2018 Buick ENCORE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
74 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
19,667 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 74 complaints (39.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 20.3% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 10.8% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
Engine: 29; Service Brakes: 11; Air Bags: 10; Power Train: 10; Unknown Or Other: 10; Electrical System: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Steering: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 46 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 9 |
2018: 6; 2019: 7; 2020: 5; 2021: 7; 2022: 7; 2023: 6; 2024: 13; 2025: 14; 2026: 9
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 11180594 · 2019-02-17 (February 17, 2019)
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 DASHBOARD DISPLAY. CAR WAS TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED 30-35MPH, BRAKES APPLIED, THEN CRASHED INTO A TURNING CAR IN FRONT - TURNING FROM PASSENGER TO DRIVER DIRECTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11255370 · 2019-09-13 (September 13, 2019)
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 CAR ACCELLERATED . I WAS NOT ABLE TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME
Owner-reported narrative. 10,989 miles reported. Look up ODI 11255370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11322311 · 2020-04-26 (April 26, 2020)
SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 04/2018 I HAD MANY PROBLEMS PROBLEMS AS THE ENGINE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING, THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AT THE DEALERSHIP , NOW THE BACK WHEEL DRIVER MODULE IS BAD,IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED ,AND FINALLY I ALMOST COULD NOT DRIVE IN THE HIGHWAY ON 04/25/2020, I WAS VERY AFRAID THAT I WAS GOING TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, ABS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND TRACTION LIGHT WERE ALL ON IN THE PANEL AND SO A WARNING SIGNAL.THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.I WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11377742 · 2020-12-03 (December 3, 2020)
I WAS TOLD TO REACH OUT TO THIS SITE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN IN A THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET MY 2018 BUICK BOUGHT BACK BY GM. IN JUNE 2019 THE BUICK DIED ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS IN ARCHIE, MO THEN 30-40 SECONDS LATER IT STARTED BACK UP ON IT'S OWN WITHOUT MY ASSISTANCE. I CALLED ON-STAR RIGHT AWAY AND ASKED IF A CODE WAS THROWN. NO CODE WAS THROWN. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WHICH WAS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD BLEW UP INSIDE ITSELF. I BOUGHT THE BUICK 8.24.2018. THEY DEALERSHIP RE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11377742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11388856 · 2021-01-19 (January 19, 2021)
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 VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO MARK PORTER CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (42411 CHARLES CHANCEY DRIVE, POMEROY, OH 45769). AN UNKNOWN MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,132 miles reported. Look up ODI 11388856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11423879 · 2021-07-08 (July 8, 2021)
Unknown. On Highway total loss of power, unable to steer.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11423879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11668594 · 2025-06-23 (June 23, 2025)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11668594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11751621 · 2026-07-20 (July 20, 2026)
Strong odor of gasoline, followed by a crack in the high pressure fuel line. Gasoline poured out under pressure from fuel line approximately 1 foot ahead of the right rear tire. Major amount of spillage - literally several gallons within a minute or so, that eventually faded as the system lost pressure. Could have been a significant safety issue and catastrophic loss if there had been an ignition source nearby. Overall repair required dropping the fuel tank and the replacement of GM Part Number 95080144, a plastic fuel pipe. Overall, a saf…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11751621 at NHTSA ↗