Buick Cascada Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Buick Cascada options? We analyzed 4 model years (2016–2019) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Buick Cascada has 52 owner complaints and 1 safety recall across model years 2016–2019. The most reported issue area is STRUCTURE. 2016 drew the most complaints; 2019 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Buick
- Model
- Cascada
- Model years analyzed
- 2016–2019 (4 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 52
- Safety recall campaigns
- 1
- Crash-related complaints
- 1
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2016 (21 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2019 (5 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- STRUCTURE
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
Buick Cascada: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
AverageThe BUICK CASCADA has 52 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. 1 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 52 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 1 federal recall campaign
- 1 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
1 recall foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2016–2019. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 52 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
52 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Pcv failed causing rough idle, etc light and squeezing sound
Rear convertible top window is separating from the convertible top from regular use and could detach and create a safety problem. This is a well known problem on these cars and Buick did not issue a recall and would not fix it. There was nothing in the owners manual about any preventative actions required.
My Buick Cascada is a 2017 model and has 78,000 miles on it. There was a high pitched whistle/squeal type noise I was hearing and was told by the Buick dealership that it is an issue with the PCV valve failing. To replace this it will cost over $2,000 because of the design of where the valve is housed it is part of a much larger piece. In reading commentary on line i discovered that this is a known issue with the Cascada models from various years. Other year models have been granted an extended warranty to cover the repair. I feel that if it is an issue with multiple years then multiple years should be covered under the warranty. I was advised not to drive my car very far with the issue it has with the PCV valve and I rely on it to get to work every day which is an hour drive one way. I am now forced to give up my car or get it repaired and pay the ridiculous amount of money they are charging for a part that should be able to be replaced for much less had it not been part of the valve cover. Thank you
The rear window of this car has separated and when I contacted the manufacturer they indicated a service bulletin was issued but they are not liable for the repair. The window has become more and more separated and I'm using glue to hold it on but it's becoming undrivable due to the risk of it separating while on the road. While this has not yet caused an accident, I believe this is one waiting to happen as many other owners of this vehicle are reporting the same issue. If this would fully separate while on a highway the consequences could be dangerous. This is a chronic manufacturing defect. Buick has indicated the repair would cost between $3,000 and $5,000, which is not possible.
I brought the 2017 Buick Cascada in for repair following rough idle and check engine light. This vehicle only has 46,200 miles. The mechanic put it to the computer and the mechanic found the issue that was ultimately identified as the camshaft cover/pc valve. This part was already replaced in my vehicle when the vehicle had roughly 21,000 miles. It has now broken again and it is a systemic issue with the Buick Cascada. On Google searches, I found similar issues were reported and GM extended the warranty on Buick Cascadas for different years. Both the 2016 and 2019 had a Global Warranty for PCV issues and Camshaft covers. "GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS [XXX] URGENT - DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY Date: February 16, 2023 Subject: [XXX]- Special Coverage Camshaft Cover The mechanic stated, "the built-in PCV system has failed causing a vacuum issue within the engine and requires the entire camshaft cover to need replacement." It is important to note that General Motors produced this vehicle from 2016 to the 2019 model years and that during these years the camshaft cover/ pcv ( part number 25203562) remained the same and did not change , yet the coverage afforded above is only for the 2016 model year and the 2019 model year. The representative at General Motors confirmed that there is no difference in the processes or part or anything between the 2016 , 2017 , 2018 and 2019 Buick Cascada model years as it relates to the Camshaft cover/PCV and was at a lost to understand why two model years were covered and two model years were left out in the cold. It is a safety risk because the car cannot be driven with a broken camshaft cover/PCV.
Vehicle has rough idle upon start up and randomly rough idle/ acceleration. I have a p0-171 code that comes and goes, Mechanic I took to claims the PCV valve is located in side of the valve cover and feel is the culprit for the issues. Very high vacuum inside engine at this point. No whistling like some have mentioned but if you pull the oil fill or dipstick engine wants to quit and you can tell there is a large vacuum. This is a 2017 cascada and seems to align up with all of the issues that were noted in the complaints. Looking for an extended warranty to get this remedied. Thankyou for your time. current mileage is 90k miles
Read 14 more owner reports
The component is the PCV and manifold. Cracks develop in the PCV pressure regulator and manifold creating a situation where excess air was drawn into the engine intake. This caused the engine to run rough and unpredictable. This is a known defect and the 2016 model with the same engine was recalled. The recall, N192291620 only covered the 2016 however the 2017 has the same engine and experienced the same problem. The car was brought to the dealer and they confirmed the problem. The dealer said the only way to repair was to replace the parts, cost for repair approx $2300.
A squealing sound was coming from the top of my engine and I had low/rough idle and it progressed to a low voltage output and check engine lights. I was able to use GM's Special Coverage Adjustment N232395320 Camshaft Cover (for the 2019 Cascada) and Special Coverage Adjustment N192291620 Camshaft Cover Replacement (for the 2016 Cascada) to CONFIRM that I had a broken/cracked PCV. The PCV vent constantly pulled vacuum (was stuck open to atmosphere) and the sound was only relieved by removing the dip stick. I took my car to the Buick Dealership for an official Diagnostic repair order and to contact GM. The dealership did a poor job of communicating the issue but eventually reported that my PCV was leaking. This is a $1800-$2000 repair(I'm outside my warranty period as I'm at 72K miles) that GM only offered $110 to the dealership as cost assistance. The offer does not cover the $170 diagnostic fee. The PCV in the Casada is integrated into the Camshaft cover and requires that then entire cover be replaced for the repair. There is NO part number difference in the Camshaft cover between model years 2016 thru 2019 Cascadas. I believe that the 2017 should be included in the same Special coverage as the 2016 and 2019 model years. This issue has been noted in several Casada forums and is also the same as NHTSA complaint IDs: 11593462, 11587414, 11574318, 11515179. Note: I would like to attach a video of the testing required to confirm the PCV issue per the Special Coverage Adjustments noted above, but it is not in your supported file submissions formats. Please provide me with an email, drop box, etc location and I will forward it.
