What Buick Encore owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Buick Encore safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2026 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98 |
| 2025 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 217 |
| 2024 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 422 |
| 2023 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 481 |
| 2022 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 603 |
| 2021 | 62 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 675 |
| 2020 | 89 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 655 |
| 2019 | 86 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 669 |
| 2018 | 74 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 899 |
| 2017 | 89 | 12 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 1,120 |
| 2016 | 80 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 1,253 |
| 2015 | 124 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1,461 |
| 2014 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1,569 |
| 2013 | 52 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1,627 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Buick Encore complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Sequential powertrain and turbocharger failure on 1.4L Ecotec engine following $5,700 in prior engine repairs. Vehicle experienced sudden loss of motive power. Component is covered under GM Special Coverage/warranty. Authorized GM dealer (Mike Haggerty Buick GMC) and General Motors have engaged in warranty evasion, refusing repair authorization and unlawfully retaining the disabled vehicle on the dealership lot for over 70 days. Furthermore, the dealership transmitted a false completed repair record to national vehicle history databases (CARFAX) on August 28, 2026, while the vehicle remained disabled and unrepaired on the lot.
While driving my 2020 Buick Encore GX, the vehicle experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of acceleration, immediately dropping into 'Reduced Engine power' limp mode in active traffic, but no other car was Infront or behind my car. A diagnostic scan revealed Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P2138, which triggered the computer's safety override system to cut engine throttle. The official dealer repair invoice confirms a manufacturing and assembly defect covered under GM Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) #07-06-04-019G. The technician located water intrusion Panel/Body Harness Connector X112. The root cause was an improperly seated weather seal from the factory, which allowed moisture to shor…
Engine power reduced all of a sudden on a highway. Turbo went out at less than 45k miles. Turbo was replaced by GM and was told this will occur every 2 years by the dealership. Very unsafe especially driving at highway speeds.
Stabiltrack software jerking my car in a left curve. Took to dealership who seem to find nothing wrong. Reached out to GM with no response or action. Feels extremely dangerous in a left curve unless traction control and Stabilitrack is turned off.
Car erupted into flames while I was driving on expressway fire started in engine bay I have police report
The contact owns a 2021 Buick Encore. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the radio display screen was blank. While reversing, the rear-view camera briefly displayed an image before going blank. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 87,402.
The contact owns a 2019 Buick Encore. The contact stated that the flex pipe was cracked, causing the contact to become ill from the fumes. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor occasionally coming from the engine. No warning light was illuminated. The contact expressed concerns about the safety of driving the vehicle with the fumes entering the vehicle from the flex pipe. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the flex pipe was cracked in half and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
There was no service engine warning light on my dashboard. Pending codes in the pictures below popped up on my diagnostics tool less than 24 hours after buying the vehicle from an Audi Dealer. The engine went into limp mode as you can see from the picture below that shows Engine Power is Reduced. After researching these error codes, I was made aware that this is a common issue on this vehicle ad is should be a recall as it states the engine failure is a very serious issue, especially if it occurs while driving. This could cause fatal accidents.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
This PI is to instruct dealer on diagnostic procedures that need to be completed prior to replacing a radio or IPC display
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
This Preliminary Information provides the dealer information of the location of the rear seat child anchors.
Special Coverage. Certain 2022 model year Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles, equipped with a 1.2L engine, may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail. If this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) will illuminate, and a diagnostic trouble code will set. Additionally, a message may be displayed indicating the vehicleâs available engine power is reduced. This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 15 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was ori
Special Coverage. Certain 2021 model year Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles, equipped with a 1.2L engine, may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail. If this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) will illuminate, and a diagnostic trouble code will set. Additionally, a message may be displayed indicating the vehicleâs available engine power is reduced. This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 15 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was ori
Special Coverage. Certain 2020 model year Buick Encore GX vehicles, equipped with a 1.2L engine, may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail. If this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) will illuminate, and a diagnostic trouble code will set. Additionally, a message may be displayed indicating the vehicleâs available engine power is reduced. This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 15 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service
This Preliminary Information provides a diagnostic tip for diagnosing an issue with Cruise Control, Adaptive Cruise and Lane Keep Assist Turns Off or Inoperative.
This Preliminary information communicates to the technicians a diagnostic tip if a technician loses communication with the image processor #2 and how to restore communication
This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the repairs direction for addressing a customer concern of no airflow from dash vents when using air conditioning after an extended drive time.
This document assists GM Dealer technician's with diagnosing turbocharger concerns to ensure turbocharger replacement is necessary. The turbocharger part number will be placed on order restriction and the technician will have to contact GM Technical Assistance to verify the turbocharge is at fault and needed. GM Technical Assistance will verify the turbocharger is needed and then order it for the dealer.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2013–2027, owners most often name: engine, electrical system, power train. 833 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
