2020 Buick Encore Owner Complaints

PURCHASED NEW BUICK ENCORE 2020 ON 05/22/2000. PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS HONDA CIVIC. ENCORE NEVER SEEMED TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER & WOULD DOWNSHIFT. ON 10/19/20 THERE WAS AN ISSUE ACTION REQUESTED) DETECTED BY BUICK BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THEN ON 10/28/2020, WE WERE DIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SEEMED TO LOOSE POWER & AN 18 WHEELER ALMOST HIT US. ENCORE HAS 5,302 MILES ON IT. 10/28/20 3:41 P.M. MESSAGE FROM BUICK DX. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM WHICH MONITORS AND CONTROLS AIR INTAKE TO THE ENGINE. WE WERE TRAVELING FROM MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS & ALMOST DID NOT MAKE IT HOME. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS & IS AT THE DEALER NOW. I AM SEVERELY DISABLED & ILL AND BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS OUT OF TOWN. IT HAS CLEARLY HAD A PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. I WILL NOT PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP NO MATTER HOW THEY TRY TO FIX IT AT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN LOOSING POWER. WE WERE ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING. THANK YOU.

10/29/2020

I was told there was a recall on my engine. My check engine light is on. My car doesn't speed up pass 75. When I try to speed up I can feel the gears change.and the car jerks

8/31/2023

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL. IT ACTED AS IT WAS ACCELERATING AND THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT AND I LOST SPEED. I REGAINED SPEED AND THEN IT LURCHED AGAIN; THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN WENT OFF. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STARTED TO THROTTLE UP AND ACCELERATE, I HAD TO BRAKE HARDER TO COME TO A FULL STOP.

9/4/2020

The horn goes off automatically when the car is started. The fuse must be pulled out to stop it. Dash radio and phone not working properly. Cruise control not working.

3/22/2022

PURCHASED NEW BUICK ENCORE 2020 ON 05/22/2000. PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS HONDA CIVIC. ENCORE NEVER SEEMED TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER & WOULD DOWNSHIFT. ON 10/19/20 THERE WAS AN ISSUE ACTION REQUESTED) DETECTED BY BUICK BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THEN ON 10/28/2020, WE WERE DIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SEEMED TO LOOSE POWER & AN 18 WHEELER ALMOST HIT US. ENCORE HAS 5,302 MILES ON IT. 10/28/20 3:41 P.M. MESSAGE FROM BUICK DX. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM WHICH MONITORS AND CONTROLS AIR INTAKE TO THE ENGINE. WE WERE TRAVELING FROM MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS & ALMOST DID NOT MAKE IT HOME. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS & IS AT THE DEALER NOW. I AM SEVERELY DISABLED & ILL AND BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS OUT OF TOWN. IT HAS CLEARLY HAD A PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. I WILL NOT PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP NO MATTER HOW THEY TRY TO FIX IT AT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN LOOSING POWER. WE WERE ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING. THANK YOU.

10/29/2020

I was told there was a recall on my engine. My check engine light is on. My car doesn't speed up pass 75. When I try to speed up I can feel the gears change.and the car jerks

8/31/2023

Imthe original owner and purchased the car new 4 years ago. At 89,000 miles, the check engine light came on indicating codes for emission controls not working efficiently. Later additional codes indicated problems with the fuel evaporator. The car started having problems every time I filled up the gas tank it would stall, hesitate and have problems starting shortly after the fill up. Problem also occurred if I let the fuel level run down to 1 gallon when the reserve indicator light came on the fuel tank. So now I fill up when I reach a quarter tank. Steady driving for at least 10 minutes would clear the problem temporarily. Car hesitates, stalls and misfires when going uphill, steep hills and also when coming to full stop Such as a red light. Later additional problem of car hesitating and misfiring during acceleration. I have replaced the spark plugs and ignition coil. No change noticed. Awaiting mechanic diagnosis. This problem seems very similar to another complaint filed under NHTSA ID 11548946 in October 2023

5/10/2024

On 4/24/25 I noticed a pungent odor (like rotten eggs). The odor is worse today. I did research and it appears there may be a problem and or leak with the catalytic converter. The emissions are making me and my kids feel sick, nauseous, headache, irritated eyes, etc.

4/25/2025

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL. IT ACTED AS IT WAS ACCELERATING AND THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT AND I LOST SPEED. I REGAINED SPEED AND THEN IT LURCHED AGAIN; THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN WENT OFF. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STARTED TO THROTTLE UP AND ACCELERATE, I HAD TO BRAKE HARDER TO COME TO A FULL STOP.

9/4/2020

Unknown issues w/ sensors and wiring lead to turbocharger failure. This led to spontaneous acceleration issues on the highway. Less than a year after the warranty covered the replacement of the turbocharger (less than 60k miles on the car) the turbocharger again failed (64k miles on car).

