BUICK TERRAZA · model year

2005 BUICK TERRAZA

195 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005BUICKTERRAZA carries 195 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 4 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 TERRAZA is electrical system with 23 filings, followed by electronic stability control (esc) (22) and service brakes (11). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2005 TERRAZA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

195
Complaints
13
Crashes
4
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

195 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)22
SERVICE BRAKES11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN10
STEERING10
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES9
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM9
SUSPENSION7
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)7
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH7
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR7
POWER TRAIN4
WHEELS4
ENGINE4
STRUCTURE3

Recalls (3)

05V28700020/06/2005

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

10V11000019/03/2010

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.

09E00500017/02/2009

STEERING

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN

Recent Complaints

20230103CrashAIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2005 Buick Terraza. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle crashed into a deer. The steering wheel air bag deployed and ripped into pieces. There were sparks and smoke coming from the air bag. The contact did not sustain an injury, and medical attention was not received. A police report was not filed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

20211208STEERING:STEERING WHEEL /HANDLE BAR:YAW/ANGLE SENSOR

The contact owns a 2005 Buick Terraza. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, while making a left turn, the vehicle loss motive power and jerked before stalling. The electronic stability warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering angle sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the failure was related to the transmission however, the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

Mileage: 151,000

20211208POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2005 Buick Terraza. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, while making a left turn, the vehicle loss motive power and jerked before stalling. The electronic stability warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering angle sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the failure was related to the transmission however, the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

Mileage: 151,000

20190521SERVICE BRAKES

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? I MYSELF IS GOING TO TAKE MY VIDEO I HAD FILMING ON MY WINDSHIELD WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCURRED AND SEND IT TO ALL THE MAJOR NEWS MEDIA GROUPS IN THIS COUNTRY AND PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING MY COMPLAINT, AND HOPEFULLY THE GOVERNMENT MAKE BUICK THE MANUFACTURE DO A

Mileage: 134,509

20190521ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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? I MYSELF IS GOING TO TAKE MY VIDEO I HAD FILMING ON MY WINDSHIELD WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCURRED AND SEND IT TO ALL THE MAJOR NEWS MEDIA GROUPS IN THIS COUNTRY AND PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING MY COMPLAINT, AND HOPEFULLY THE GOVERNMENT MAKE BUICK THE MANUFACTURE DO A

Mileage: 134,509

20190521STEERING

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? I MYSELF IS GOING TO TAKE MY VIDEO I HAD FILMING ON MY WINDSHIELD WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCURRED AND SEND IT TO ALL THE MAJOR NEWS MEDIA GROUPS IN THIS COUNTRY AND PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING MY COMPLAINT, AND HOPEFULLY THE GOVERNMENT MAKE BUICK THE MANUFACTURE DO A

Mileage: 134,509

20180806SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES FELT UNEASY STOPPING DID NOT RESPOND RIGHT AWAY SOMETIME HAD TO PULL A SIDE TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. ALTERNATOR DON'T START AT ALL AND ABS LIGHT STAYED ON MOST OF TIME MANY REPAIRS DONE SAME PROBLEM AT DEALER SHIP.

Mileage: 5,000

20180806ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

BRAKES FELT UNEASY STOPPING DID NOT RESPOND RIGHT AWAY SOMETIME HAD TO PULL A SIDE TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. ALTERNATOR DON'T START AT ALL AND ABS LIGHT STAYED ON MOST OF TIME MANY REPAIRS DONE SAME PROBLEM AT DEALER SHIP.

Mileage: 5,000

20180806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BRAKES FELT UNEASY STOPPING DID NOT RESPOND RIGHT AWAY SOMETIME HAD TO PULL A SIDE TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. ALTERNATOR DON'T START AT ALL AND ABS LIGHT STAYED ON MOST OF TIME MANY REPAIRS DONE SAME PROBLEM AT DEALER SHIP.

