AI Damage2022 Buick Encore: common problems
Owners of the 2022 Buick Encore filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine and cooling. The maker issued 461 service bulletins for this year. We found 2 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 8
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 461
- YouTube repair videos
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 13% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 13% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 36.
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 83.
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 15.
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.2 L · petrol · turbo · 3 cyl
- 1.3 L · petrol · turbo · 3 cyl
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- automatic, 9-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 8 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 36 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 83 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 117 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 101 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 12 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
None of my air bags went off in my car and my car was totalled. My insurance company has possession of the car now.
I have had my vehicle to a GM dealer on a few occasions with the EMC code stored in the vehicle and an active check engine light on. While I’m driving - now during 70 percent or more of my trips - my vehicle loses power very suddenly and lunges me forward.
The EMC on the vehicle appears to be faulty. The vehicle is burning more than double the fuel than it should, and I’m able to smell a strong oil burning odor while driving it. The SUV lunges you forward violently when this defect begins to act up, which can be at any point in a short or longer trip.
The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the GMC mobile app alerted the contact of emissions failures and advised to contact the dealer for assistance.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,786.
Seatbelts on my year old Encore with only 15k are frayed and unraveling, I am having the vehicle in for other unrelated repairs on Friday and will be certain to inform the dealership at that time but feel that this is extremely dangerous and totally unacceptable in a year old vehicle and I feel like I or my passengers…
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 1,555 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 26% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Encore has 34 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 8, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
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
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- 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.
- Pi created to provide GM dealers with information on gathering information for projection issue
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- Improvements to OnStar functionality
- 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 Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic…
This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss
- Improvements to OnStar functionality
During the update process, your radio may stay on up to 5 minutes after you exit the vehicle. This is expected behavior when an update package is onboard the vehicle. Do not service your vehicle during installation.
- This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered…
This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered vehicles and advises of warranty direction.
NHTSA lists 461 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Buick Encore?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine and cooling, fuel system. Total complaints: 8. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (38%), seat belts (13%), smoke, burning smell, fire (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2022 Buick Encore?
NHTSA lists 461 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 2022 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 2022 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.