2019 Buick Envision Problems: 8 Known Issues

On the 2016-2019 Buick Envision LTG 2.0L Turbo, on Gen1 2.0T Envisions, frequent short-trip driving lets excess fuel collect in the crankcase. Owners find the oil level rising above the full mark, a strong gasoline smell in the oil, and a rich-running check engine light. GM addressed it with TSB 18-NA-246, which pairs a PCV valve replacement and oil change with an ECM recalibration. Left alone, the diluted oil loses viscosity and accelerates bearing and timing-chain wear.

On the 2017-2022 Buick Envision, envisions equipped with GM's auto stop/start shut the engine off at lights and stop signs, then restart with a stumble that owners describe as feeling like a misfire. Moving from the brake to the accelerator during the stop cycle can produce a flare followed by the transmission slamming into gear. Complaints are filed as low as about 2,600 miles and no diagnostic codes are set, so dealers routinely find nothing - one owner was told by a sales manager to simply shift into neutral when approaching a stop. Related NHTSA reports describe the auto stop failing to restart at all, and steering assist and radio dropping out during the restart, making this a driveability and safety concern rather than a comfort complaint.

On the 2016-2020 Buick Envision LTG 2.0L Turbo, the 2.0L LTG turbo's air-to-air charge air cooler collects condensate in its lower core. After long drives in rain or high humidity (heavy fog), a hard throttle application can draw the accumulated water into the engine, causing a sudden multi-cylinder misfire (P0300) and a stumble; in cold weather the moisture can freeze inside the cooler, restricting flow and setting underboost codes P0299/P2227. GM issued TSB 18-NA-020 with a charge air cooler replacement procedure specifically for moisture-related MIL complaints. This affects only the turbocharged LTG cars, not the naturally aspirated 2.5L LCV.

On the 2017-2020 Buick Envision, owners report a 'Service Brake Assist' message appearing while driving, immediately followed by a brake pedal that is either rock-hard and requires extreme force, or that goes unresponsive and then sinks to the floor when pumped. Two NHTSA complaints on the 2019 describe this at only about 4,300-4,700 miles. GM TSB 21-NA-107 covers 'Service Brake Assist' messages with the Service Engine Soon lamp and DTC P0557 stored, and attributes them to inconsistent in-rush current on the brake booster vacuum sensor's 5V reference during stop/start crank events.

On the 2016-2020 Buick Envision, envision owners report the steering going completely heavy or the wheel effectively locking, sometimes at highway speed during a merge and sometimes on the restart phase of the auto stop/start cycle. One NHTSA complaint describes total loss of assist lasting about five minutes that only cleared after an engine restart; another describes needing extreme force to regain control at 50 mph. GM TSB 17-NA-340 covers power steering service messages with loss of assist and DTC C056E-5A, and attributes it to the Smooth Road Shake Compensation algorithm in the power steering module software rather than a mechanical rack failure.

On the 2019-2022 Buick Envision, the nine-speed automatic in later Envisions produces a violent intermittent clunk when engaging or shifting in Drive - described by one owner as 'so violent, it shakes the entire car' - with a tendency to slip on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts, appearing around 14,000-15,000 miles. On Gen2 cars the same family of complaints escalates to a 'Service Transmission Soon' message with a total loss of acceleration that feels like the car dropped into neutral. One documented repair required replacing both valve bodies, where the dealer found a nicked O-ring seal during disassembly. GM TSB 21-NA-169 provides diagnostic procedures for 9T45/9T50/9T60 fault codes, and TSB 23-NA-153 documents which shift delays are considered normal.

On the 2016-2020 Buick Envision, a recurring Gen1 electrical failure: the instrument cluster, radio and shifter illumination go completely dark for 5-20 seconds while the vehicle is moving, then come back on their own. NHTSA reports for the 2017 describe the display going 'very dim and sometimes completely out' during reversing, which also kills the backup camera and the rear cross-traffic warnings. Some owners report the blackout coinciding with brake and steering anomalies, suggesting a shared power/ground or body control module fault rather than an isolated cluster defect. Reports span roughly 200 to 90,000 miles with a heavy cluster between 7,000 and 50,000.

On the 2018-2022 Buick Envision, the Envision uses hydraulically damped (fluid-filled) rear lower control arm bushings. These bushings split and weep their fluid, showing as a discolored or wet bushing on inspection and producing a squeak or squawk noise over bumps plus a loose, unsettled feel from the rear end. GM issued TSB 22-NA-211 specifically directing replacement of the rear lower control arm bushings when found discolored or leaking, and TSB 20-NA-108 addresses the related squeak/squawk noise over bumps. Because the leak looks like an oily film, it is often mistaken for a shock absorber leak.