2013 Buick Encore Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a check engine light followed by a reduced engine power warning and loss of acceleration, with some restarting the engine to clear it. Engine stalls and shutdowns while driving are also described, along with passenger airbag warning lights that switch off or stay off with an adult in the seat. Where mileage is listed, reports range from a few hundred to about 108,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Reduced engine power warning with check engine light

   • 10 complaints (19%)
   • median 62,395 mi at 4.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2019

   Owners describe a check engine light coming on, followed by an engine power reduced message, a loss of acceleration, and in some cases the car coasting to the side of the road. Some say restarting the engine cleared the problem for a while, and others say the warning returned after repairs. According to the complaints, dealers replaced or cleaned throttle body parts, changed sensors, or replaced a catalytic converter. Where mileage is listed, reports range from about 2,000 to 102,000 miles, and some started while accelerating from a stop or at a traffic light.

   What to check: Ask for a full scan for stored codes and for records of any throttle body, sensor, or catalytic converter repairs. During a test drive, watch for a reduced power message, a flashing check engine light, or a loss of acceleration from a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Lately I'm having a issue with this car, first my check engine light came on and is still on and now all of a sudden I can be at a light or driving down the street and the engine power reduce warning comes across my display screen, I can't accelerate so I have to coast it to the side of the road, shut it off, wait 30 seconds and restart the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11061140, filed 2018-01, 70,000 miles

   “My car drove fine and then I stopped at a red light at a busy intersection when my traction control and check engine light came on and the engine power reduced came across the dashboard. The lights, wipers, radio and engine was still running but when pressing on the gas pedal the car would not accelerate. I had to wave people to go around me put it in park and shut it down for 30 seconds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10704562, filed 2015-04, 27,230 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalling or shutting off while driving

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 7,776 mi at 2.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2018

   Owners describe the engine stalling or shutting off without warning, sometimes while driving and sometimes at idle, and in some cases the engine would not restart. Some describe losing power steering and power brake assist along with the shutdown, and a complaint links a shutdown to a light touch on the ignition key. A report links a shutdown to a burning oil smell and black exhaust smoke, and some dealers could not diagnose the failure. Where mileage is listed, reports range from about 7,400 to 47,000 miles, and the shutdowns were described at highway speed, while idling in park, and after shifting from reverse into drive.

   What to check: Ask for a full scan for stored codes and for any dealer records of shutdowns or throttle collar replacement. Ask whether oil consumption was checked, since a report describes a burning oil smell with black smoke before the engine died.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving a Buick Encore, rental car, and after using the wipers, my hand touched the ignition key (barely touched it) and the engine turned off leaving me with no power steering or power brakes. I managed to get to the side of the road and put it into park to restart the car. I returned it to the rental place right away and reported the problem to them.”

   NHTSA complaint #10576467, filed 2014-04, 7,400 miles

   “Was making a turn from a side street and the power steering stopped working and then the engine shut off. Was able to pull into a parking spot near the corner. The vehicle would not re-start and had to be towed to the dealership. The dealership updated steering wheel codes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10671754, filed 2015-01, 16,948 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag off light and non-deployment

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • median 22,651 mi at 2.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2017

   Owners describe the passenger airbag warning light switching between on and off, or staying off, even with an adult in the seat. A complaint says the passenger seat sensor detects a passenger only part of the time, so the airbag is off at other times, and another says the light came back on shortly after a dealer adjusted the sensor. Crash reports describe airbags not deploying in a rollover and in a front impact, and the rollover complaint says the driver needed medical attention. Where mileage is listed, reports range from about 22,500 to 35,000 miles, and the sensor complaints occurred in driveways and while driving.

   Recall 14V298000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 14V298000 for the passenger airbag inflator applies to the vehicle and was completed. Check whether the passenger seat sensor or passenger presence module has been serviced, and ask the dealer to show that the airbag status light reads on with an adult seated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased a used 2013 Buick Encore with 21,115 miles. After two (2) months the passenger airbag light starting showing off when my wife was seated in the car, she weighs 110 lbs. It would come on then go off or not come on at all. Took car to nearby dealership, they stated no problem, we can adjust the sensor all the way down to 85 lbs. About half way home the passenger airbag off light came back on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10899686, filed 2016-08, 22,802 miles

   “In a line of traffic getting ready to make a left turn and without warning, the engine raced causing the car to accelerate and slam into the rear of another car causing over $5k worth of damage to the Encore. The air bags did not go off. The impact was so intense that the rear glove box opened tossing the contents out into the trunk.”

   NHTSA complaint #10643646, filed 2014-10, 22,500 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected surges, jerks, or coasting while driving

   • 15 complaints (29%)
   • median 18,500 mi at 2.5 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2023

   Owners describe the vehicle creeping forward with the brake applied, and the engine racing so the car accelerated into traffic. Others describe a forward collision warning that braked and disengaged cruise control with no vehicle ahead, leaving the car to coast, as well as jerking when the accelerator is pressed and a sudden deceleration in a parking lot. Where mileage is listed, reports range from about 200 to 108,000 miles, and the events were described on highways, local roads, and in a parking lot.

   What to check: Ask for dealer records of any forward collision warning or cruise control complaints. During a test drive, check for creeping with the brake applied, jerking when the accelerator is pressed, and any unexpected braking or cruise disengagement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Premium trim level has forward collision warning. On at least six occasions beginning november of last year (2013), the forward collision warning has come on with no vehicle in front for hundreds of feet and has disengaged the cruise control, essentially causing the vehicle to coast until the accelerator was manually depressed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10641239, filed 2014-10, 6,000 miles

   “Contact was driving a 2013 Buick Encore (~58,000 miles) in a large parking lot when there was a sudden deceleration, the malfunction indicator lamp and traction off light came on with a message engine power is reduced. Message cleared after turning off the vehicle and restarting; malfunction indicator lamp remained on. Dealership states problem with throttle body and need to clean carbon -- $1,059 so far.”

   NHTSA complaint #10897718, filed 2016-08, 58,000 miles

Buying note. For someone considering this model year, ask for a full scan and repair records for any throttle body, sensor, or catalytic converter work, and ask whether recall 14V298000 for the passenger airbag applies and was completed. Test drive the car from a stop and under acceleration, since complaints describe reduced power, stalling, and unexpected surges in everyday driving.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 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.