AI Damage2023 Buick Encore GX: common problems
Owners of the 2023 Buick Encore GX filed 28 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 485 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 28
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 485
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 21% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 18% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 14% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 11% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 7% of all complaints
- Engine: 6 complaints (21% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 47.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 117.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Steering: 5 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 4 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 28 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 47 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 117 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 11 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 | 10 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 63 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 24 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Engine light. Codes, P146B, P0114, C2B00 @ 64000 miles and the emission purge pump has failed, ECU, purge solenoid. I see an extended warranty has gone out for the same year Envision. As this is the same P/N for this brand and same problems, (I.E.
Stabiltrack software jerking my car in a left curve. Took to dealership who seem to find nothing wrong. Reached out to GM with no response or action. Feels extremely dangerous in a left curve unless traction control and Stabilitrack is turned off.
Failure of the evaporative emission purge pump at 34,600 miles. Diagnostic code P146B (pump failure). VIN not included on the affected vehicle list but should be. Failed pump part number is 25204641 (matches affected pump part numbers).
Three nuts snapped, which secure the front muffler to the length of the exhaust system. The engine side of the exhaust pipe became disconnected and dragged along road, which occurred while driving the vehicle on a residential road.
After having the oil changed in February, the check engine light came on soon after. Car had left me stranded prior to the battery being replaced. After 4 times in the same shop, they say a bad ground connection may now be the problem, however they also said they recharged the battery the visit prior.
When starting from a traffic light after the green light, the car made mechanical noises and would not accelerate above approximately 25 mph. It seemed obvious at the time that the transmission had failed, which was later confirmed after being towed to the dealership.
The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired; however, after a test drive, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle operated as intended. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,978.
The shifter assembly failed. When shifting to Park, a "Shift to Park" message appears on the driver information center. Although the shift lever is in the Park position, it is not recognized, and the car cannot be turned off or locked.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,107 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 47% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Encore GX has 29 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 28, about average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- PI created to guide technicians through radio restriction process
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is…
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is currently investigating.
- This preliminary information is for technicians that may see DTCs that are history and should not perform…
This preliminary information is for technicians that may see DTCs that are history and should not perform any part replacements. They should follow the notes mentioned prior to anything being replaced.
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers a procedure to reset the radio
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- This Preliminary Information provides the dealer information of the location of the rear seat child anchors
- This Preliminary Information provides a diagnostic tip for diagnosing an issue with Cruise Control,…
This Preliminary Information provides a diagnostic tip for diagnosing an issue with Cruise Control, Adaptive Cruise and Lane Keep Assist Turns Off or Inoperative.
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the direction needed when encountering an…
This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the direction needed when encountering an issue with switching between adaptive cruise control and regular cruise control or an issue with automatic high beam…
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an…
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an OTA event and how to reset/clear the message.
NHTSA lists 485 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Buick Encore GX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 28. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (14%), A/C or heater (11%), jerking, harsh shifts (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2023 Buick Encore GX?
NHTSA lists 485 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2023 Buick Encore GX from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2023 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.