Is Buick reliable?
53% of the 36 Buicks we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 58/100 — they tend to be in slightly worse shape than average.
36
Buicks inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections58/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100Based on 36 used Buicks we inspected, they tend to be in slightly worse shape than average — average condition 58/100 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
61%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
42%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
39%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
36%
Oil leaks · Automatic transmission
25%
Share of inspected Buicks where each item was flagged.
How they score
Excellent 25%
Good 28%
Mediocre 19%
Poor 28%
Hidden history
What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Buicks.
72%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
0%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
25%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 24%
Compare with another brand:
Cross-shopping? Buick vs Toyota · Buick vs Honda · Buick vs Ford
How long does a Buick last?
Good cars by mileage
Share of Buicks in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.
Buick models we've inspected
Enclave
11 cars · profile soon
Recently inspected:
2008 Buick Lucerne · 87k mi — flagged: smoothness, battery condition, fault codes recently cleared. Inspected Sep 15.
2019 Buick Enclave · 97k mi — flagged: exhaust system leaks, oil leaks, smoothness. Inspected Aug 30.
The bottom line
When you're standing in front of a used Buick, start under the hood and stay there. Engine oil leaks hit most of them, often with fuel-trim issues and live error codes, and a quarter also weep from the automatic. That mix is why plenty score poorly even though none showed structural repairs. Check the tires next. A dry engine, quiet codes, and a dry trans is worth buying; wet and throwing codes means walk or negotiate like you're paying for the repair yourself.
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 (61%), tires condition & wear (42%), fuel trim out of range (39%).
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Based on 36 inspections · updated Oct 1, 2026
