2018 Buick Encore Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Encore years
- About as many complaints as other years 5th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Buick Encore. That ranks 5th out of 10 Encore model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (29 complaints, 39%), typically at around 89,254 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 9 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 74owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Buick Encore problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 29 | 39% | 89,254 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 15% | 14,684 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 10 | 14% | 10,150 | — | — |
| Power Train | 10 | 14% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 10 | 14% | 7,312 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 12% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 8% | 40,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 7% | 54,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 4% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 4% | 27,684 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | 17,846 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 800 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 48,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Buick Encore recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2018 Buick Encore.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Not long after I purchased my car, i noticed it was lacking power during takeoff and when driving uphill which forced my car to hit very high RPMs during normal use. There was also a P0299 code that appeared then disappeared frequently. I discovered a turbo special coverage N232395330 and took it…
General Motors issued a Special Policy N202299080 covering 2014 Buick Encores. My 2018 Encore had the same issues and symptoms as this Policy. My concern is because of this known problem the crankcase can be pressurized causing oil leaks which could cause a fire. General Motors issued a Service…
Strong odor of gasoline, followed by a crack in the high pressure fuel line. Gasoline poured out under pressure from fuel line approximately 1 foot ahead of the right rear tire. Major amount of spillage - literally several gallons within a minute or so, that eventually faded as the system lost…
Request for Goodwill Assistance â Turbocharger Failure (Special Coverage XXX) Dear General Motors Customer Assistance, I am writing to request a one-time goodwill repair for my 2018 Buick Encore (VIN: [XXX]). Approximately two months after purchasing this vehicle, the check engine light…
I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding a repeated dangerous defect in my 2018 Buick Encore. The vehicle intermittently locks up while driving without warning. When this happens: brakes become unresponsive or lock steering becomes difficult or locks gas pedal does not respond dashboard…
Other Buick Encore years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Encore | 8 | 0 |
| 2021 Encore | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 Encore | 19 | 2 |
| 2019 Encore | 87 | 2 |
| 2018 | 74 | 0 |
| 2017 Encore | 89 | 2 |
| 2016 Encore | 80 | 2 |
| 2015 Encore | 124 | 4 |
| 2014 Encore | 60 | 4 |
| 2013 Encore | 52 | 6 |
See all Buick Encore problems by year, every Buick model, or the Buick VIN decoder.
Similar Buick models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Buick Encore?
Owners most often report engine, service brakes, air bags problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 29 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Buick Encore?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2018 Buick Encore a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Encore model years, the 2018 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.