Mileage: 5,000

20180420STRUCTURE:BODY

POWER SLIDING DOOR ALARM WILL SOUND GOING DOWN THE ROAD SAYING THE DOOR IS AJAR EVEN WHEN DOOR IS LOCKED CLOSED

20180420ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

POWER SLIDING DOOR ALARM WILL SOUND GOING DOWN THE ROAD SAYING THE DOOR IS AJAR EVEN WHEN DOOR IS LOCKED CLOSED

20180220ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK TERRAZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND THE "TRACK SYSTEM" AND "STABILITY" INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE ROGERS DABBS CHEVROLET DEALER AT 1501 W GOVERNMENT ST. IN BRANDON, MS WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE DIAGNOSIS RESULTS WERE UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20170620CrashSERVICE 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.

Mileage: 84,000

20170620CrashSTEERING

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.

Mileage: 84,000

20161003SERVICE BRAKES

AT 90,900 MILEAGE ON MY VAN, I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY STABILITY CONTROL, ABS, AND MY TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WHEN DRIVING AT NUMEROUS SPEEDS, THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD KICK IN, WOULD GRAB AT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND MAKE THE VAN SWERVE TO THE LEFT. ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IT WOULD SAY TO "SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL". THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, AT 20 MPH, AND JUST STARTING TO DRIVE AFTER TAKING A TURN. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME TODAY TO WHERE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKED IN ON DRY PAVEMENT WHILE I WAS GOING LESS THAN 30 MPH. I HAVE HAD MY 4 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED AND HAS SCARED THEM AS WELL AS MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND. THIS VEHICLE IS OUR MAIN FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

Mileage: 90,900

20161003ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

AT 90,900 MILEAGE ON MY VAN, I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY STABILITY CONTROL, ABS, AND MY TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WHEN DRIVING AT NUMEROUS SPEEDS, THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD KICK IN, WOULD GRAB AT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND MAKE THE VAN SWERVE TO THE LEFT. ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IT WOULD SAY TO "SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL". THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, AT 20 MPH, AND JUST STARTING TO DRIVE AFTER TAKING A TURN. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME TODAY TO WHERE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKED IN ON DRY PAVEMENT WHILE I WAS GOING LESS THAN 30 MPH. I HAVE HAD MY 4 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED AND HAS SCARED THEM AS WELL AS MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND. THIS VEHICLE IS OUR MAIN FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

Mileage: 90,900

20161003WHEELS

AT 90,900 MILEAGE ON MY VAN, I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY STABILITY CONTROL, ABS, AND MY TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WHEN DRIVING AT NUMEROUS SPEEDS, THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD KICK IN, WOULD GRAB AT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND MAKE THE VAN SWERVE TO THE LEFT. ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IT WOULD SAY TO "SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL". THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, AT 20 MPH, AND JUST STARTING TO DRIVE AFTER TAKING A TURN. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME TODAY TO WHERE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKED IN ON DRY PAVEMENT WHILE I WAS GOING LESS THAN 30 MPH. I HAVE HAD MY 4 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED AND HAS SCARED THEM AS WELL AS MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND. THIS VEHICLE IS OUR MAIN FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

Mileage: 90,900

20160928ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DISENGAGED WHEN THE VAN HIT A BUMP WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NATURAL AND RESTART IT BUT IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING ORDEAL. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON STREETS TRAVELING 30 MPH.

Mileage: 86,000

20160928ENGINE

THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DISENGAGED WHEN THE VAN HIT A BUMP WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NATURAL AND RESTART IT BUT IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING ORDEAL. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON STREETS TRAVELING 30 MPH.

Mileage: 86,000

20160928STEERING

THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DISENGAGED WHEN THE VAN HIT A BUMP WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NATURAL AND RESTART IT BUT IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING ORDEAL. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON STREETS TRAVELING 30 MPH.

Mileage: 86,000

Compare 2005BUICKTERRAZA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 BUICK TERRAZA have?
The 2005 BUICK TERRAZA has 195 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 4 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 BUICK TERRAZA?
Yes, the 2005 BUICK TERRAZA has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is PARKING BRAKE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 BUICK TERRAZA?
The most-complained component for the 2005 BUICK TERRAZA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 23 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2005 BUICK TERRAZA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.