2018 Buick Encore Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owned a 2018 Buick Encore. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Service AWD" warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning light remained illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

NHTSA ID

11726518

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

Mileage

85,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Encore. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the transmission malfunctioned while in first gear, and the vehicle hesitated to accelerate from being stationary. Additionally, the message "Stabilizer" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yetbeen determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 147,000.

NHTSA ID

11668594

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

Mileage

147,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11566389

Incident

Jan 17, 2023

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

NHTSA ID

11472397

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

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

NHTSA ID

11470352

Incident

Jun 21, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11426458

Incident

May 10, 2021

Mileage

800 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11389714

Incident

Jan 10, 2021

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID

11388856

Incident

Dec 30, 2020

Mileage

7,132 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11282934

Incident

Jul 22, 2019

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID

11115310

Incident

Jul 11, 2018

Mileage

5,200 mi