AI Damage2018 Buick Encore: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Buick Encore filed 74 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and service brakes. The maker issued 588 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 74
- involving a crash
- 10
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 588
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 39% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 7% of all complaints
- Engine: 29 complaints (39% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 61.
- Service brakes: 11 complaints (15% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 14.
- Powertrain: 10 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 53.
- Air bags: 10 complaints (14% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electrical system: 9 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 103.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 74 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 | 29 | 0 | 61 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 4 | 14 |
| Powertrain | 10 | 1 | 53 |
| Air bags | 10 | 6 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 9 | 0 | 103 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 | 11 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Electronic stability control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 109 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 36 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 24 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 15 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Both driver and front passenger wore seat belts, however the driver struck her head on steering wheel, loosing consciousness for several minutes. Side airbags deployed, however front air bags did not
While on the highway car suddenly had a brake and steering failure which resulted in injuries to myself. Zeigler and Buick are doing nothing to remedy situation and want to put myself and my family at risk
The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries nor sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure.
There was a high whining sound. I lost braking as my right foot depressed the pedal all the way to the floor. The car suddenly accelerated forward at an increased speed. It jumped the sidewalk curb, crossed the concrete sidewalk, and slammed into a cinder block wall column on the side of a building.
There was no fire due to the crash. The local dealer was not contacted and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who provided case number 9-[phone] however no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 6,000.
Airbags did not deploy upon auto accident. Impact area was front corner fender on passenger side. Possible gas released into passenger side of cabin smelled 'electrical' and 'smoke' filled passenger footboard area. No loss of coolant from car to explain smoke. Airbag warning light remains on dashboard display.
While the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, it inadvertently rolled away and crashed into another vehicle. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to a dealer (nye buick gmc, 1421 genesee st, oneida, [ZIP], [phone]) where it was awaiting to be diagnosed and repaired.
I updated them on recent occurrences, flashing check engine light, the code active for 2-3k miles, and they performed a road test, and declared it wasn't a problem. I told them i recently spent 5k on repairing my cooling and AC system because the turbo, they said that wouldn't affect those components, meanwhile i
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 708 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Encore has 34 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 74, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- 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
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000…
This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
NHTSA lists 588 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 2018 Buick Encore?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, service brakes, powertrain. Total complaints: 74. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (35%), loss of power / limp mode (12%), stalls while driving (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Buick Encore?
NHTSA lists 588 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 2018 Buick Encore 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 2018 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.