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The Buick Encore was Buick’s first sports utility vehicle (SUV). Launched in the U.S., Mexico, and China in 2012 for 2013, it is known as the Opel Mokka in Europe and is part of the Vauxhall brand in the UK. Its parent company is General Motors.
Even though it is heralded as Buick’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S. it has been plagued with problems since day 1.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2018 2019 2020
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2021 Buick Encore
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | |
| Engine | |
| Equipment | |
| Power Train | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:other Fuel Types:turbo/supercharger:intercooler | |
| Seat Belts | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Dynamic Brake Support/brake Assist | |
| Steering |
In 2013, consumer complaints to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website topped 50. There were 6 recalls of the first model and an investigation into airbag issues is still open.
Additionally, there have been an incredible 1,248 manufacturer communications from Buick to dealers warning of problems and faults. Since 2012, manufacturers have been required by law to share all these communications with NHTSA. They are regarded as early warning requirements.
So far, the 2021 model has a record of 8 complaints that cover 10 problems. There have been 2 recalls and 157 early warning documents. This may not sound like a lot, but complaints are lodged for years after a model is launched. For example, only 2 of the 50 complaints about the 2013 model are dated 2013.
NHTSA also undertakes tests to measure the safety of vehicles. The 2013 model got 5-star ratings in frontal and side crash tests, but only 4 stars for the rollover test. This measures the risk of rollover if the driver loses control of a vehicle. The rollover risk is 19.80%. The 2021 model also has a 4-star rating for rollover, although the rollover risk is slightly lower at 18.50%. Its frontal crash rating on the front passenger side is also only 4 out of 5 stars.
Most Common Problems with the 2021 Buick Encore
The most common problems with the 2021 Encore relate to its brakes, followed by dangerous issues with the emergency jack. A further 3 problems are reported in the complaint categories, Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance, and Steering.
2021 Buick Encore Brake Problems
Four complaints deal with brake problems. All might be related to a problem with the electronic brake boost that is the cause of a recall.
The first failure happened when the owner of an Encore with only 672 miles on the clock pulled into a parking space and the brake system failed. Numerous lights came on, including the brake lights. A message on the screen said: “Brake System Failure, 62 mph Top Speed.” Other messages also came up, including one mentioning power steering.
“I found that there are recalls on certain 2021 Buick Encore GX’s for an issue related to brake system failure. I was told, based on my VIN number, that my vehicle is not included in that specific recall. However, when my brake system failed, it did exactly what was described as the potential consequences of the brake failure issue in the vehicles recalled.”
The dealer said the vehicle needs a new master cylinder.
The second failure was in a leased 2021 Encore. “I noticed the brakes are very hard to press down and I can’t stop the vehicle over short distances. This seems dangerous and my dealership says nothing is wrong with the car. But I can tell something is wrong with the brakes and this isn’t how new brakes are supposed to feel. After Googling the symptoms, it seems to be a problem with the brake booster.”
Another complaint says. “First my power steering warning comes on my dash. Then my brake light comes on in red.” The driver slowed down enough to put the SUV into park mode.
The most recent complaint describes a delay in braking before the vehicle stopped. It mentions a sensor that would normally enable instant braking. But the dealer wasn’t able to determine the fault and the SUV wasn’t repaired.
2021 Buick Encore Equipment Problems
Two complaints categorized as Equipment problems relate to the emergency jack. There is a recall that affects as many as 135,400, some of which are 2021 Buick Encore GX models. The problem is that the jack can fracture while in use, which can cause the vehicle to collapse. This, in turn, may cause an injury.
The two Encore owners who complained did so after receiving the manufacturer’s recall notification. While neither had experienced a failure, they were both eligible for a new emergency jack free of charge. However, neither of the dealers complied.
One “removed the emergency jack and cleared the recall but failed to provide a replacement jack since parts were not yet available.” The other simply said the parts weren’t available.
A third complaint is filed as an engine problem for a vehicle with only 9,000 miles on the clock. It started with the vehicle stalling and the check engine warning light illuminating. He couldn’t restart the SUV. This happened multiple times. Even after repair, the failure persisted. After a second repair and another failure, the dealer diagnosed a need for software to be reprogrammed. Yet another diagnosis is that the engine might not be getting enough gasoline and should be repaired. The dealer also says the emergency jack must be repaired under recall.
There is no evidence in the complaint that any successful repairs had been achieved.
2021 Buick Encore Seat Belt Problems
The seat belt complaint is the result of a crash and also involves airbags that didn’t deploy. The SUV was idling at a stoplight when another vehicle crashed into it from behind. The driver and a passenger in the front seat were injured. The passenger developed a chest rash from the seat belt retracting. The driver was bruised and sustained thigh injuries.
A 9-year-old passenger in the back seat was jolted forward when the seat belt didn’t retract. The vehicle was a rental and the occupants filed a police report.
What to do if your 2021 Buick Encore is a lemon? Your Lemon Rights
Persistent problems typically indicate a lemon. Maybe you have had similar problems to those described here. Perhaps your problems are completely different. But if you suspect you’ve bought a lemon call the Lemberg Law Helpline and we’ll assess how we can help.
Lemberg Law has multiple lemon law clients with many different issues. We have negotiated varied deals for clients from refunds and buy-backs to trade-ins and replacement vehicles.
The law says General Motors must pay the legal fees of lemon law cases. So, it’s not going to cost you anything out of pocket.
