2013 Buick Encore recalls (6)

Every 2013 Buick Encore recall

Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.

• Electrical System · NHTSA 16V502000

  May 7, 2016Electrical System:Ignition

  Problem

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

  Risk

  If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

  Full recall details for 16V502000 →

• Seat Belts · NHTSA 14V488000

  Aug 8, 2014Seat Belts:Front

  Problem

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.

  Risk

  If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014 and will send a second notification when remedy parts are available. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14171.

  Full recall details for 14V488000 →

• Seats · NHTSA 14V446000

  Jul 23, 2014Seats

  Problem

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.

  Risk

  A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.

  Full recall details for 14V446000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 14V298000

  Jun 6, 2014Air Bags

  Problem

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured April 10, 2013, to May 8, 2013, and Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured December 30, 2012, to March 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, an improper weld on the passenger side front air bag inflator may result in the air bag not deploying.

  Risk

  If the air bag does not to deploy in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the front passenger.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick) or 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14211.

  Full recall details for 14V298000 →

• Equipment · NHTSA 14V417000

  Feb 7, 2014Equipment:Electrical

  Problem

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

  Risk

  Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

  Full recall details for 14V417000 →

• Steering · NHTSA 13V105000

  Mar 28, 2013Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar

  Problem

  General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured between December 9, 2012 and December 28, 2012, and equipped with a heated steering wheel. The steering wheel fastener may not have been properly installed. This could cause the steering wheel to come loose or separate from the steering column.

  Risk

  If the steering wheel separates from the steering column while driving, the ability to steer could be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and make any necessary repairs on the steering wheel. These services will be provided at no charge to the customer. The safety recall began on May 21, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13098.

  Full recall details for 13V105000 →

2013 Buick Encore complaints and service bulletins

Owners filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Buick Encore, reporting 4 crashes, 2 injuries. Buick has issued at least 1,627 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.

Most-reported components

• Engine21
• Electrical System8
• Power Train7
• Vehicle Speed Control6
• Air Bags5
• Fuel/Propulsion System4

Service bulletins by component

• Equipment (729)
• Electrical System (306)
• Engine and Engine Cooling (180)
• Engine (129)
• Power Train (113)
• Equipment Adaptive/Mobility (99)

Read Buick Encore owner complaints and bulletins, every year

NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2013 Buick Encore

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in one investigation. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open

Other Buick Encore model years

2014 Buick Encore →

• 2026 (1)
• 2025 (1)
• 2024 (2)
• 2022 (1)
• 2021 (2)
• 2020 (4)
• 2019 (2)
• 2017 (2)
• 2016 (2)
• 2015 (4)
• 2014 (4)
• 2013 (6)

All Buick Encore recalls, every model year