2014 Buick ENCORE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Buick ENCORE has 92 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: battery west even a year old and it went out. dead. coolant was leaking. but wasn't leaking at first. i believe they damaged it. when we took it for check up the same warranty was going out and they said we will make sure everything is working. they just half fix every thing and got the money. this .

3 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

28 complaints

30%

• BATTERY WEST EVEN A YEAR OLD AND IT WENT OUT. DEAD. COOLANT WAS LEAKING. BUT WASN'T LEAKING AT FIRST. I BELIEVE THEY DAMAGED IT. WHEN WE TOOK IT FOR CHECK UP THE SAME WARRANTY WAS GOING OUT AND THEY SAID WE WILL MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING. THEY JUST HALF FIX EVERY THING AND GOT THE MONEY. THIS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BUICK ENCORE. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF HER VEHICLE, THE COOLING FAN KEPT RUNNING AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TO RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (ALLEN TILLERY AUTO, 4573 CENTRAL AVE, HOT SPRINGS, AR 71913, 501-881-4160) WHERE IT WA
• EXPERIENCING OIL BLOW BY IN CYLINDER BLOCK AND CATYLIC CONVERTER FAILURE

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

“BATTERY WEST EVEN A YEAR OLD AND IT WENT OUT. DEAD. COOLANT WAS LEAKING. BUT WASN'T LEAKING AT FIRST. I BELIEVE THEY DAMAGED IT. WHEN WE TOOK IT FOR CHECK UP THE SAME WARRANTY WAS GOING OUT AND THEY SAID WE WILL MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING. THEY JUST HALF FIX EVERY THING AND GOT THE MONEY. THIS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCASSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N
• INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT, WHILE WEARING SUNGLASSES, IS INSUFFICIENT. IN ORDER TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER EITHER ON THE ANALOG DIAL OR ON THE SMALL DIGITAL DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRES THE REMOVAL OF THE SUNGLASSES, TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD, AND PEER INTO THE PANEL IN ORDER TO
• REAR VIEW CAMERA SYSTEM: WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE DURING LIGHT HOURS THE DISPLAY IS USELESS. THE LIGHT SENSOR TAKES FROM ONE MINUTE TO FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE THE DISPLAY GOES BRIGHT. SINCE MY DRIVEWAY CROSSES A SIDEWALK THE DISPLAY IS USELESS IN THAT SITUATION AND A SAFETY HAZZARD. THE DEALER A

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCASSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

9 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND SURGED FORWARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUN BUICK GMC (3333 SUNRISE HIGHWAY WANTAG
• ON 5/26/18 I TEST DROVE A USED 2014 BUICK ENCORE AT GULF COAST CHEVROLET BUICK IN ANGLETON TX. I LIKED THE CAR BUT NOTICED IT IDLED A LITTLE. I SPOKE WITH THE SALES ASSOCIATE AND THE SERVICE TECH AND THEY BOTH SAID THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. I DECIDED TO PROCEED AND PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE
• BATTERY WEST EVEN A YEAR OLD AND IT WENT OUT. DEAD. COOLANT WAS LEAKING. BUT WASN'T LEAKING AT FIRST. I BELIEVE THEY DAMAGED IT. WHEN WE TOOK IT FOR CHECK UP THE SAME WARRANTY WAS GOING OUT AND THEY SAID WE WILL MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING. THEY JUST HALF FIX EVERY THING AND GOT THE MONEY. THIS

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND SURGED FORWARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUN BUICK GMC (3333 SUNRISE HIGHWAY WANTAG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

8 complaints

• THE BUICK ENCORE HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT, THE LAST 2,000 MILES OR SO THE ENGINE HESITATES ANY SPEEDS. IT DOES NOT STALL BUT IT KEEPS HESITATING. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED
• EXPERIENCING OIL BLOW BY IN CYLINDER BLOCK AND CATYLIC CONVERTER FAILURE
• CRACKED VALVE COVER FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS AUGUST OF 2017. THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED JANUARY 6,2019. THIS OCCURRENCE CAUSED MULTIPLE FAILURES AND COST ME $727 TO HAVE REPAIRED. SYMPTOMS WERE NOTICEABLE OFF SHIFT POINTS DUE TO LACK OF POWER AND TOO MUCH AIR TO TURBO .

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

“THE BUICK ENCORE HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT, THE LAST 2,000 MILES OR SO THE ENGINE HESITATES ANY SPEEDS. IT DOES NOT STALL BUT IT KEEPS HESITATING. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

• REAR VIEW CAMERA SYSTEM: WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE DURING LIGHT HOURS THE DISPLAY IS USELESS. THE LIGHT SENSOR TAKES FROM ONE MINUTE TO FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE THE DISPLAY GOES BRIGHT. SINCE MY DRIVEWAY CROSSES A SIDEWALK THE DISPLAY IS USELESS IN THAT SITUATION AND A SAFETY HAZZARD. THE DEALER A
• BATTERY GOES GOES DEAD IF CAR IS NOT DRIVEN EVERY DAY
• BATTERY WEST EVEN A YEAR OLD AND IT WENT OUT. DEAD. COOLANT WAS LEAKING. BUT WASN'T LEAKING AT FIRST. I BELIEVE THEY DAMAGED IT. WHEN WE TOOK IT FOR CHECK UP THE SAME WARRANTY WAS GOING OUT AND THEY SAID WE WILL MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING. THEY JUST HALF FIX EVERY THING AND GOT THE MONEY. THIS

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

“REAR VIEW CAMERA SYSTEM: WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE DURING LIGHT HOURS THE DISPLAY IS USELESS. THE LIGHT SENSOR TAKES FROM ONE MINUTE TO FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE THE DISPLAY GOES BRIGHT. SINCE MY DRIVEWAY CROSSES A SIDEWALK THE DISPLAY IS USELESS IN THAT SITUATION AND A SAFETY HAZZARD. THE DEALER A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 92 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: BATTERY WEST EVEN A YEAR OLD AND IT WENT OUT. DEAD. COOLANT WAS LEAKING. BUT WASN'T LEAKING AT FIRST. I BELIEVE THEY DAMAGED IT. WHEN WE TOOK IT FOR CHECK UP THE SAME WARRANTY WAS GOING OUT AND THEY SAID WE WILL MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING. THEY JUST HALF FIX EVERY THING AND GOT THE MONEY. THIS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCASSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND SURGED FORWARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUN BUICK GMC (3333 SUNRISE HIGHWAY WANTAG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: THE BUICK ENCORE HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT, THE LAST 2,000 MILES OR SO THE ENGINE HESITATES ANY SPEEDS. IT DOES NOT STALL BUT IT KEEPS HESITATING. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)