NHTSA has 52 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Buick Encore, received from 2013 to 2023. The most-reported system is engine (23 complaints, 44%), followed by electrical system (8) and power train (7). Owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries and 0 deaths. Median mileage at failure: 21,693 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014, with 16 received that year. 6 safety recalls cover this model year.
52NHTSA complaints
6safety recalls
4crashes reported
0fires reported
2injuries
0deaths
Quick answers
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Buick Encore?
Owners report engine problems most often: 23 of 52 NHTSA complaints (44%), followed by electrical system (8) and power train (7).
How many recalls does the 2013 Buick Encore have?
NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2013 Buick Encore. The most recent is 16V502000 (electrical system, 2016-07-05).
At what mileage do 2013 Buick Encore problems happen?
The median mileage at failure is 21,693 miles, across 39 complaints that reported mileage.
Have owners reported crashes or fires in the 2013 Buick Encore?
Yes. Owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries and 0 deaths in NHTSA complaints.
Problems by system
System
Complaints
Share
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Median miles
Engine
23
44%
0
0
0
47,000
Electrical system
8
15%
1
0
1
9,470
Power train
7
13%
2
0
1
22,500
Speed control
6
12%
0
0
0
36,115
Air bags
5
10%
2
0
2
22,802
Fuel system
4
8%
0
0
0
66,790
Seat belts
3
6%
0
0
0
–
Service brakes
3
6%
1
0
0
13,319
Tires
3
6%
0
0
0
18,000
Seats
2
4%
0
0
0
45,000
Unknown or other
2
4%
0
0
0
29,950
Equipment
1
2%
0
0
0
–
Steering
1
2%
0
0
0
16,948
Structure
1
2%
1
0
0
2,000
Wheels
1
2%
0
0
0
21,693
A complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints received by year
2013220141620157201662017620187201952021120232
Safety recalls (6)
16V502000 · Electrical system · 2016-07-05
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.
Risk: If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014 and will send a second notification when remedy parts are available. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14171.
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
Risk: A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
Risk: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured April 10, 2013, to May 8, 2013, and Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured December 30, 2012, to March 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, an improper weld on the passenger side front air bag inflator may result in the air bag not deploying.
Risk: If the air bag does not to deploy in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the front passenger.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick) or 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14211.
Defect: General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured between December 9, 2012 and December 28, 2012, and equipped with a heated steering wheel. The steering wheel fastener may not have been properly installed. This could cause the steering wheel to come loose or separate from the steering column.
Risk: If the steering wheel separates from the steering column while driving, the ability to steer could be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and make any necessary repairs on the steering wheel. These services will be provided at no charge to the customer. The safety recall began on May 21, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300. This is General Motors campaign number 13098.
My car had problems with overheating. I check my oil and coolant levels. My car show check engine light so I took it to mechanics to get check. The invoice states possible blown head gaskets. I research online similar complaints with other Buick Encore 2013. I just this car March 2023 has about…
Engine · NHTSA complaint 11561388, received 2023-12-21
The check engine light came and took the car to O'Reillys and was informed it had low turbo boost code took car to the dealership and they indeed confirmed that was the issue and that it would be over $3000.00 to fix!!! I bought this car 4 months ago and this seems to be an issue with a few other…
Engine · NHTSA complaint 11532722, received 2023-07-17
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…
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 11154446, received 2018-11-28
Tl*the contact owns a 2013 buick encore. The contact stated that the gauges in the instrument panel were very hard to be seen while the sun was out. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was notified…
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 10691789, received 2015-03-03
The turbo charger is underboost and can explode the engine with oil flying everywhere
Power train · NHTSA complaint 11430630, received 2021-08-26
The engine oil cooler is leaking. The front driver axle shaft seal is leaking. The car is running too lean the check engine light is on. I replaced the air filter and clean fuel injectors and the car is sputtering and the check engine light is still on. The car sputters when stationary as well as…
Power train · NHTSA complaint 11186693, received 2019-03-14
Other Buick Encore model years
2014 · 60 complaints
2015 · 124 complaints
2016 · 80 complaints
2017 · 90 complaints
2018 · 74 complaints
2019 · 88 complaints
2020 · 19 complaints
2021 · 9 complaints
2022 · 8 complaints
Source
Built from the NHTSA complaints flat file and the NHTSA recalls flat files, data as of 2026-10-22. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular models collect more of them.