2013 Buick ENCORE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Buick ENCORE has 70 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: leaving a stop sign onto three lane road going down a hill,when the car had no acceleration, i put on flashers and coasted to curb,had to call wrecker and be towed to dealer,said it was a throttle body sensor,that is sensitive to cold weather,2 dealers said the same thing. new part was ordered,but i.

6 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

23 complaints

33%

• LEAVING A STOP SIGN ONTO THREE LANE ROAD GOING DOWN A HILL,WHEN THE CAR HAD NO ACCELERATION, I PUT ON FLASHERS AND COASTED TO CURB,HAD TO CALL WRECKER AND BE TOWED TO DEALER,SAID IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY SENSOR,THAT IS SENSITIVE TO COLD WEATHER,2 DEALERS SAID THE SAME THING. NEW PART WAS ORDERED,BUT I
• 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.S
• I LIVE IN MINNESOTA. ON A -30 DEGREE DAY IN JANUARY I DROVE TO WORK (30 MILES ONE WAY). WHEN I LEFT FOR LUNCH I DROVE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE AND STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL SIMILAR TO WHEN FOLLOWING A VEHICLE THAT IS BURNING OIL. MY CAR WAS NEW SO I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS ME. I WENT ABOUT 2 MILES AN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“LEAVING A STOP SIGN ONTO THREE LANE ROAD GOING DOWN A HILL,WHEN THE CAR HAD NO ACCELERATION, I PUT ON FLASHERS AND COASTED TO CURB,HAD TO CALL WRECKER AND BE TOWED TO DEALER,SAID IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY SENSOR,THAT IS SENSITIVE TO COLD WEATHER,2 DEALERS SAID THE SAME THING. NEW PART WAS ORDERED,BUT I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

11%

• 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
• 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.S
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

10%

• 2013 BUICK ENCORE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ABS AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WOULD SQUEAK, RUB AND GRAB. ON THANKSGIVING DAY, WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIS DRIVEWAY, ON SNOWY DAY, THE ABS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A PLOW
• PREMIUM TRIM LEVEL HAS FORWARD COLLISION WARNING. ON AT LEAST SIX OCCASIONS BEGINNING NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR (2013), THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING HAS COME ON WITH NO VEHICLE IN FRONT FOR HUNDREDS OF FEET AND HAS DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL, ESSENTIALLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COAST UNTIL THE ACCEL
• 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 TOSSI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“2013 BUICK ENCORE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ABS AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WOULD SQUEAK, RUB AND GRAB. ON THANKSGIVING DAY, WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIS DRIVEWAY, ON SNOWY DAY, THE ABS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A PLOW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

6 complaints

• LEAVING A STOP SIGN ONTO THREE LANE ROAD GOING DOWN A HILL,WHEN THE CAR HAD NO ACCELERATION, I PUT ON FLASHERS AND COASTED TO CURB,HAD TO CALL WRECKER AND BE TOWED TO DEALER,SAID IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY SENSOR,THAT IS SENSITIVE TO COLD WEATHER,2 DEALERS SAID THE SAME THING. NEW PART WAS ORDERED,BUT I
• 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.S
• MY CAR DROVE FINE AND THEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN MY TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED CAME ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE LIGHTS, WIPERS, RADIO AND ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCEL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

5 complaints

• 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 TOSSI
• PURCHASED A USED 2013 BUICK ENCORE WITH 21,115 MILES. AFTER TWO (2) MONTHS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STARTING SHOWING OFF WHEN MY WIFE WAS SEATED IN THE CAR, SHE WEIGHS 110 LBS. IT WOULD COME ON THEN GO OFF OR NOT COME ON AT ALL. TOOK CAR TO NEARBY DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED "NO PROBLEM, WE CAN ADJUST
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 40-50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A DEER, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLIP OVER AND EVENTUALLY LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIR BAG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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 TOSSI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 70 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: LEAVING A STOP SIGN ONTO THREE LANE ROAD GOING DOWN A HILL,WHEN THE CAR HAD NO ACCELERATION, I PUT ON FLASHERS AND COASTED TO CURB,HAD TO CALL WRECKER AND BE TOWED TO DEALER,SAID IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY SENSOR,THAT IS SENSITIVE TO COLD WEATHER,2 DEALERS SAID THE SAME THING. NEW PART WAS ORDERED,BUT I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 2013 BUICK ENCORE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ABS AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WOULD SQUEAK, RUB AND GRAB. ON THANKSGIVING DAY, WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIS DRIVEWAY, ON SNOWY DAY, THE ABS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A PLOW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: LEAVING A STOP SIGN ONTO THREE LANE ROAD GOING DOWN A HILL,WHEN THE CAR HAD NO ACCELERATION, I PUT ON FLASHERS AND COASTED TO CURB,HAD TO CALL WRECKER AND BE TOWED TO DEALER,SAID IT WAS A THROTTLE BODY SENSOR,THAT IS SENSITIVE TO COLD WEATHER,2 DEALERS SAID THE SAME THING. NEW PART WAS ORDERED,BUT I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)