Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Buick Verano owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2012 Buick Verano. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, another vehicle was traveling in the opposite direction and struck the front driver side of the contact's vehicle causing damage to the front end of both vehicles. The air bags did not deploy in the contact's vehicle but in the other vehicle, the air bags did deploy. No major injuries and no one seeking medical attention. The police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed total lost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.
The passenger airbag indicator goes on and off with person in passenger seat. We first noticed this Summer 2023. It has gotten worse. Now a passenger can shift weight slightly one way or another and cause the indicator status to change which disables the airbag. Dealer also confirmed (4/16/24) DTC code B0081(internal malfunction with passenger presence module). I have recently learned there was a warranty extension for this failure (which had expired) which I was unaware of. I now have a vehicle which I feel is unsafe to travel with a passenger! If GM is aware of the problem and the dealer (imperial Chevrolet) has charged me $160 diagnostic fee for a known problem and tells me it will cost approx. $1,800 to repair/replace the sensor and module.
I was in a traffic jam and had a blowout. My airbags didn't go off no accident was able to pull over. Got it towed to get a new tire. Now I took my car in to get the aribag light off and it's $2000 for seatbelt sensor and another sensor from a blowout that's redicilous. The airbags didn't go off. Now I don't have any air bags because of a tire blowout. No damage to the car either. Please help and thank you for your time!
This airbag is supposed to last the lifetime of the vehicle and it has not. On top of it not lasting I am being charged to fix the airbag issue replacement and it is at fault of General Motors for not offering a lifetime lasting airbag.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Buick Verano. While driving 55 MPH, the contact struck a deer and the air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning indicators illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the neck, shoulder, and upper back that required medical attention. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to have the air bag deployment failure diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken for a state inspection, but it could not be inspected due to body damage. The contact also stated that the state inspector stated that the air bag should have deployed when the vehicle struck a deer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was awaiting a call back. The failure mileage was approximately 61,500.
While pulling into my home driveway, when I applied brakes . And the car started to accelerate causing me to hit my other vehicle and then the car proceeded into the side of my house . I just 2 days prior had my car inspected at Firestone, I also just had new brakes and rotors replaced less than 5 months prior, also the airbag light came on earlier that day, I was coming home from Firestone and noticed the car was accelerating and deceleration while driving which was less than 10 mile from my home .
Hit black ice on 2 lane highway, rate of speed about 40 MPH. Car impacted concrete barriers causing the front end to be demolished as well as both front tires to be turned upward. Front and side airbags did not deploy. This car is not on a recall list but perhaps there are more owners out there who have had the same issue with 2012 Buick Verano. I am far from an expert but I assume due to damage on the front end the air bags should have deployed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Buick Verano. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact was involved in a crash and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle struck a pole, spun around, and sustained damages on both sides. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was taken to the hospital and placed in a coma for three days. The passenger received stitches. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 20,000. Updated 6/30/15
I was not paying attention and hit a parked car with the front, right side of my Buick Verano. It messed up my front, right tire and side as well as the other car's left back tire and side. The police came and took a report. The car was towed to bob [redacted], my dealer, in Plymouth, mi. My friend drove me back home. Once I was home rethinking the incident, I realized that no air bag deployed at any time. I went to internet and discovered that Buick Verano 2012 air bags were recalled a year ago. I never received any information about this recall. I have since talked to the GM customer service who said they will make a thorough inspection of the car. This accident took place on July 17, 2014. I have heard nothing about my car. It is still at bob jeanotte's, I think. My insurance, auto owner's, sent me a check for approx. $4,000 to cover the cost of repairs. …
I was driving home around 6: 55 pm going west on 152 when a car coming n the opposite direction headlights blinded me n I went up on the divider in the middle of the road. I felt that I hit the divider so I came off trying to avoid hitting other vehicles n continued driving out of fear. My on star came on letting me know that they knew I had an accident and checking to see if I was alright. I told them I smelled smoke and a funny smell they informed me that smell was from my air bags deploying which they did not. I told them I didn't need help my car was still operable so they informed me to get my air bags checked and hung up. I called home because I was scared and realize my seatbelt had me pinned to my chair and couldn't move. My son had to get me out of my driver seat with force. …
Related recalls
Air bags
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020.
Air bags
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Air bags
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Non-deployment
General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see…
Airbag complaints in other Verano years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 Buick Verano?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Buick Verano, 25% of the model year's 106 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Buick Verano airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-300 (air bags, Jun 6, 2014); NHTSA recall 13V-023 (air bags, Jan 24, 2013); NHTSA recall 12V-522 (air bags, Oct 31, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Buick Verano airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.