What 71 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Buick Encore GX

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)

NHTSA ODI 11743163

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.

NHTSA ODI 11734491

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.

NHTSA ODI 11726518

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.

NHTSA ODI 11719342

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.

NHTSA ODI 11712726

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.

NHTSA ODI 11708285

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.

NHTSA ODI 11699795

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.

NHTSA ODI 11699432

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.

NHTSA ODI 11698683

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.

NHTSA ODI 11698656

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

NHTSA ODI 11682540

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.

NHTSA ODI 11682271

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

NHTSA ODI 11681643

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Encore. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the transmission malfunctioned while in first gear, and the vehicle hesitated to accelerate from being stationary. Additionally, the message "Stabilizer" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yetbeen determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 147,000.

NHTSA ODI 11668594

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was shaking abnormally with the check engine and stabili-trak warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the warning lights were cleared, and the vehicle drove normally. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but was a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the ignition coils and spark plugs; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 109,800.

NHTSA ODI 11663984

While driving, my car began to glitch out. The screens started turning on and off, the doors began locking and unlocking, and I lost my ability to steer, brake, and accelerate. It caused me to run a red light and I almost got into a severe accident. This issue has occurred several times, and during more recent occasions the car has turned off completely while driving. There were no warning lights or messages indicating that something was wrong with the car, but sometimes when I turn the car back on, it says “calibrating.” If Buick has sold cars that are capable of losing complete control, this should be investigated immediately.

NHTSA ODI 11661607

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

NHTSA ODI 11649507

During normal driving the car would lose power. RPM's would drop and with engine sputtering. No trouble codes show up.

NHTSA ODI 11642953

2018 Buick Encore has large area of peeled paint on hood. There is also bubbling unde driver side door handle. I was told the hood issue was to to defective paint and primer. I was also told the repair would be well over one thousand dollars. The car has never been in an accident or had any modification done.

NHTSA ODI 11639617

I have been alerted by General Motors, via a letter that I received in March, 2024, that, due to a defect, my car's (a 2018 model year Buick Encore) engine may have a "condition where the turbocharger could fail" and that "the engine may run rough or have reduced power." In the letter, they have offered "additional protection for the condition" if the "condition occurs...within 10 years of the date your car was originally placed in service or 120,000 miles...whichever occurs first." On [XXX], my car was at 126,819 miles, and had all of the symptoms of the issue that were described in the March 2024 letter ("the Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine Light) will illuminate and a diagnostic trouble code will set. Additionally, the engine may run rough or have reduced power.") On May 3, 2024, I contacted GM at the phone number provided in the March 2024 letter ((800) 521-7300.) I was told by the GM representative that, because I was "over the mileage", that any GM dealer would have to charge me a $130.00 Diagnostic Fee to diagnose the issue, and, that even after diagnosing, there was no guarantee that GM would fix the issue, because I was "over the mileage". The GM representative also said I could ask the dealer to waive the Diagnostic Fee, at the dealer's discretion. If, after paying the Diagnostic Fee, and if the Diagnostic Fee revealed that my car did have the "turbocharger fail condition", that I could THEN contact GM to see IF they would cover the repair cost. In May, 2024, my car was at about 128,000 miles. I contacted two GM dealers: Les Stanford Buick in Ferndale, MI, and James Martin Chevy in Detroit, MI. Both refused to waive the Diagnostic Fee. So, in other words: - GM has created a defective, potentially DANGEROUS product, that GM acknowledges is defective. - GM created a warranty extension in which GM arbitrarily extended the warranty mileage and time. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11635370

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact's husband noticed there was oil leaking onto the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact’s husband, who is a certified mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the failure was caused by a leaking oil cooler pipe. The contact was informed that the oil cooler pipe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the leak was persistent. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced GMC recall 43210; however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not associated with the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

NHTSA ODI 11633066

Overdrive recall and check engine lights is on. We were just informed about the recall from our mechanic

NHTSA ODI 11629408

Stalling and shuts off. Low power when accelerating. Car has been so slow to take off that when merging into on coming traffic I have to move to shoulder & then try again to prevent an accident. Coughs, putt & squeaking sounds.Car shakes while in park or not in motion. Check engine light on.

NHTSA ODI 11615286

There are many Buick Encores, including 2018 that have a problem with acceleator position sensors. My car’s vin # shows that it does not have this notice, and thus no problem. However, in July this 2018 Buick Encore went into ‘limp mode, check engine light came on. Code for problem was 2138 (accelerator Pedal Position Sensor) The initial dealer solution was to apply dielectric grease. However, this ‘cure’ lasted . 15 miles, when it went into limp mode,,, again check engine icon came on THIS is very dangerous, as it cannot accelerate and from a stop, it does not move until a minute later… that is so frightening, I again took it to the deaer, same code of P2138, and now they recommend the accelerator pedal positon sensor replacement…. THIS is identical to the problems with the other Encores, This is a severe safety issue, and the rest of the 2018 Buick Encores should be included for notification AND repair .

NHTSA ODI 11612619

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, power steering, and brake functionality. The vehicle began to shake, and the brakes and steering wheel became inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where the mechanic test drove the vehicle but was unable to duplicate the failure. While driving, the fan failed to turn off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer Orange Buick GMC (3883 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32808), where it was diagnosed that the coil and relay needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle failed to accelerate above 65 MPH. The brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was taken back to another local dealer, Gettel Chevrolet Buick GMC (1901 Tamiami Trl, Punta Gorda, FL 33950), where it was diagnosed that the fan, relay, and spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact about repairing the vehicle and the process for reimbursement. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11607573