2020 Buick Encore GX Electrical Problems

I am submitting this complaint regarding several serious mechanical and electrical issues with my 2020 Buick Encore GX that raise significant concerns about the vehicle's reliability and safety. Most concerning, I was recently informed by the dealership that my vehicle requires another transmission replacement, despite having the transmission replaced in 2024. I was also advised that I would need to pay for an additional diagnostic inspection because technicians discovered oil leaking through the lines, which appears to have contaminated engine components. According to the dealership, metal particles have been found within the engine, causing it to malfunction. They have stated that they are unable to determine the source of the contamination at this time. In addition to these major mechanical concerns, I am experiencing several electrical and system malfunctions, including: The passive keyless entry system does not consistently unlock the doors using the exterior door handle, even with a brand-new battery installed in the key fob. The vehicle repeatedly displays a "Shift to Park" warning even though the gear selector is already in the Park position. The vehicle continues to display brake-related alerts and notifications indicating that the brakes need to be serviced or replaced, despite having brand-new brakes installed. These ongoing issues have resulted in repeated repair costs, loss of confidence in the vehicle, and concerns about my safety while driving. The transmission failure occurring shortly after a previous replacement, combined with unexplained engine contamination and persistent electronic malfunctions, suggests there may be underlying defects that warrant further investigation. I respectfully request that these issues be thoroughly investigated to determine whether they are related to known manufacturing defects or warrant a safety recall or other corrective action. I also request that Buick review my repair history and provide appropriate assistance.

NHTSA ID

11752226

Incident

Jul 18, 2026

My 2020 Buick Encore GX is showing a message with accompanying ding ding sounds "Shift to Park" after I put my car in park. This malfunction will not allow the car to be locked. I see there are many complaints and lawsuits that GM has not attended to. How do we get GM to initiate a recall on something they are and were well aware of.

NHTSA ID

11719307

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

SHIFT INTO PARK WARNING WHEN CAR IS IN PARK

NHTSA ID

11701517

Incident

Nov 3, 2025

When I put the car in park and go to turn off the car, I'm getting a "Shift to Park" error when the car is already in park. This error will not allow the car to shut off. I have to shift it back out of gear and then back to park several times before it will recognize that it's in park and allow me to turn off the car.

NHTSA ID

11686346

Incident

Aug 28, 2025

I purchased a car from Carvana , a few days later the airbag light came on , I was instructed by Carvana to call the warranty place and let them no there was a problem. They instructed me to go to Levanders body shop in GrandIsland Ne . The body shop ran a diagnostic and could not find why the light was going off so they removed the passenger knee panel to which they found the wires were taped and the airbags and wire harness were missing , they decided to further check and found ALL the airbags in the car were missing and so were the wire harnesses.This obviously was not stated in the purchase of the car. Had that light not came on I still would not know. I drove it for a week with my child in the car thankgoodness i didnt get an a accident . i have pictures but it wont allow me to upload for some reason

NHTSA ID

11639069

Incident

Jan 17, 2025

When I park the vehicle doesn’t recognize that I switched my gear to park and it won’t let me turn my vehicle off and when I have my foot on the brake it feels like sponginess

NHTSA ID

11632919

Incident

Sep 11, 2024

For the past several months, my 2020 Buick Encore has been giving me a message to shift to park even though I placed my vehicle to park. This then does not allow my car to shut off, because it believes I am still in drive. I tried making an appointment with the dealership a month ago and their earliest availability was today, 12/10/2024. I took my Buick in, and they wrote me and stated that they figured out the issue and the shifter control would need to be replaced and was not covered under my powertrain warranty. I see this has been an issue on several Buicks and I even found the service notification Buick sent out for this specific issue. This is a definite safety issue since I cannot turn my vehicle off because it does not believe I am actually in park. This needs to be recalled for these vehicles since Buick is aware of the issue. I am getting the shifter control replaced, but due to it being a safety concern, it should be covered by Buick. Instead, this is being told to me that it is a $400 replacement part and not covered under Buick's warranty. I wanted to file a complaint so NHTSA can be aware of this issue.

NHTSA ID

11629850

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

The dash shows an error message "Shift to park" whenever I put the car in park. This message last for about 10 minutes or more locking me in the car. The car does not shut off until the error is gone. I have to continue starting up the car, placing it in park, then cutting it off to see if the message is gone.

