2019 Buick ENCORE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
32,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 84 complaints (38.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 21.4% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.4% |
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 | 32 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
Engine: 32; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Unknown Or Other: 12; Air Bags: 10; Electrical System: 10; Power Train: 9; Service Brakes: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 54 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2026 | 17 |
2019: 9; 2020: 7; 2021: 7; 2022: 5; 2023: 11; 2024: 11; 2025: 17; 2026: 17
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 11189925 · 2019-03-19 (March 19, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED TWICE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE START BUTTON MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE TO PHILLIPS BUICK AND GMC (2160 US HIGHWAY 441, 27, FRUITLAND PARK, FL 34731, [phone removed]). THE DEALER WAS CURRENTLY DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT WITH THE RESULTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,090 miles reported. Look up ODI 11189925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11194564 · 2019-04-08 (April 8, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 BUICK ENCORE. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL A FEW TIMES FOR IT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STILLWATER MOTORS (5900 STILLWATER BLVD N, STILLWATER, MN 55082, [phone removed]) ON APRIL 3, 2019 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED; HOWEVER, THE SAME CODES DID NOT APPEAR THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207294 · 2019-05-13 (May 13, 2019)
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS POORLY DESIGNED. WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A POTHOLE IT WILL CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARE TO BEND NEAR THE BALL JOINT. BASICALLY, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM METAL IS NOT REINFORCED IN THAT AREA. THE AREA BY THE BALL JOINT IS JUST A FLAT PIECE AND DOES NOT HAVE MUCH STRENGTH. WHEN IT FAILS IT WILL CAUSE THE CV JOINT TO COME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND BREAK MANY PARTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11207294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11230819 · 2019-07-10 (July 10, 2019)
I WAS STOPPING TO PARK THE CAR AND TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE BEFORE I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD OVER THE CURB, A SIDE WALK AND INTO A ROCK GARDEN, (I WAS PARKING AT A NURSERY) I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE 1.4L SIDI TURBO ENGINE WITH ITS START-STOP TECHNOLOGY. I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE ENGINE SURGE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO PROPEL THE CAR OVER THE CURB, A SIDE WALK AND INTO A GARDEN. I BELIEVE THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL CAUSE A LOT OF REAR END COLLISION…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11230819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11255476 · 2019-09-14 (September 14, 2019)
THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND THE CAR WON'T SHIFT. IT'S DONE THIS TWICE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT THIS YEAR. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS CAUSED BY DRIVING "TWO FOOTED". IT WILL RESET ITSELF BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND WAITING 15 MINUTES OR SO. IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROADS.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11255476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11268006 · 2019-10-11 (October 11, 2019)
I WAS STOPPED IN A DRIVE THRU TACO BELL AND THE CLERK DROPPED MY CHANGE DOLLARS FROM MY PURCHASE SO I REACTED BY OPENING THE DOOR TO PICK UP THE MONEY BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE WITHOUT PUTTING IT IN PARK BECAUSE IT WAS A REACTION. THE CAR'S STOP START FEATURE SURGED THE CAR FORWARD PINNING MY LEGS BETWEEN THE CAR AND THE BUILDING. I COULDN'T PUT THE CAR IN PARK BECAUSE MY LEGS WERE PINNED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFT WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. I SCREAMED AND THE CLERK HAD TO TAKE MY SHOES OFF SO I COULD PULL MY LEGS IN THE CAR. I WENT DIRECTLY TO U…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289209 · 2019-12-15 (December 15, 2019)
SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, A 2019 ENCORE SPORT TOURING, HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE STEREO VOLUME AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY.. WHEN SWITCHING FROM FM TO XM THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN AUDIO VOLUME. THE VOLUME WHILE LISTENING TO XM IS WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER AS NORMAL HOWEVER WHEN SWITCHING TO FM THE VOLUME IS ONLY 1/2 (WITHOUT ADJUSTING/MODIFYING VOLUME LEVEL) OF WHAT IT WAS AND NOW REQUIRES ALMOST 3/4 VOLUME ADJUSTMENT AND SOUNDS MUTED AND STILL CANNOT ACHEIVE SAME SOUND QUALITY. HAVE DISCUSSED THIS W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11289209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289211 · 2019-12-16 (December 16, 2019)
2019 BUICK ENCORE SPORT TOURING WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT CONTROL. THE ISSUE IS AN ANNOYING SENSOR FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS LED DRL'S AND THUS BELIEVE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE ACTIVATED UNTIL DUSK AT THE EARLIEST. HOWEVER ON THIS VEHICLE THE SENSOR WITH ACTIVATE THE HEADLIGHTS IN FULL NOON SUN-WHILE AT OTHER TIMES CAN TRAVEL THROUGH A DARK TUNNEL AND THEY WILL NOT AVTIVATE UNTILL YOU EXIT AND ENTER DAYLIGHT ONCE AGAIN. HAVE HAD TIMES WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON THEN PULL INTO MY HOME GARAGE (NOT WELL LIT) AND HAVE THE HEADLI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11289211 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V774000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module | Air Bags
Reported: 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18365.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V668000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2020-10-29 (October 29, 2020)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
NHTSA campaign record ↗