Most common 2005 Buick Terraza problems
Share of the 120 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Terraza complaints by model year
Best Terraza years: 2007, 2006. Years to avoid: 2005. Compare all years →
2005 Buick Terraza recalls (2)
Suspension › Rear
The braun corporation has notified NHTSA about a defect in certain model year 2005-2008 general motors mobility conversion, handicapped accessible low floor minivans. During conversion, the driver or passenger side trailing arm modification May not have been adequately welded.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and will have a supply of retrofit parts available to remedy the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on June 4, 2010. Owners May contact braun at 1-800-488-0359.
Parking brake
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, 'passenger car brake systems.' to meet the standard, the vehicle must not move for five minutes when stopped on a steep hill with the parking brake applied and the vehicle in neutral (n).
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for parking brake lever slippage at each rear brake caliper and replace the caliper if lever slippage is identified. The recall began on November 14, 2005.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2005 Buick Terraza:
Power sliding door opening
Odi has received reports that the power sliding doors opened without command while the vehicle was in motion on model year 2005 and 2006 general motors minivans (Chevrolet uplander/venture, Pontiac montana sv6/montana, Buick terraza, and Saturn relay).some reports indicate that the door May not have been closed and latched before driving away causing the door to reverse (open) at low vehicle speeds.however, other…
Electrical harness damage
The office of defects investigation opened this investigation on November 29, 2005, based on one consumer report to odi and a technical service bulletin issued by general motors.the bulletin, no. 1613174, issued on February 21, 2005, states in part, some customers May report a stall and/or no crank, no start condition after the wipers are used.analysis of the available data indicates that the problem experience…
Power sliding door
Odi evaluated general motors' (GM) data, conducted consumer interviews, inspected and tested my 2005-2007 GM minivans with regard to the alleged defect of a power sliding door (psd) opening while the vehicle is out of park.odi identified a high warranty claim rate.however, these claims are related to various problems associated with doors not properly opening or closing and not specifically to doors opening while…
What 2005 Buick Terraza owners say
Electrical system all 37 →
Dt*: the contact stated the headlights flickered when the vehicle was driven 0-60 MPH. When the vehicle was taken to the sales/service dealer, the problem could not be recreated. The voltage regulator was replaced, but the problem continued. The lights failed to remain bright enough to see well at night. The computer programming was reflashed. The vehicle also had an ongoing issue with the starter, sliding door opening by itself when the vehicle was parked or while idling in park. On one occasion, the child passenger fell out of the vehicle when the door opened. There were no injuries sustained. There was a problem with the steering which resulted in the contact side swiping a mailbox post on the side of the road. At a later date when the vehicle was parked in the garage, the vehicle caught on fire. There were no reports taken by the police or fire department. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick Terraza. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced stalling while driving in inclement weather. The ESC warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that there was a failure with the electrical system; however, they could not diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,953. Updated 06/29/16
Stability & traction control all 35 →
Hello, I have a 2005 Buick Terraza cx AWD. My ABS and traction control lights came on and when it did the vehicle started to apply the brakes itself pulling the vehicle to the left while driving. I couldn't control the vehicle. I started reading up on this, and it appears many other owners of this vehicle been having this same unsafe problem over the years and no recall is been done. This is a very serious issue!!! I'm surprise no one has been involved in an accident and been killed. I also notice this has been reported many times as well to the manufacture and they haven't done anything about it but come up with excuses to the owners like myself. Do someone has to be killed before a recall is done? …
The 2005 Buick Terraza is equipped with a GM stabilitrack system, which combines anti-lock brake, traction and stability control systems. I was driving this vehicle at 60 MPH on a straight road during a dry, sunny day and fully loaded with camping gear, children, their computer games and my wife. The vehicle was pulling a small trailer. In an instant, the van lurched as the brakes engaged on their own. We lost 20 miles per hour in a second. We pitched forward in our seat belts, and the van swerved to the left into the other lane of the interstate. I steered as best I could, but it felt like suggesting a direction more than driving. Everything was mushy and the trailer wanted to keep going. We pitched left and right twice. The panel said that the 'stability control system active.' I managed to steer to the right shoulder and stop. I breathed and pressed on the hazard lights. …
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick Terraza. While driving 5 MPH and attempting to make a right turn, the steering wheel and brake pedal seized. Also, the ABS and traction control indicators illuminated. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a fire hydrant. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (ron smith Buick GMC 1900 auto center drive, merced, ca 95340), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Hello, I have a 2005 Buick Terraza cx AWD. My ABS and traction control lights came on and when it did the vehicle started to apply the brakes itself pulling the vehicle to the left while driving. I couldn't control the vehicle. I started reading up on this, and it appears many other owners of this vehicle been having this same unsafe problem over the years and no recall is been done. This is a very serious issue!!! I'm surprise no one has been involved in an accident and been killed. I also notice this has been reported many times as well to the manufacture and they haven't done anything about it but come up with excuses to the owners like myself. Do someone has to be killed before a recall is done? …
2005 Buick Terraza engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Buick Terraza a good car?
Based on 120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Terraza rates avoid: 2.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Terraza at the same age. It is one of the Terraza years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Buick Terraza?
The electrical system — 37 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about horn. Next are the stability & traction control (35) and brakes (19).
How many recalls does the 2005 Buick Terraza have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2005 Buick Terraza, the most recent from March 19, 2010 (rear). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Terraza?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005. See the full Buick Terraza years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Buick Terraza problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 43,000 miles; 52% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.