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Cascada. The contact stated while driving 35-45 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the knock combustion vibration control system had failed. The dealer determined that the valve cover, the PCV valve, the head gasket, and an unknown part needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under an unknown Warranty Program. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 21,318.
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Cascada. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal squealing sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was discovered that the diaphragm inside the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve had ruptured. The part was replaced by the mechanic. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the failure was covered under warranty through the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied the request for a reimbursement since the vehicle was not serviced at the dealer. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 45,928.
Took 2017 Buick Cascada in for repair following whistling noise and stalling while idle. This vehicle only has 42K miles. The mechanic was concerned this could/should be a recall issue due to the low mileage on the vehicle. On Google searches, I found similar issues were reported and GM extended the warranty on Buick Cascadas for different years. Both the 2016 and 2019 had a Global Warranty for PCV issues and Camshaft covers. "GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS [XXX] URGENT - DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY Date: February 16, 2023 Subject: [XXX]- Special Coverage Camshaft Cover The mechanic stated, "the built-in PCV system has failed causing a vacuum issue within the engine and requires the entire camshaft cover to need replacement." The mechanic was unable to do the repair and suggested the vehicle be taken to a GM dealership. It is scheduled for repair at McElveeen Buick in Summerville, SC in the next couple of days. The check engine warning light is on and the vehicle has stalled while idling in traffic. There is a whistling noise resembling a worn belt noise in the right front of the engine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I HAVE NOTICED IN A BUICK THREAD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD A PCV VALVE GO BAD ON 2017 BUICK CASCADA. THE PROBLEM IS BUICK BUILT THIS VALVE INTO THE VALVE COVER,IT CAN NOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT REPLACING THE WHOLE ALUMINUM COVER. THE COVER WAS A SMALL 900.00$ FEE , PLUS ANOTHER 5-600 FOR MECHANIC. SEEMS TO ME THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE PCV VALVES, SINCE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PCV VALVE IS AN IMPORTANT PART TO EMISSIONS AND THE CAR.
Convertible Top Back glass Separation from Top Cover Material. The back glass window separated from the canvas roof, it started in the bottom corner of the glass window.
Rear windshield is delaminating from the frame on the convertible top.
THE FRONT COLLISION ALERT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. IT IS SUPPOSED TO LIGHT UP AND MAKE A SOUND TO WARN THAT YOU ARE APPROACHING ANOTHER CAR TO FAST, IT DOESN'T. THE INDICATOR THAT LIGHTS UP GREEN TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU SHOULD TURN AMBER IF YOU GET TO CLOSE, IT DOESN'T. THIS IS AN OPTION THAT I BOUGHT AS A SAFETY DEVICE OR SOMETHING TO ASSIST IN MY SAFE DRIVING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE TECH SAID THAT PER THE GM TECHNICAL DOCUMENT THAT IT WORKED AS IT SHOULD, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND THE TECH AGREED THAT IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. I HAVE A COPY OF THE SERVICE MANUAL DOCUMENT, NUMBER 3819903, AND MINE DOESN'T PERFORM AT ALL LIKE THE DOCUMENT SAYS IT SHOULD. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN PART BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FEATURE, AS IT STATES ON THE NEW CAR STICKER.
I am reporting the malfunction and separation of the rear window from the cover. This is a safety issue as there is the potential for it to come off while driving and possibly causing an accident. It started small, but has grown to almost 12 inches. I have not yet found anyone who has the capacity (or desire) to fix this. And those that actually want to take on such a project are charging over 5,000! Please help!
The contact owns a 2019 Buick Cascada. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle lost motive power. In addition, the transmission and engine failure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with turbocharger failure. The contact was informed that the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were out of stock and on back order. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty, and the vehicle was 100 miles over the warranty limitation. The contact researched and stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 50,100.
The contact owns a 2019 Buick Cascada. The contact stated that the convertible top rear glass had significantly detached from the top cover material. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the entire convertible top needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 17-NA-216 (Convertible Top Back Glass Separation from Top Cover Material). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,500.
The contact owns a 2019 Buick Cascada. The contact stated that the rear windshield was separating from the convertible top plastic frame. The contact stated that the rear glass was pushing upward and out of the frame. The contact had called a dealer and discussed the failure and was advised that the manufacturer had issued Technical Service Bulletin: 17-NA-216 for the separation of the rear glass of the convertible top. The contact was advised by the service department that the repair would not be performed by the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Buick Cascada. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed during a rainstorm, water started entering the vehicle through the rear windshield. The contact stated that the rear windshield was separating from the seal. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rear window sealant, allowing the rear window to separate from the top material. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: 17-NA-216. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 38,000.
Showing 20 of 52 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Buick Cascada
These pages show model-year patterns across 4 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Buick Cascada, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Buick Cascada has 52 complaints on record across 4 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Buick Cascada has 1 recall campaign in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 1 of the Buick Cascada's 52 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Buick Cascada vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Buick Cascada vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Buick Cascada has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Buick Cascada stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
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Buick Cascada reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Buick Cascada reliable?
Average. The Buick Cascada has 52 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall campaign across model years. A commonly reported issue area is STRUCTURE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Buick Cascada years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2016 (21 complaints), 2017 (15 complaints), 2018 (11 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Buick Cascada problems?
Top reported issues: STRUCTURE (15 complaints); ENGINE (14 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (10 complaints).
Does the Buick Cascada have recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign have been issued for the Buick Cascada. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.