • Refreshed in 2024.
  • 2nd generation Envision (US).

What this means for buyers

First-year models carry more risk — early production issues are common. Consider waiting for the second year if reliability is a priority.

Compare 2021 pricing and recall counts against 2022+ before deciding.

2021: Second generation (2021) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2024: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

Should You Buy the 2021 Buick Envision?

Reliability is good, and this year sits above average among 2021 SUVs. Inside the Envision lineup it is the weakest of nine scored years, though. It is the first year of the second generation. The 2020 model rates better, with fewer complaints and no recalls, while the 2022 rates about the same. Crash protection is strong at 5 of 5 federal stars.

Stalling is the problem to take seriously. Owners describe the engine shutting off while driving, including on the highway, with no warning light and no restart. Dealers traced it to the fuel pump control module. The electronic shifter will not go into neutral with the engine off, so the car cannot be pushed out of traffic. Some owners also report the transmission dropping out of gear at low speeds with no codes set. One tire blew out at 6389 miles with no pressure warning. Two recalls cover exterior lighting, air bags, and the electrical system.

Ask for fuel pump repair records and proof that both recalls were completed. Ask about tire replacement history. A 2020 is worth pricing as well.

Compared to the 2022 Buick Envision, which scored 1 points higher. See also the 2020 Buick Envision for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • +Acceptable reliability score
  • +Low recall count
  • +Below-average complaint rate for SUV

Cons

  • −POWER TRAIN: Transmission slips out of gear while accelerating (5 complaints)
  • −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Stalling from a failed fuel pump or fuel pump control module is the most... (5 complaints)

Compare 2021 Buick Envision With

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 2 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK
  • POWER TRAIN (5)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

2

recalls on record

The 2021 Buick Envision carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

5

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 16.7

LowAvgHigh
Low

Safety Incidents

2

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2021 Buick Envision Recall Details

2 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Buick Envision. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

22V9030002022-12-08

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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."

Consequence

DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

21V4210002021-06-10

AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Consequence

The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

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.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2021 Buick Envision? Check its history first

Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Buick Envision, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2021 Buick Envision NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 16.9%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Buick EnvisionRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$573

Repair Frequency

0.4

unscheduled repair visits per year

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

25–26 MPG

Running cost: $2,850–$2,950/yr

Fuel + repair

22–24 city / 29–31 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
Envision FWD 2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S9)243126$2,300
Envision AWD 2.0L 4-cylAll-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S9)222925$2,400

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Buick Envision.

  • Accelerate gently through 25 to 35 mph and watch for slipping, sudden drops to neutral, or a delayed lunge.

  • Let auto stop shut off the engine at a light and feel for lurching or bucking when it restarts.

  • Ask for service records showing any fuel pump or fuel pump control module diagnosis or replacement.

  • Start the car several times, cold and warm, and walk away if it ever cranks without firing.

  • Drive past guard rails and in traffic, and confirm the blind zone mirror lights only for real vehicles.

  • Switch off the interior lights, drive, and confirm the rear lights stay off and shut off at shutdown.

  • Inspect all four tires for pitting, delamination, or missing chunks of rubber.

  • Scan for stored codes and ask whether the check engine light has come on, including for the evap purge pump.

2021 Buick Envision Common Problems by Component

23 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

5
5
3
3
POWER TRAIN (5)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3)TIRES (2)FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2)VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1)AIR BAGS (1)VISIBILITY/WIPER (1)Other (3)

POWER TRAIN

5 complaintsSafety-related

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.

5 complaints total1 crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 complaints

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.

5 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 complaints

A check engine light ties most of these reports together. One owner needed a new evap purge pump at 37,588 miles. Another waited weeks for a back-ordered part after a code 1098. A third describes a car that cranks but fails to start most of the time. In that case the dealer could not reliably reproduce the fault and was consulting Buick engineers. Mostly these reports involve dealer delays, part shortages, and faults that are hard to diagnose, not one clearly defined failure.

3 complaints total
TIRES (2 complaints)

TIRES

2 complaints

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.

2 complaints total
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2 complaints)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 complaints

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.