Complaint Data
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Feb 04, 2023 |
| State | MI |
| Description | Already had turbo go on this car once back in july 2022. Mechanic replaced turbo with another one (used with 20,000 miles on it) due to the turbo for this car being on backorder. Now my car is throwing p0299 after about 20,000 more miles being put on the used turbo and a p0420 code. Changed rear catalytic. Changed upstream o2 sensor, changed wastegate solenoid, turbo seems to be working fine, no noises, but losing power going up hills at highway speeds. Seriously unhappy and no recalls on this vehicle but it has the same turbo as other vehicles that has had recalls!!! I think this should be a recall!!! |
| Category | Engine, Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Sep 22, 2022 |
| State | IL |
| Description | I'm in need of a repair on my 2021 buick encore gx. It was seen at gm of marion on july 30 for a warning light that came on as I was driving down the road after having an oil change. It stated my power was reduced. I took it in, and they told me they had just diagnosed this problem for another encore owner, and it took two weeks to get the part in. It is now september 22, and I still do not have this fixed. It is a safety concern and I have been calling gm about it almost weekly, trying to get some help. How is it safe for my daughter & I to be driving down the road with only half power? I cannot pass anyone - the speed isn't there. I can't just pull out or even merge onto the interstate for fear of being ran over. And gm does not appear to care. I've been told by multiple dealerships that gm has them. They just will not freely send them out to dealerships to repair cars. I think if they have a car sitting on their lot that has the part, they should be allowed to use it to take care of the one that is already sold. I'm at 31,000 miles, and they told me it may not be covered if I am outside of my warranty when they decide to send the part. I need some help! |
| Category | Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:other Fuel Types:turbo/supercharger:intercooler |
| Date | Sep 20, 2022 |
| State | MD |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 buick encore gx. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated with the “engine power reduced message displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and the vehicle failed to exceed 25 mph with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that the loss of power had become a recurring failure and occurred at various speeds. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, who diagnosed that the intercooler on the turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer multiple times for the engine failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Sep 07, 2022 |
| State | MI |
| Description | Had an oil change done 6/13/22. 6/21/22 temp gauge rose to 3/4 mark, ac shut off, car really hot under hood, loss of power, car threw crankshaft position sensor code which we replaced. Had the temp gauge do it few more times from 6/21/22 to 8/13/22 when temp gauge did the same thing and car really hot under hood, smoke from tailpipe and loss of power. Took to repair shop, they want to replace engine, oil lines, turbo and gaskets. Car has 121530 miles on it. |
| Category | Seat Belts |
| Date | Mar 14, 2022 |
| State | FL |
| Description | The contact rented a 2021 buick encore gx. The contact stated while idled at a stop light, another vehicle driving at approximately 45-50 mph crashed into the rear of their vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained bruises and thigh injuries. The front passenger sustained a chest rash from when the seat belt retracted. There was a 9-year-old occupant seated at the rear however the seat belt failed to retract causing her to jolt forward almost to the front driver's side seat. There was no medical attention received for any of the injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Dynamic Brake Support/brake Assist, Service Brakes |
| Date | Mar 03, 2022 |
| State | GA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 buick encore gx. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, there was a delay in braking before the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. The contact mentioned that there was sensor that caused the vehicle to brake instantly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 6,431. |
| Category | Engine |
| Date | Oct 06, 2021 |
| State | MD |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 buick encore gx. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, the rpm was fluctuating from 0 to 3,000 rpm. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact mentioned the failure recurred multiple times with the vehicle being unable to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the emergency jack needed to be repaired under recall. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a second time however, the failure was undetermined. After the third failure, the vehicle was diagnosed with an unknown software needing to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was diagnosed a fourth time and the contact was informed that the engine may not be receiving gasoline and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired each time however, the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000. |
| Category | Service Brakes, Steering |
| Date | Sep 01, 2021 |
| State | MI |
| Description | Driving at 5:10pm on aug 31, 2021 first my power steering warning comes on my dash. Then my brake light comes on in red. I was just starting to move w traffic and I turned down a side street. No brakes or steering I did slow down enough to put in park. Only 4000 miles on vehicle. Called on star they called tow truck took to dealership where I got the encore |
| Category | Equipment |
| Date | Aug 19, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 buick encore. The contact had received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v440000 (equipment) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair however, the dealer removed the emergency jack and cleared the recall but failed to provide a replacement jack since parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Equipment |
| Date | Aug 02, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | The contact owns a 2021 buick encore gx. The contact had received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v440000 (equipment) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the recall but informed the contact that parts were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Jun 13, 2021 |
| State | NY |
| Description | This week I leased a white buick encore gx fwd in the preferred model. After driving off the lot I noticed the brakes are very hard to press down and I can't stop the vehicle over short distances. This seems dangerous and my dealership says nothing is wrong with the car but I can tell something is wrong with the brakes and this isn't how new brakes are supposed to feel. After googling the symptoms it seems to be a problem with the brake booster. |
| Category | Service Brakes |
| Date | Jun 11, 2021 |
| State | GA |
| Description | The brake system failed upon pulling into a parking space. Had it happened a few, short moments before, there would have been a high probability of a crash. The vehicle was taken to hardy buick gmc chevrolet. Upon reading the codes, I was told that the vehicle needs a new master cylinder. (it has only 672 miles on it and I've owned it less than 3 weeks.) numerous lights came on, including: brakes, abs, traction control, engine, as well as 2 others. A message came up on the screen that said, "brake system failure, 62 mph top speed." there were other messages that cycled that I did not get to make note of, but one made mention of "power steering." upon research, I found that there are recalls on certain 2021 buick encore gx's for an issue related to brake system failure. I was told, based on my vin number, that my vehicle is not included in that specific recall, however, when my brake system failed, it did exactly as what was described as the potential consequences of the brake failure issue in the vehicles recalled. |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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