NHTSA ID

11629777

Incident

Dec 8, 2024

Since the repair, the original claim no. 11619901. the checked off stuff no longer works. This lapse has occurred around sep. 20 to present day

NHTSA ID

11620758

Incident

Sep 20, 2024

"Shift toPark"message is displayed on the dic shifter control leaver

NHTSA ID

11602047

Incident

Jan 17, 2024

While driving this 2020 Buick Encore GX with around 7,000 miles on the odometer, the entire electrical/electronic system shut down. Windows were inoperative, the AC stopped, the radio failed, the flashers did not work, etc. The only things that worked were the engine and brakes. I have no idea if the brake lights worked. I was able to drive the car to the dealership - Van Buick GMC in Scottsdale, Arizona where the car is now sitting and awaiting their inspection. In the 95 degree temperature here in AZ, I thought that I would die as I could not open the doors. I have since learned that I could have opened the doors by pulling the door handle twice. No one ever educated me on this. There were no advance warnings prior to the failure. This car is a death trap. Please NHTSA help me.

NHTSA ID

11460179

Incident

Apr 8, 2022

CAR HAS LESS THAN 30 (THIRTY) MILES ON IT; GARAGED SINCE PURCHASE BC OF PANDEMIC; STARTED OCCASIONALLY; BATTERY DEAD WHEN I TRIED TO GO OUT LAST WEEK; CHARGED BATTERY; DIED AGAIN; CHARGED AGAIN; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALERTED ONSTAR, WHO SENT EMAIL STATING PROBLEMS W/ENGINE & TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, POSSIBLE ISSUES W/FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, EMISSIONS CONTROL, MISFIRE CONDITION... ONLY 30 MILES! NEW CAR! JUST DROVE HOME FROM DEALERSHIP AND PARKED IT. TRIED CHATTING W/BUICK CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, BUT THEY CUT ME OFF 3 TIMES OVER 2 HOURS, SO I GAVE UP THAT EXERCISE IN FUTILITY. DEALERSHIP IS UNPLEASANT; TRYING A DIFFERENT DEALER. GOOGLED RECALLS. THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM RECALL ON THE 2021 ENCORE GX, BUT MINE IS A 2020. WHY WOULD A BRAND NEW, $38,000-CAR BE SO FRIGHTENINGLY UNRELIABLE? I TRADED IN TWO CARS AND SAVED MANY YEARS TO BUY THIS. I'M AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE IT IN FOR SERVICE. MY DAD WAS A PATENTED ENGINEER. I MISS MY DAD.

NHTSA ID

11415944

Incident

May 5, 2021

Mileage

30 mi

WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED SQUEAKING OF BRAKES AND PROBLEMS ECCENTRICALLY WITH WIPERS AND BACK GATE LIGHT OPEN CLOSE LIGHT, REPORTED TO TEXIAN DEALER AND NOTHING WAS DONE, CAR OF COURSE IN MOTION AND MOVING. LATER AFTER COMPLAIN OF PROBLEMS TEXAN DEALER RESPONDED TO DEAF EARS, I TOLD THEM I DID NOT WANT THIS VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING AND NEVER DID. I WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER(DEMONTROND BUICK) AND BK CUSTOMER SERVICE LISTENED TO THE ISSUES AND PUT NEW BRAKES IN CAR, IT STILLS SQUEAKS BUT NOT AS MUCH AS BEFORE. CAR WAS WORKED ON BUT AT LEAST THEY TRIED TO FIND AND FIX PROBLEMS. THE WIPERS INTERMITTENT NEVER WORKED AND THEY GOT THEM TO WORK BUT ONLY WIPE AFTER ABOUT 35 TO 55 SECONDS AFTER TURNED ON AND EVEN IN DRIVING, THE LIFT GATE STILL AT TIMES DOES NOT WORK, THE CAR IS A LEMON, VERY DISAPPONTED AND SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO THIS VEHICHLE AND WARN PEOPLE ESP ABOUT THE BRAKES, COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO HAVE A CRASH AND BE KILLED.

NHTSA ID

11388744

Incident

Apr 1, 2020

Mileage

100 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 9/25/2020. RECALL NHTSA# 20V588 ISSUED 9/24/2020. I WAS NOT CONTACTED BY DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD VEHICLE UNTIL 9/29/2020. THERE WAS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON VEHICLE. RECALL STATUS: INCOMPLETE REMEDY NOT YET AVALABLE.

NHTSA ID

11375689

Incident

Sep 25, 2020

Mileage

227 mi