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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Buick ENCORE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

52 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

21,693 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 52 complaints (40.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior59.6%
Engine operation35.8%
Transmission and shifting23.8%
Steering behavior23.8%
Electrical and battery issues11.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
21
Power Train
7
Electrical System
6
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Air Bags
5
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
Seat Belts
3
Tires
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine21
Power Train7
Electrical System6
Vehicle Speed Control6
Air Bags5
Fuel/Propulsion System4
Seat Belts3
Tires3

Engine: 21; Power Train: 7; Electrical System: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Air Bags: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Seat Belts: 3; Tires: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
22
25,000 to 49,999
6
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00022
25,000 to 49,9996
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2013
2
2014
16
2015
7
2016
6
2017
6
2018
7
2019
5
2021
1
2023
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20132
201416
20157
20166
20176
20187
20195
20211
20232

2013: 2; 2014: 16; 2015: 7; 2016: 6; 2017: 6; 2018: 7; 2019: 5; 2021: 1; 2023: 2

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10550123 · 2013-10-30 (October 30, 2013)

WITH VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE CREEPS FORWARD AND ADDITION BRAKE PRESSURE NEED TO BE APPLIED. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE NO LONGER CREPT FORWARD WHEN THE PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 202 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550123 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10574525 · 2014-03-26 (March 26, 2014)

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 PLOWED SNOW BANK, IN WHICH THE BUMPER WAS CRACKED. ALSO, AS HE WIFE WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, AS SHE BRAKED. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE AWD DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10574525 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10587368 · 2014-05-09 (May 9, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING IN REVERSE, SHE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,776. ...UPDATED 06/25/14 *BF UPDATED 06/30/2014 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 7,776 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587368 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10637180 · 2014-09-18 (September 18, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE COLLAR, WHICH CONTROLLED ALL THE FUEL THAT FEEDS TO THE ENGINE, WAS DEFECTIVE. THE THROTTLE COLLAR WAS REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,561.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,561 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637180 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10576467 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 7,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576467 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10671754 · 2015-01-12 (January 12, 2015)

WAS MAKING A TURN FROM A SIDE STREET AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT NEAR THE CORNER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP UPDATED STEERING WHEEL CODES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,948 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671754 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11154446 · 2018-11-28 (November 28, 2018)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154446 at NHTSA ↗