2018 Buick ENCORE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Buick ENCORE has 105 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: there is a malfunction with the turbo hose on a majority of 2018 buick encore's that require a new hose. there is a nationwide back order on these parts due to all of the repairs. when this item broke i was driving about 70 mph on the interstate, there was a loud pop from the engine compartment and .

13 crash reports 10 injuries

105

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

30 complaints

29%

• THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE TURBO HOSE ON A MAJORITY OF 2018 BUICK ENCORE'S THAT REQUIRE A NEW HOSE. THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER ON THESE PARTS DUE TO ALL OF THE REPAIRS. WHEN THIS ITEM BROKE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THERE WAS A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND
• WHEN IT RAINS MOST IF THE TIME THE VEHICLE ONSTAR SETS OFF ALERTS FOR MY ANTILOCK BRAKES AND STABILITY TO BE CHECKED. DEALER SAID IT IS NORMAL AND NOT CONCERNING BUT CHECKED AT THE 1 YEAR INSPECTION FOR ME. NPF. A MONTH LATER A RAINY DAY, ALERTS, AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME O
• WITH ESTIMATING MY MONTHS OVER A SPAN OF 4 MONTHS I HAD MY TURBO CHARGER REPLACEDBECAUSE IT HAD GONE BAD. I WAS OUT OF TOWN THE LIGHT CAME ON. AND WHEN I RETURN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY DIAGNOSE IT AND SAID IT WAS A TURBO CHARGER. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE CAR SO THEY REPLACE THE TURBO CHA

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

“THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE TURBO HOSE ON A MAJORITY OF 2018 BUICK ENCORE'S THAT REQUIRE A NEW HOSE. THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER ON THESE PARTS DUE TO ALL OF THE REPAIRS. WHEN THIS ITEM BROKE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THERE WAS A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

11 complaints

10%

• 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
• WHEN IT RAINS MOST IF THE TIME THE VEHICLE ONSTAR SETS OFF ALERTS FOR MY ANTILOCK BRAKES AND STABILITY TO BE CHECKED. DEALER SAID IT IS NORMAL AND NOT CONCERNING BUT CHECKED AT THE 1 YEAR INSPECTION FOR ME. NPF. A MONTH LATER A RAINY DAY, ALERTS, AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME O
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

10 complaints

10%

• THE DRIVERS SIDE BLIND SPOT INDICATOR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND GIVING FALSE AND ERRONEOUS INDICATIONS THIS IS DUE TO THE INCORRECT PARTS BEING INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT "CONTROL MODULE" FROM THE FACTORY WAS THE INCORRECT PART NUMBER FOR THE VEHICLE AND MAY THE CAUSE OF THE PROB
• THE DRIVER'S SIDE BLIND SPOT INDICATOR (LOCATED ON THE SIDE MIRROR) IS MALFUNCTIONING AND GIVING FALSE AND ERRONEOUS INDICATIONS - BOTH FALSE POSITIVES AND FALSE NEGATIVES - THIS HAS OCCURRED EACH TIME I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE- ON THE FREEWAY, ON THE HIGHWAY, ON SIDE STREETS. IF DRIVERS DEPEND ON T
• 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

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

“THE DRIVERS SIDE BLIND SPOT INDICATOR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND GIVING FALSE AND ERRONEOUS INDICATIONS THIS IS DUE TO THE INCORRECT PARTS BEING INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT "CONTROL MODULE" FROM THE FACTORY WAS THE INCORRECT PART NUMBER FOR THE VEHICLE AND MAY THE CAUSE OF THE PROB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

10 complaints

10%

• 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
• 8/14-CAR WAS LACKING POWER, SERVICE MANAGER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE ON ROAD TEST . 8/24-CAR SERVICE FOR ROUGH IDLE AND LACK OF POWER, SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WITH AN ERROR CODE OF P0171. IN SEPTEMBER, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE WHILE IN PARK BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND SHUDDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TO CEASED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICL

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

10 complaints

10%

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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“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 DASHBOA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~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 105 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE TURBO HOSE ON A MAJORITY OF 2018 BUICK ENCORE'S THAT REQUIRE A NEW HOSE. THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER ON THESE PARTS DUE TO ALL OF THE REPAIRS. WHEN THIS ITEM BROKE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THERE WAS A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE DRIVERS SIDE BLIND SPOT INDICATOR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND GIVING FALSE AND ERRONEOUS INDICATIONS THIS IS DUE TO THE INCORRECT PARTS BEING INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT "CONTROL MODULE" FROM THE FACTORY WAS THE INCORRECT PART NUMBER FOR THE VEHICLE AND MAY THE CAUSE OF THE PROB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)