2012 Buick Verano: engine failure

Filed Jun 10, 2022 · Engine · MN

Technical Service Bulletin #13-06-01-003H (TSB 003H) in regards to GM’s 2.4L engines & excessive oil consumption. This release not only concedes a persistent issue found in at least six GM models, but more importantly fails to acknowledge the serious and fatal risks as a result of the Oil Consumption Defect. As a direct result of GM's known defect, I was left in a dangerous situation. I crossed a divided residential street, engine stalled and the vehicle turned off, stranded in the middle. It is not unreasonable to imagine other similar situations occurring, leaving people directly susceptible to serious injury or death. Here, the dipstick was completely dry. It took two quarts before any oil appeared on the dipstick. The oil light did not illuminate and I was approximately 1500 miles from my next scheduled oil service. The diagnosis: pistons excessively worn from lack of oil, engine failure. My situation is not unique. https://www.carcomplaints.com/Buick/Verano/2012/engine/engine.shtml Sanchez et al v. General Motors LLC, found in favor of the plaintiffs. The issue: the Oil Consumption Defect, found in 2010-13 Equinox & Terrain, both vehicles listed on TSB 003H with the 2012 Verano. https://www.classaction.org/media/sanchez-et-al-v-general-motors-llc.pdf The primary cause: faulty piston rings and defective crankcase ventilation system, leading to excessive oil consumption. The oil monitoring systems are defective. “Reliance on the [system] instead encourages owners to drive with a false sense of security.” “Problems include, but are not limited to: unanticipated engine shutdowns, engine stalls.” “[This] is a substantial safety concern because [failure]… cannot be reasonably anticipated or predicted.” To allow GM to ignore this documented and persistent issue, without further investigation, would be a failure carry out the federal safety agency’s core duty: to save lives and prevent injuries. Thank you.

Filed Oct 1, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 66,000 miles · NC

Vehicle stalled at red light on city street. Vehicle ended up needed 4 quarts of oil which caused a broken timing chain and complete engine replacement. Engine was the 2.4l ecotec, which has bulletins for oil consumption issues. The low oil light did not come on in the vehicle.

Filed Aug 30, 2019 · Engine · 100,000 miles · MA

I have a 2012 buick verano with about 115000 miles on it. I have been to several gm dealers with complaints of excessive oil consumption to the point of there being no oil in the car whatsoever and they claimed there was no issue. I went to a third service center and they did over 700 dollars worth of work that needed to be done because of damage to the engine from low oil. General motors customer service denies that there is an issue even though there are recalls for other vehicles with the same exact engine (2.4 liter 4 cylinder). I do not feel safe with this vehicle knowing there's a possibility of engine failure while I am on the highway. I have service records to prove I've had this work done and I've been to several dealerships. There are also numerous complaints about the same issue I am describing online. I do not understand why this issue hasn't been recalled because it is something that is happening to numerous vehicles and in addition there is a recall out for vehicles made by general motors with the same exact engine as mine.

Filed Mar 29, 2018 · Engine · 76,952 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 buick verano. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact waited approximately one minute before restarting the vehicle. The vehicle restarted and operated normally. The contact also stated that the same failure occurred five other times. The contact drove the vehicle to twins buick/gmc in columbus, ohio where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and the pistons needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 76,952.

Filed Mar 19, 2018 · Engine · IL

Excessive oil consumption due to defective pistons/rings. My oil burns off resulting in dirty sensors, overly dirty exhaust, a poor running engine and constantly having to add oil. The oil itself becomes thick and black very quickly after an oil change. This has resulted in thousands of dollars of needless repairs and oil changes because the root problem was not widely known or addressed. The only repair is piston and ring replacement or engine replacement.

Filed Nov 18, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 12,641 miles · FL

The vehicle is unreliable, unpredictable and dangerous to drive, since you do not have any warning or know when and where the engine will die. The engine died while driving 60 MPH on a two lane highway, leaving only a few seconds to steer onto the shoulder. The car would not restart. This was following an earlier electrical system problem four weeks before in which multiple warning lights stayed on after starting the engine and the transmission would not go into gear (we were told this was caused by the battery being installed over a portion of the wiring harness and eventually cutting the wires). This was repaired by replacing several computer modules and portions of the wring harness. The earlier repair, was double checked by another buick dealership and we were assured that the vehicle was fully repaired and safe to drive. The 60 MPH failure was attributed to a chafed wire shorting out and blowing a fuse. The day following the latest repair the engine died again, while driving 45 MPH. The car would not restart. Before beginning the next repair, the electrical system drained the battery overnight. We were told two days ago, that a new main computer and four coils were replaced. We have been told since then, that the car was ready to be picked up in the morning and then called the next day and was told more test were required. It is now 7 days later, and gm engineers and the dealer are still trying to diagnose the root cause and find a solution. We have been told repeatedly that this is the first auto of its kind, with this problem for a buick verano. Day 28/18, dealer called this morning and told us they have now found a ground fault in the wiring harness. The service manager told us he would want his wife to drive this car. We don't drive it either. *jb ..updated 12/17/13