2018 Buick Encore Complaints

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 06/22/2026

Not long after I purchased my car, i noticed it was lacking power during takeoff and when driving uphill which forced my car to hit very high RPMs during normal use. There was also a P0299 code that appeared then disappeared frequently. I discovered a turbo special coverage N232395330 and took it to Williams GMC in Charlotte. After i told them very clearly what happened MULTIPLE times, confirming the underboost and the code, I even brought it in with the code, they told me the code wasnt "active" and that there no problems...even after i told them I didnt feel safe and couldnt pull out at intersections with fear of being rear-ended. I had videos, they refused to look at and told me to come back when the code was permanent. I drove the vehicle for the next year, 20k miles in order to get the code permanent, after a trip home, through the mountains, really tough without the turbo, my car was consistently pinging 4-5000 RPM under the speed limit on inclines...this happened every time I drove through, but this time the code was active the entire time. 2-3000 miles with the code, finally it was permanent. I brought the car back to Williams GMC, to get the turbo changed. I updated them on recent occurrences, flashing check engine light, the code active for 2-3k miles, and they performed a road test, and declared it wasn't a problem. I told them i recently spent 5k on repairing my cooling and AC system because the turbo, they said that wouldn't affect those components, meanwhile i know they have plastic parts that can melt and the engine being forced to push 4-5k RPM the extra heat could easily melt those parts. They said, nothing was wrong and the road test was good. sent me on my way. I called corporate, they told me to get a second opinion. I did [XXX] found the problem and changed the turbo per the special coverage N232395330. a week later, my engine overheated, i pulled over and it wouldnt start, engin won't hold compression. Car is tot now. Long story shrt INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE — Filed 06/01/2026

General Motors issued a Special Policy N202299080 covering 2014 Buick Encores. My 2018 Encore had the same issues and symptoms as this Policy. My concern is because of this known problem the crankcase can be pressurized causing oil leaks which could cause a fire. General Motors issued a Service Information Bulletin 19-NA-114 in May 2019 about involving 2013 to 2019 Buick Encores. This is a known issue for many models other than my vehicle. I have the old parts from the repair for inspection which includes the Intake Manifold and the Valve Cover for faulty PCV components that cause the engine to produce excess Engine Crankcase pressure possibly causing a fire. My vehicle had a check engine light code of P0171 and the odor of burning oil.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 07/15/2026

Strong odor of gasoline, followed by a crack in the high pressure fuel line. Gasoline poured out under pressure from fuel line approximately 1 foot ahead of the right rear tire. Major amount of spillage - literally several gallons within a minute or so, that eventually faded as the system lost pressure. Could have been a significant safety issue and catastrophic loss if there had been an ignition source nearby. Overall repair required dropping the fuel tank and the replacement of GM Part Number 95080144, a plastic fuel pipe. Overall, a safety issue and expensive (~$900) repair.

ENGINE — Filed 06/08/2026

Request for Goodwill Assistance – Turbocharger Failure (Special Coverage XXX) Dear General Motors Customer Assistance, I am writing to request a one-time goodwill repair for my 2018 Buick Encore (VIN: [XXX]). Approximately two months after purchasing this vehicle, the check engine light illuminated and diagnostic testing identified code P0299, indicating turbocharger failure. This issue appears to align with General Motors' Special Coverage Program XXX, issued in February 2024 for certain 2017–2018 Buick Encore vehicles equipped with the 1.4L engine due to known turbocharger failures. Unfortunately, my local GM dealership has informed me that they are unable to perform the repair under the special coverage because the vehicle carries a Pennsylvania reconstructed (R) title. While I understand the vehicle's title status, I respectfully ask GM to consider the unique circumstances. In Pennsylvania, reconstructed vehicles must undergo a rigorous Enhanced Vehicle Inspection process before they can be legally registered and operated on public roads. My vehicle successfully passed all required inspections and is legally certified for highway use. Because this special coverage was issued to address a defect that may lead to significant engine damage and, in some cases, a potential engine compartment fire, I am requesting a one-time goodwill repair or other assistance from General Motors. The concern involves a known condition affecting this vehicle platform and presents a potential safety risk during both local and highway driving. I have been a loyal GM customer and would greatly appreciate your review of this situation. Given that the vehicle has been properly repaired, inspected, and approved for road use under Pennsylvania law, I respectfully request that GM reconsider eligibility for assistance despite the reconstructed title designation. Thank you for your time, consideration, and any assistance you may be able to provide. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 09/15/2025

