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What 52 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Buick Encore GX

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (52)Crash / fire / injury (4)Engine (21)Electrical system (8)Transmission & drivetrain (7)Speed control (6)Airbags (5)Fuel system (4)Brakes (3)Seat belts (3)Tires (3)Engine & cooling (2)

8 of 52 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Nov 28, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURES. ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE HEATED THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE THE OTHER SIDE WAS NOT ABLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED REGARDING THE JERKING AND HEATING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ODI 11154446

Mar 3, 2015Electrical system

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE VERY HARD TO BE SEEN WHILE THE SUN WAS OUT. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN

NHTSA ODI 10691789

Oct 9, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemAirbagsCrash1 injury

IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE RACED CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AND SLAM INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR CAUSING OVER $5K WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE ENCORE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE IMPACT WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE REAR GLOVE BOX OPENED TOSSING THE CONTENTS OUT INTO THE TRUNK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643646

Oct 7, 2014Electrical system

**NO ACCIDENT** SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE OF MY CAR I HAVE HAD TROUBLE SLIDING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. IT NORMALLY TAKES AT LEAST A FEW ATTEMPTS AND CAN REQUIRE SOME LIGHT FORCE TO INSERT THE KEY. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, MY LOCAL BUICK DEALERSHIP WILL BE REPLACING THE IGNITION DURING MY APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK. AS WELL, THE LAST TIME I WAS AT THE DEALER, ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE BUICK ENCORE. I AM REPORTING THIS ISSUE SIMPLE OUT OF CONCERN DUE TO ALL OF THE IGNITION ISSUES GM HAS RECENTLY HAD. AS THIS IS ANOTHER POTENTIAL ISSUE I STRONGLY FEEL IT SHOULD BE RESEARCHED. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643038

Aug 18, 2014Electrical system

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT UP ENOUGH ON A SUNNY DAY TO BE ABLE TO CHECK SPEED, FUEL OR THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THESE SHOULD BE EASILY READ AT A GLANCE SO AS TO KEEP EYES ON THE ROAD. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO ON THE ENCORE. ON ONE OCCASION, I ACTUALLY HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO CHECK THE FUEL GAUGE. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND ALSO TO BUICK AND THEY TELL ME THAT EVERYTHING IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATION. THIS IS AN UNSAFE AUTOMOBILE TO NOT BE ABLE TO QUICKLY CHECK SPEED ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626070

Apr 1, 2014Electrical system

I WAS DRIVING A BUICK ENCORE, RENTAL CAR, AND AFTER USING THE WIPERS, MY HAND TOUCHED THE IGNITION KEY (BARELY TOUCHED IT) AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT INTO PARK TO RESTART THE CAR. I RETURNED IT TO THE RENTAL PLACE RIGHT AWAY AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576467

Mar 3, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

CAR RAN GREAT THEN I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE POWER REDUCED CAME ACROSS DASH AND THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR, RADIO AND LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. ALMOST CAUSED 3 DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS TRYING TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC.SCAN CHECK SYSTEM, P2101, PER DOCUMENT ID:[XXX] DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY AND PERFORM JDLE RELEARN PROCEDURE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566897

Feb 4, 2014Electrical system

2013 BUICK ENCORE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CAN NOT BE READ IN SUNNY WEATHER. *SMD THE SPEEDOMETER, HEAT AND FUEL GAUGES COULD NOT BE READ.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10563044

Working with the data? Download all 52 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 12, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Buick Encore GX verdict →