Is Buick reliable?
53% of the 34 Buicks we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 57/100 — they tend to be in slightly worse shape than average.
34
Buicks inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections57/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100Based on 34 used Buicks we inspected, they tend to be in slightly worse shape than average — average condition 57/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.
What we found
Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
62%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
44%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
41%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
38%
Oil leaks · Automatic transmission
24%
Share of inspected Buicks where each item was flagged.
How they score
Excellent 24%
Good 29%
Mediocre 21%
Poor 26%
Hidden history
What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Buicks.
74%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
0%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
24%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 23%
Compare with another brand:
Cross-shopping? Buick vs Toyota · Buick vs Honda · Buick vs Ford
Buick models we've inspected
Enclave
10 cars · profile soon
Recently inspected:
2015 Buick Regal · 59k mi — flagged: oil leaks, battery condition, charging voltage. Inspected Aug 24.
2009 Buick Enclave · 146k mi — flagged: fault codes recently cleared, oil leaks, worn brake rotors. Inspected Aug 24.
The bottom line
Treat a used Buick as an engine-first inspection, not a body-first one. These cars almost never hide crash repairs, but oil seepage from the engine—and sometimes the transmission—shows up on most of them, with fuel-trim problems and live error codes stacking on. Crawl underneath for wetness before a fresh-looking paint job sells you, then scan the computer. Worn tires are a bargaining chip, not a reason to walk. Do walk if a heavy leak and active codes show up together. Wait for a dry engine with a clean scan; those cars are out there, and that is the only version worth paying for.
FAQ
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What are the most common problems with a used Buick?
Across the Buicks we inspected, the items we flag most often are oil leaks (62%), tires condition & wear (44%), fuel trim out of range (41%).
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Based on 34 inspections · updated Aug 27, 2026
