Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags 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.
11
Latest May 8, 2026
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.
13%
of 84 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
7
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2019 Buick Encore submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 airbag
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsEngineSuspension
Filed May 8, 2026
Car has airbag light on. The car keeps leaking which then caused damage to my spark plugs and coil pack. It then led to the O2 sensors being burned. It has been at the dealership multiple times within a 3-week time frame. The low fuel light comes on when it is on a full tank, then it begins to hesitate and the car lunges forward when at a complete stop. Tires act like they cannot keep traction when all 4 tires are brand new and front rotors and brakes have been replaced. Yes, all my concerns have been brought to many dealerships' attention. It is unsafe and unreliable. The dealership said they could not replicate the issue but once I get back into my car it starts up.
NHTSA ID
11736708
Incident
Jan 5, 2026
Airbags
Filed Dec 22, 2025
Crash reported3 injuries reported
The contact owned a 2019 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 35 MPH, another vehicle failed to yield at a left turn, driving northbound, and crashed into the contact's vehicle on the front driver's side. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact's daughter and granddaughter were both injured and were later treated at the local hospital for soreness in various parts of their body. Both occupants sustained emotional trauma as a result of the accident. The other driver was also injured as a result of the accident and was transported to the hospital by ambulance; their injuries are unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard, where it was deemed a total loss. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
NHTSA ID
11706615
Incident
Dec 15, 2025
Mileage
135,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 4, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported
The airbags never deployed. I sustained a brain injury in the accident along with whiplash. I told the deputy on scene, that they did not deploy. My insurance looked at it. They totaled the car out. It is now sitting in a junk yard somewhere.
NHTSA ID
11685017
Incident
Sep 7, 2023
Airbags
Filed Aug 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 35 MPH and following the roadway to the left, all the side air bags deployed unexpectedly. The contact stated that his daughter was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated during the failure. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
NHTSA ID
11683986
Incident
Aug 29, 2025
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 30, 2024
Crash reported2 injuries reported
The contact owns a 2019 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at 20-25 MPH, the vehicle was suddenly rear-ended when the other vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign. As a result, the vehicle spun around and hit the curb, and a stop sign where it came to a stop. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. After the impact, the contact received a notice on her phone that there was a problem with the air bag. The vehicle failed to restart after the crash. The contact went to the Urgent care clinic and was transported to the Hospital via ambulance. The contact suffered injuries to her neck. The contact's passenger was injured and waiting for a medical diagnosis. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The insurance company was pending an investigation. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
NHTSA ID
11633125
Incident
Dec 25, 2024
Mileage
110,000 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 22, 2024
Recall 20V668000 Recall 18V774000
NHTSA ID
11573502
Incident
Feb 22, 2024
Airbags
Filed Jan 4, 2023
For no apparent reason my air bag sensor light comes on intermittently while driving.
NHTSA ID
11500092
Incident
Jan 3, 2023
Airbags
Filed Feb 24, 2021
I AM GETTING CONTINUOUS EMAILS SAYING THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE DETECTED WITH MY AIRBAGS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL SPORADICALLY COME ON, AND WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAGS DO NOT ALWAYS TURN ON.
NHTSA ID
11397674
Incident
Feb 22, 2021
Mileage
30,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Nov 27, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported
OCT 9TH - I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK ON OCTOBER 9TH AFTER WORKING A 12-HOUR SHIFT. IT WAS DARK. I WAS GOING SOUTH ON HAPPY VALLEY. I PULLED UP TO A FOUR-WAY STOP ON HAPPY VALLEY AND VICTORY ROAD. I STARTED TO PULL INTO THE INTERSECTION. A GIRL TRAVELING EAST TO WEST DIDN'T STOP AT HER STOP SIGN. WHEN I GOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, SHE HIT ME. THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 45 MPH COMING FROM HER DIRECTION, BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING. SHE HIT MY CAR AND IT SPUN MY CAR. I REMEMBER HITTING MY HEAD 2 TIMES ON THE SIDE WINDOW AND MY BODY TWICE AGAINST THE DOOR. MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY CAR FACED THE AIRPORT WHEN IT CAME TO A STOP AND WAS FACING WEST.
NHTSA ID
11376707
Incident
Oct 9, 2020
Mileage
12,700 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 2, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONTAL PASSENGER'S SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS INOPERABLE. THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED TO RECOGNIZE AN OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK MATTHEWS BUICK GMC (15164 CORTEZ BLVD, BROOKSVILLE, FL 34613) ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE FAILURE WAS IRREPARABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE VIA THE MAIL HOWEVER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NO RETURN CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT ALSO ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER BY PHONE ON FOUR OCCASIONS BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF
NHTSA ID
11337158
Incident
Feb 1, 2020
AirbagsBody & structureDriver assistance
Filed Jun 18, 2020
Crash reported
PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR TOOK OVER AND WAS SPEEDING AND HIT THE CONCRETE POLE,AIR BAGS WENT OFF THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
NHTSA ID
11329518
Incident
Jun 8, 2020
Mileage
3,200 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