2 complaints total
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint
2026-02-18

The contact owns a 2021 Buick Envision. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed on the freeway, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated around a corner, with the floor mat stuck under the pedal. The driver depressed the brake pedal for an extended time, but the vehicle continued accelerating. The driver pressed the park button, which slowed the vehicle, and the driver was able to pull over safely. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the owner was informed about a possible recall. The dealer determined the failure was due to a stuck floor mat and sudden unintended acceleration. The front and rear brakes were replaced along with the floor mat. The floor mat was PN: 84734211. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000. The VIN was not available.

AIR BAGS (1 complaints)

AIR BAGS

1 complaint
2025-08-12

The contact owns a 2021 Buick Envision. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

VISIBILITY/WIPER (1 complaints)

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint
2024-01-22

When driving 2021 Buick Envision, the windshield and side windows do not defrost with HVAC set to defrost mode. Service Climate system is displayed on dash. Vehicle was inspected by dealer finding replacement of HVAC case half housing required on 1/22/24 ( a year ago). GM (OEM) has been in contact but has failed to provide a solution after 1 year of trying to obtain a part from their system. This condition results in immediate fogging condition of all windows without warning presenting a visibility safety hazard for the driver and surrounding vehicles. Sorry GM, but a rag to wipe the window is not a good solution. It has been a year with no urgency from GM to remedy the issue. This is deemed a critical function for safety and GM does not take it seriously.

SUSPENSION (1 complaints)

SUSPENSION

1 complaint
2023-05-15

The contact owns a 2021 Buick Envision. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the contact heard a popping sound coming from the front end of the vehicle, and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the front driver’s and passenger’s side ball joints, and control arms were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred, and the control arms were replaced a second time. Also, while driving the odor of fuel was present inside the cabin of the vehicle and the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel injector and fuel sensor were faulty. The fuel injector and fuel sensor were replaced but the failure persisted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

ENGINE (1 complaints)

ENGINE

1 complaint
2023-12-14

When I push on the accelerator the car hesitates and then surges forward. I took the vehicle to the dealership where they recreated the problem however it was not throwing any codes. After examination they determined that the problem was turbo lag. I was advised to continue driving the car as usual until it throws a code or turbo fails. I believe that the vehicle randomly hesitating could leave you stranded in an intersection with oncoming traffic, and when if surges puts you at risk for a rear end collision. When I asked the service rep what will happen if the turbo fails, she said pull over and call on-star. I'll be traveling through the mountains for the holidays, it worries me that if the turbo fails I could be stuck on the side of the road in winter weather.

Best & Worst Buick Envision Years

Best Buick Envision Years to Buy

Buick Envision Years to Avoid

No Buick Envision years are statistical outliers in our data.

Scores stay between 74 and 82 across 9 scored model years.

Buick Envision Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Buick Envision reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201878/100Good
201978/100Good
202078/100Good
202174/100Good
202275/100Good
202376/100Good
202476/100Good
202582/100Excellent
202677/100Good

Buick Envision Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202677/100-5Good10
202582/100+6Excellent07
202476/1000Good110
202376/100+1Good122
202275/100+1Good123
2021(selected)74/100-4Good223
202078/1000Good010
201978/1000Good023
201878/100—Good013

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2021 Buick Envision reliable?
Yes, overall. It has a good reliability standing and ranks above average among 2021 SUVs. It is still the weakest of the nine scored Envision years, with 23 owner complaints and two recalls. Stalling from fuel pump problems is the main concern.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Buick Envision?
Owner complaints center on the power train and electrical system, with five each. The power train reports involve the transmission slipping out of gear at low speeds. The electrical reports involve fuel pump stalling. Fuel system stalling and early tire failure each drew two complaints.
Does the 2021 Buick Envision have stalling problems?
Some owners report it. The engine shuts off while driving, including on the highway, with no warning light, and it will not restart. Dealers traced cases to a bad fuel pump control module. The electronic shifter will not select neutral with the engine off.
Does the 2021 Buick Envision have transmission problems?
Some owners report it. The transmission drops into neutral or the wrong gear while accelerating at low speeds, and power stops reaching the wheels. No codes are set, dealers often cannot recreate it, and a fluid flush did not help. One report is flagged as crash-related.
Is the 2020 or 2022 Buick Envision better than the 2021?
The 2020 rates better, with 10 complaints and no recalls. The 2022 rates about the same as the 2021, with 23 complaints and one recall. Based on this data, the 2020 is the stronger alternative to price against the 2021.

Don’t buy a 2021 Buick Envision without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2021 Buick Envision

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Buick Envision does best on how many systems draw complaints (81/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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