2018 Buick ENCORE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11088709 · 2018-04-17 (April 17, 2018)
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 PROBLEM, BUT THEY ARE UNSURE AS THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPLACE IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 256 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11099367 · 2018-06-03 (June 3, 2018)
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 THIS EXTREMELY UNRELIABLE SAFETY FEATURE ACCIDENTS ARE HIGHLY LIKELY TO RESULT.
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11100799 · 2018-06-10 (June 10, 2018)
EVERY TIME IT RAINS I AM UNABLE TO GET ANY GAS DUE TO WATER SETTING ON THE PORT IN WHICH I PLACE GAS NOZZLE IN TO FILL TANK. VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE SITUATION DUE TO HOW COSTLY IT COULD BE TO FIX DUE TO SUCH A POOR DESIGN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11100799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115310 · 2018-08-02 (August 2, 2018)
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, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11133103 · 2018-10-03 (October 3, 2018)
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 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE APPROPRIATELY.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11133103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11153638 · 2018-11-25 (November 25, 2018)
DURING FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON HERE IN PA, HAD A WET/HEAVY SNOW. SNOW WAS REMOVED FROM WINDSHIELD, BUT NOT THE GULLY BELOW WIPERS. NO BIGGIE, THIS IS HOW WE'VE DONE IT ON EVERY CAR SINCE I WAS A KID, CLEANING OUT THE GULLY WHEN WIPERS CANNOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY. AS I WAS DRIVING AND SNOW WAS COMING DOWN, SOME FROM ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD CAME DOWN AND ADDED TO WHAT WAS IN THE GULLY. THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING! IMAGINE MY SURPRISE, THE WIPERS CAME TO A STOP AND WERE NOT MOVING. I COULD NOT SEE IF BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS, PULLED OVER WHEN I …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11153638 at NHTSA ↗
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 11190048 · 2019-03-19 (March 19, 2019)
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN VEICHLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. 2 PEOPLE WHERE INJURED.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11190048 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.