Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Nov 28, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 52 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Buick Encore submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming electrical
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 28, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURES. ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE HEATED THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE THE OTHER SIDE WAS NOT ABLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED REGARDING THE JERKING AND HEATING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA ID
11154446
Incident
Aug 28, 2018
Mileage
108,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS NOT PROPERLY GENERATING THE CORRECT ROUTES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VOICE RESPONSE FEATURE WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE CONTACT'S VOICE. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FAILURE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE RADIO, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC FROM THE SECOND DEALER STATED THAT THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE REMEDY NEEDED TO BE DETERMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO RECEIVE THE WRONG ROUTE INFORMATION WITHOUT VOICE COMMAND CONNECTION WITH THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10706356
Incident
Jun 27, 2014
Electrical
Filed Mar 3, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE VERY HARD TO BE SEEN WHILE THE SUN WAS OUT. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN
NHTSA ID
10691789
Incident
Feb 13, 2015
Mileage
14,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 9, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported
IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE RACED CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AND SLAM INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR CAUSING OVER $5K WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE ENCORE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE IMPACT WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE REAR GLOVE BOX OPENED TOSSING THE CONTENTS OUT INTO THE TRUNK. *TR
NHTSA ID
10643646
Incident
Aug 26, 2014
Mileage
22,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 7, 2014
**NO ACCIDENT** SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE OF MY CAR I HAVE HAD TROUBLE SLIDING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. IT NORMALLY TAKES AT LEAST A FEW ATTEMPTS AND CAN REQUIRE SOME LIGHT FORCE TO INSERT THE KEY. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, MY LOCAL BUICK DEALERSHIP WILL BE REPLACING THE IGNITION DURING MY APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK. AS WELL, THE LAST TIME I WAS AT THE DEALER, ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE BUICK ENCORE. I AM REPORTING THIS ISSUE SIMPLE OUT OF CONCERN DUE TO ALL OF THE IGNITION ISSUES GM HAS RECENTLY HAD. AS THIS IS ANOTHER POTENTIAL ISSUE I STRONGLY FEEL IT SHOULD BE RESEARCHED. THANK YOU! *TR
NHTSA ID
10643038
Incident
Sep 25, 2013
Mileage
500 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 18, 2014
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT UP ENOUGH ON A SUNNY DAY TO BE ABLE TO CHECK SPEED, FUEL OR THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THESE SHOULD BE EASILY READ AT A GLANCE SO AS TO KEEP EYES ON THE ROAD. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO ON THE ENCORE. ON ONE OCCASION, I ACTUALLY HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO CHECK THE FUEL GAUGE. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND ALSO TO BUICK AND THEY TELL ME THAT EVERYTHING IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATION. THIS IS AN UNSAFE AUTOMOBILE TO NOT BE ABLE TO QUICKLY CHECK SPEED ETC. *TR
NHTSA ID
10626070
Incident
Sep 3, 2013
Mileage
10 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2014
I WAS DRIVING A BUICK ENCORE, RENTAL CAR, AND AFTER USING THE WIPERS, MY HAND TOUCHED THE IGNITION KEY (BARELY TOUCHED IT) AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT INTO PARK TO RESTART THE CAR. I RETURNED IT TO THE RENTAL PLACE RIGHT AWAY AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10576467
Incident
Mar 7, 2014
Mileage
7,400 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 3, 2014
CAR RAN GREAT THEN I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE POWER REDUCED CAME ACROSS DASH AND THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR, RADIO AND LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. ALMOST CAUSED 3 DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS TRYING TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC.SCAN CHECK SYSTEM, P2101, PER DOCUMENT ID:[XXX] DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY AND PERFORM JDLE RELEARN PROCEDURE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10566897
Incident
Feb 28, 2014
Mileage
11,540 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 2014
2013 BUICK ENCORE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CAN NOT BE READ IN SUNNY WEATHER. *SMD THE SPEEDOMETER, HEAT AND FUEL GAUGES COULD NOT BE READ.*JB
NHTSA ID
10563044
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
250 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own