I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding a repeated dangerous defect in my 2018 Buick Encore. The vehicle intermittently locks up while driving without warning. When this happens: brakes become unresponsive or lock steering becomes difficult or locks gas pedal does not respond dashboard warning lights activate vehicle systems malfunction vehicle may not shut off normally This defect has occurred multiple times and creates a serious crash risk. The vehicle has now undergone three repair attempts at an authorized Buick dealership. During the second repair attempt, dealership staff personally experienced the same malfunction while test driving the vehicle. I paid approximately $2,078 cash for repairs after being told the issue was fixed, but the same dangerous defect happened again afterward.The vehicle has remained at the dealership for 15+ consecutive days, causing loss of transportation and work hardship. I am also concerned by inconsistent repair documentation and possible repairs performed that were not clearly disclosed or authorized. This vehicle remains unsafe to drive, and the defect has not been corrected despite multiple repair attempts. I believe this may involve a serious electrical, braking, steering, or control system failure that warrants investigation before someone is injured.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 03/23/2026

The contact owned a 2018 Buick Encore. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Service AWD" warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning light remained illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/08/2026

The front passenger air bag sensor turns off either before we begin driving or while the vehicle is in motion. The manual says that if you have a seat cushion or are not in the position for the sensor to "see" you, it may turn off. I have a bad back, and I need my 2-inch seat cushion for long trips, or I will be in pain. But when I use my seat cushion, the sensor turns the air bag off. So, if I use my seat cushion (or the sensor otherwise decides to turn the air bag off), I am not protected in the case of an accident. If I don't use my seat cushion, I am in pain from my back. The front passenger air bag should have a manual switch and have the ability to be kept on all of the time, that decision being made by the passenger and not a sensor that is not smart enough to adjust to an additional cushion or other situation.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 09/04/2025

Was driving and lost complete power but came right back on itself. Car also makes a loud noise periodically when reversing and pressing the brake. Was told this was engine timing chain. Cooling fan periodically stays on draining the battery after car is turned off. None of these issues have been correct but told there is no recall to fix these issues.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE — Filed 12/24/2025

After filling up fuel vehicle starts and stalls out. This occurs while driving at stop signs. And also while driving loss of power. There is something wrong in the engine, timing belt, fuel, etc.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) — Filed 01/01/2022

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle lost power. The Stabili-trak warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure however, where the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the brake sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred approximately 6 months later. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an unknown code was cleared. The contact stated that a month after the code was cleared, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,401.

ENGINE — Filed 11/14/2025

Brought my car to get an oil change and was told they could not do it as my oil filter housing unit is cracked and leaking oil they said to check for recalls as this is an issue with other vehicle same problem. Upon checking i was informed that Buick is not making this a recall item at this time. They put in enough oil for me to get home.

ENGINE — Filed 09/26/2025

COMPONENT FAILURE: THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN. YES, IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. SAFETY RISK: VEHICLE HESITATED AND LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO AUTOMATICALLY SLOW DOWN WHERE I WAS NO LONGER DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT. MY SAFETY AND OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME WAS COMPROMISED AS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT SHOULD I HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. I HAD IT TOWED TO LAMBERT BUICK, CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO. THEY DIAGNOSED A TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTION WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE DUE TO ENGINE DAMAGE POTENTIAL. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO MY HOME AND HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, POLICE, INSURANCE OR ANYONE ELSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING, MESSAGES OR ANY SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. A WARNING LIGHT ONLY CAME ON WHEN THE CAR HESITATED AND LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC.

ENGINE — Filed 11/10/2025

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the timing chain, resulting in damage to the crankshaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,507.

