NHTSA — Power Train Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,642 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Buick Encore drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2018 Buick Encore Owner Comments

problem #8

Jan 172023

Encore

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Turbo has gone out four times in less than a year. Car is unable to accelerate and goes way below speed limit on highway which puts me and my passengers in an unsafe position traveling on a high limit road. No. Only inspected by the auto repair places I have been. No warnings prior to the Turbo going out. Turbo goes out while going up hills or going at higher rates of speed.

- Hudson, WI, USA

problem #7

Jul 012022

Encore

  • miles
Feel like the car is loosing drive/power and not accelerating. I was driving and the engine light started flashing. No power to go up the hill, it could have gone backwards. Car does not accelerate made a whirring noise when it was turned off. Dangerous situation. Service Bulletin #N212338400

- Davie, FL, USA

problem #6

Jun 212022

Encore

  • miles
Stabilitrak warning comes on and car stalls out. Passenger seat belt doesn't clip person in correctly.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #5

May 102021

Encore

  • 800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact's girlfriend owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated while his girlfriend was driving 35 mph, the vehicle inadvertently shifted to neutral and all the door latches unlocked independently. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The driver continued driving to her destination. The contact stated he also experienced the same failure while driving up a hill. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact also took the vehicle to O'Meara Buick GMC (2000 W. 104th Ave, Thornton, CO 80234, (720) 712-0951) and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 800.

- Broomfield, CO, USA

problem #4

Jan 102021

Encore

  • 80,000 miles
With estimating my months over a span of 4 months I had my turbo charger replacedbecause it had gone bad. I was out of town the light came on. And when I return I took it to the shop they diagnose it and said it was a turbo charger. I had an extended warranty on the car so they replace the turbo charger with no problems give me a rental with no problems everything was covered.. and a month and a half later my engine light came on and I replaced the purge valve another month or so later the engine light came back on and it was a turbo charger gone bad again. It took about week to find out why the turbo charge went bad. They finally said it had something to do with the return and supply line like there was no lubrication coming through a hose tthat runs to the turbo charge. This is the only place that I've had my oil change since I bought the car from king Cadillac Buick GMC. I went one other place one other time and that was it.I wonder why they did not check the supply line when they change the turbocharger the first time is that not a part of changing the turbo charge. I was told that they have seen this issue before but not a lot.when this first happened I was on interstate 40 on my way to was to salem North Carolina. And I noticed a decline when I went to celebrate on the gas. When it happened the second time I was riding to church here in my hometown and the engine light came on and just riding around hell is as if the car did not want to go like I would give it to gas and it would hesitate or not want to drive.

- Florence, SC, USA

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problem #3

Dec 302020

Encore

  • 7,132 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the front end of the vehicle started to shake and shudder. The contact stated that the steering wheel to ceased and the vehicle loss motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to mark porter Chevrolet Buick GMC (42411 charles chancey drive, pomeroy, oh 45769). An unknown module was replaced and the vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,132.

- Shade, OH, USA

problem #2

Jul 222019

Encore

  • 48,000 miles
8/14-car was lacking power, service manager was able to duplicate issue on road test. 8/24-car service for rough idle and lack of power, service stabilitrak light on and check engine light on with an error code of P0171. In September, car started to shake while in park but no check engine light, dealer advise unable to do any repairs unless check engine light on. 11/27- check engine light on again for same code, P0171. Vehicle is currently in shop. Vehicle has had the same issues Dec 2018 and at the time of purchase. GM dealers are not able to fix turbo issue and P0171 issues. My vehicle is not operating as designed and it is a safety issue.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #1

Jul 112018

Encore

  • 5,200 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. 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, NY 13421, (315) 363-2200) where it was awaiting to be diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,200.

- Cassville, NY, USA

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