2018 Buick Encore problems
Owners have filed 109 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Buick Encore. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 28% of complaints. Next are brakes (10%) and air bags (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 109 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 28% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 14 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 10 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 20,000 miles 41 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 18 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 41 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 20,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 14 complaints mention a crash; 10 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2018 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 8 model years of the Buick Encore with enough data (67 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
When crossing through an intersection at approximately 45mph, I was struck by another vehicle, speed unknown, who failed to stop at a stop sign. My vehicle was struck on the front passenger corner. My vehicle continued in a forward motion for several hundred feet. Both driver and front passenger wore seat belts, however the driver struck her head on steering wheel, loosing consciousness for several minutes. Side airbags deployed, however front air bags did not
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.
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 attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the body damage was repaired. A police report was filed. There was no fire due to the crash.
The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was shaking abnormally with the check engine and stabili-trak warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the warning lights were cleared, and the vehicle drove normally. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but was a recurring failure.
The contact owned a 2018 Buick Encore. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Service AWD" warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning light remained illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.