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/04/2025

When crossing through an intersection at approximately 45mph, I was struck by another vehicle, speed unknown, who failed to stop at a stop sign. My vehicle was struck on the front passenger corner. My vehicle continued in a forward motion for several hundred feet. Both driver and front passenger wore seat belts, however the driver struck her head on steering wheel, loosing consciousness for several minutes. Side airbags deployed, however front air bags did not

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 06/04/2025

The car experienced issues with the fan turning off when car was turned off. It caused the battery to die. The car was serviced at the dealership and the tech found that the fuse block overheated and melted, causing poor electrical connections. They replaced the damaged parts and repaired the wiring. This still did not explain the fan not turning off and after the fuse block repair, the cooling fan was still sticking on. After pushing the dealership to further look into the issue the mechanic determined the issue was inside the fan assembly (it was assembled in the wrong direction), so they replaced the cooling fan. The dealership stated that this was a manufacturing error. They said this could have caused an engine fire and there was absolutely no warnings - just a fan that was stuck on. This could have put me and my new baby at risk for an engine fire and could cause issue for other owners if there were more assembly errors. The car is available for inspection if needed. It was only inspected by technicians at the dealership.

ENGINE — Filed 02/10/2025

Engine stalls, intake hose, power issues, multiple oil leaks

AIR BAGS — Filed 03/16/2025

A deer came out of nowhere and I hit it head on. It totaled the car. The airbag did not go off

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 05/29/2023

While on the highway car suddenly had a brake and steering failure which resulted in injuries to myself. Zeigler and Buick are doing nothing to remedy situation and want to put myself and my family at risk

AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 06/13/2022

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, she depressed the brake pedal but it failed to stop the vehicle, causing her to rear-end a truck. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries nor sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to a collision center and had the front bumper repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 10/07/2019

THIS TOOK PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THE PARKING LOT OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING FORWARD. IT WAS DECELERATING HEAD-IN INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE BRAKING ACTION WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE HAD SLOWED TO ABOUT 5 MPH. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKING WAS ENGAGED. I THEN HEARD THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE REVVING AT A VERY HIGH RATE. THERE WAS A HIGH WHINING SOUND. I LOST BRAKING AS MY RIGHT FOOT DEPRESSED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AT AN INCREASED SPEED. IT JUMPED THE SIDEWALK CURB, CROSSED THE CONCRETE SIDEWALK, AND SLAMMED INTO A CINDER BLOCK WALL COLUMN ON THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 08/29/2019

I HAVE COMPLIN TO MY DEALER ABOUT MY CAR EXCELERATING WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES . THEY SAID THEY CAN FIND A PROBLEM , WELL IT HAPPEN AGAIN ON AUGUST 29 2019 AN IT CAUSE A ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING ON A 6 LANE ROADWAY AROUND 330 IN THE AFTERNOON I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 45 MPH AN WHEN I WENT TO STOP THE CAR ACCELLERATED . I WAS NOT ABLE TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/24/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, CRASHED INTO THE CORNER PANEL OF AN UNKNOWN VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AND FLOOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEGS AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO FIRE DUE TO THE CRASH. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO PROVIDED CASE NUMBER 9-5265716704 HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. *BF *TR

AIR BAGS — Filed 03/17/2019

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN VEICHLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. 2 PEOPLE WHERE INJURED.

AIR BAGS — Filed 02/16/2019

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON AUTO ACCIDENT. IMPACT AREA WAS FRONT CORNER FENDER ON PASSENGER SIDE. POSSIBLE GAS RELEASED INTO PASSENGER SIDE OF CABIN SMELLED 'ELECTRICAL' AND 'SMOKE' FILLED PASSENGER FOOTBOARD AREA. NO LOSS OF COOLANT FROM CAR TO EXPLAIN SMOKE. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON DASHBOARD DISPLAY. CAR WAS TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED 30-35MPH, BRAKES APPLIED, THEN CRASHED INTO A TURNING CAR IN FRONT - TURNING FROM PASSENGER TO DRIVER DIRECTION.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 07/11/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT INADVERTENTLY ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (NYE BUICK GMC, 1421 GENESEE ST, ONEIDA, NY 13421, (315) 363-2200) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,200.