2021 Buick Encore GX Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe an engine power reduced warning and limp mode, frequently linked to the turbocharger, sometimes with the car slowing sharply on the highway. Shift to Park messages that appear even when the shifter is in Park, sometimes keeping the car from shutting off, are the next most common theme, followed by brake complaints and camera or lane-warning faults. These messages often clear briefly after the shifter is jiggled or pushed, or after the car is restarted.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine power reduced, limp mode or turbo failure

   • 18 complaints (34%)
   • median 43,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the check engine light coming on with an engine power reduced message, followed by sluggish acceleration, jerking, or a limp mode that restricts speed, sometimes at highway speed. Several complaints say a turbocharger was found to have failed or was reporting boost faults, and some say the problem returned after repair. Other complaints trace the power loss to a coolant control valve, melted wiring, or a communication fault, and some say the needed part was on back order for weeks. The few reports with a mileage fall between about 32,500 and 45,000 miles, and some describe the first failures within a couple of years of ownership.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the turbocharger special coverage bulletin applies to this vehicle's engine and VIN, and whether any earlier turbo or power-reduced repairs were done. On a test drive, check for hesitation or limp mode on a highway on-ramp and whether the check engine light or power reduced message appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Have had my car in the shop multiple time to be put on computer. It states under boost in the turbo. This car is barley 3 years old . And when the check engine light comes on the car goes into limp mode. This is just crazy . I've read more and more people complaining about this but buick doesn't want to do anything about it”

   NHTSA complaint #11607294, filed 2024-08

   “Turbo charger has gone out 4 times since I purchased it in April 2021. I have been on the interstate driving and suddenly my car slows down and a message that says “engine power reduced” comes up and my check engine light comes on. This is dangerous as I was on the interstate with 18 wheelers and could’ve been rear ended and badly hurt or killed. My grandchildren could’ve been in the car with me. When this happens the vehicle slows down considerably and does not accelerate properly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11658466, filed 2025-05
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shift to Park warning while already in Park

   • 12 complaints (23%)
   • median 57,500 mi at 5.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe a Shift to Park message and an alarm even when the shifter is already in Park, with the vehicle failing to shut off or start normally. Some say jiggling or pushing the shifter clears the message, though it returns, and some say the battery drained or the car could not be locked as a result. A few mention the engine shutting off unexpectedly while shifting to park, and some say no recall has been issued and the repair was not covered. Reported mileage falls between about 17,500 and 61,000 miles.

   What to check: Before buying, have the Shift to Park messages checked and ask whether any software update or shifter repair has already been done. On a test drive, shift into Park, then turn the vehicle off to confirm the message clears and the engine shuts off normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Once a day sometimes twice, when I have pulled into a parking spot and put the car into Park, a bell alarm sounds and a message shows up to put the car into Park. Since I already put it into Park I then jiggle the stick shift lightly and the bell alarms stops and message disappears. This started within last 6 months.”

   NHTSA complaint #11675695, filed 2025-07

   “When the car is in park it will display shift to park. This has been an issue just trying to get my car int park. The car will not turn off because it thinks it is not in park when it is. I have to keep turning car on and off and trying over and over for it to stay in park.”

   NHTSA complaint #11564958, filed 2024-01
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal feel, sudden stops or brake failure

   • 9 complaints (17%)
   • median 29,510 mi at 3.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe brake pedals that feel very hard to press or firm with warning lights on, and some describe a sudden stop or delayed braking. Some complaints describe a master cylinder that needed replacing, a brake system control module fault, and a brake system failure message with a reduced top speed. Some say the dealer did not find a clear fault, and some report the vehicle was still unrepaired at the time of the complaint. Reports with a mileage are mostly early in ownership, from under 1,000 to about 6,500 miles, though another reports about 81,000 miles.

   Recall 20V588000

   What to check: Ask whether the electronic brake boost recall listed for this model applies to the vehicle's VIN, since some complaints say the VIN was not included. Have a mechanic read the brake and ABS codes and check the brake booster and master cylinder before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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”

   NHTSA complaint #11431435, filed 2021-09

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11420749, filed 2021-06
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Rear or front camera and lane warning faults

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 54,701 mi at 4.3 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe rear-view camera images that look distorted or go black, sometimes with a message to repair the rear camera. Other complaints describe the front camera system pulling the car back and forth across lane lines, lane departure warnings that do not light, and adaptive cruise control that stops working. Some complaints say the mechanic could not determine the source of the failure, and the vehicle was not repaired. Reported mileage falls between about 22,000 and 87,000 miles, and some rear camera problems appear only occasionally.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the rear camera by shifting into reverse several times, and check the front camera system for lane departure and adaptive cruise messages on a test drive. Ask whether the camera-related bulletins listed for this model year have been applied, and whether the front camera was checked after any windshield work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About 6 times in the last 3 months when I put the car into reverse and the reverse camera comes on the image is kind of sketchy and in weird colors - definitely not clear then it completely goes black with message at the top saying something about getting the rear camera repaired. It doesn't happen often but I can't use the rear camera when it does that so it's back to old school when in reverse looking everywhere and in mirrors before moving. It hasn't happened but once so far this month July 2025 but thought you should know.”

   NHTSA complaint #11675701, filed 2025-07

   “The Frontview camera or its software is the issue. It allows the car to drift outside of the lane on both sides of the car before warning and or pulling you back over but then it just pulls you to the other line and lets you cross it back and forth if you let it and every time crossing the line. Extremely dangerous if you don't know that it's not functioning correctly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11760679, filed 2026-08

Buying note. Anyone considering this model year may want to ask for turbocharger and power-reduced repair records, watch for Shift to Park warnings during a test drive, and check brake and camera function before purchase. Asking whether the turbocharger special coverage applies to the specific vehicle is a practical step, since several owners describe repeat failures.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.