1/24/2025

PURCHASED NEW BUICK ENCORE 2020 ON 05/22/2000. PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS HONDA CIVIC. ENCORE NEVER SEEMED TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER & WOULD DOWNSHIFT. ON 10/19/20 THERE WAS AN ISSUE ACTION REQUESTED) DETECTED BY BUICK BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THEN ON 10/28/2020, WE WERE DIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SEEMED TO LOOSE POWER & AN 18 WHEELER ALMOST HIT US. ENCORE HAS 5,302 MILES ON IT. 10/28/20 3:41 P.M. MESSAGE FROM BUICK DX. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM WHICH MONITORS AND CONTROLS AIR INTAKE TO THE ENGINE. WE WERE TRAVELING FROM MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS & ALMOST DID NOT MAKE IT HOME. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS & IS AT THE DEALER NOW. I AM SEVERELY DISABLED & ILL AND BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS OUT OF TOWN. IT HAS CLEARLY HAD A PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. I WILL NOT PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP NO MATTER HOW THEY TRY TO FIX IT AT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN LOOSING POWER. WE WERE ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING. THANK YOU.

10/29/2020

On 4/24/25 I noticed a pungent odor (like rotten eggs). The odor is worse today. I did research and it appears there may be a problem and or leak with the catalytic converter. The emissions are making me and my kids feel sick, nauseous, headache, irritated eyes, etc.

4/25/2025

Tire suddenly developed a large bubble after about 18,000 miles of driving from new. Tire came new from manufacturer of my 2020 Buick Encore. I didn't hot any thing with this tire that could have contributed to the bublle. I think its a manufacturing defect

11/24/2021

Tire suddenly developed a large bubble after about 18,000 miles of driving from new. Tire came new from manufacturer of my 2020 Buick Encore. I didn't hot any thing with this tire that could have contributed to the bublle. I think its a manufacturing defect

11/24/2021

The contact owns a 2020 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the "Trunk Open" light was illuminated and the trunk raised up. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence and attempted to close the trunk. The contact had to push the trunk release button several times for the trunk to lock securely. The contact had taken not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.

5/5/2022

The contact owned a 2020 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH and attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering and drove straight into a deep ditch. The contact did not recall whether a warning light illuminated. The front driver's side and passenger's side air bags exploded while deploying and propelled fragments that burned the skin near the contact left breast, hit the contact's shoulder and right wrist. The contact's wrist was bleeding. Additionally, there was powder smoke coming out of the air bags. The contact exited the vehicle with the assistance of bystanders. The police assisted the contact out of the deep ditch and transported the contact to the residence. A police report was filed. The contact's husband transported her to the hospital, where the contact was informed that her right wrist bone was dislocated, and surgery was required. The contact received the needed medical assistance. Additionally, the contact had been receiving physical therapy. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer's autobody repair shop, where it was totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. The VIN was unavailable.

10/24/2023

The contact owned a 2020 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH and attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering and drove straight into a deep ditch. The contact did not recall whether a warning light illuminated. The front driver's side and passenger's side air bags exploded while deploying and propelled fragments that burned the skin near the contact left breast, hit the contact's shoulder and right wrist. The contact's wrist was bleeding. Additionally, there was powder smoke coming out of the air bags. The contact exited the vehicle with the assistance of bystanders. The police assisted the contact out of the deep ditch and transported the contact to the residence. A police report was filed. The contact's husband transported her to the hospital, where the contact was informed that her right wrist bone was dislocated, and surgery was required. The contact received the needed medical assistance. Additionally, the contact had been receiving physical therapy. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer's autobody repair shop, where it was totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. The VIN was unavailable.

10/24/2023

I currently own a 2020 Buick Encore since new with only 18,389 miles on it. Recently, I noticed on the Buick Encore that it lacked stopping power. Upon checking the air in the tires for winter I noticed that the rear brake rotors were severely rusted. And then I decided to further inspect the rotor surfaces. I removed the left rear tire and noticed that the back side surface was severely corroded therefore inhibiting the brake pad to stop with it. I remove the right rear tire and found the same condition! As I am retired, and still a ASE and Michigan master mechanic (XXX) I know this condition is abnormal for a vehicle with such low miles even in Michigan. This is my wife’s vehicle, and she noticed that the stopping distance was severely decreased over the months. With driving is treacherous as it is today she needs all the stopping distance that she can get. With the way the rotors were rusted, the rear brakes had no stopping power, and the fronts were minimal at best for surface for the pads to stop with. I checked the front and found the same thing on the inner surfaces of both front rotors. I decided it was time that I replace all the rotors and the pads as the surfaces of all rotors were beyond the point of turning them. I would never expect this to occur on a vehicle with such low mileage. I replaced the rotors and pads with all AC Delco components as I have faith in the design changes that are usually made to products in the same product family. For the rotors, I made sure that they were plated to stop any rust from occurring on the non-stopping surfaces. If anyone were to Google this vehicle, or it’s Cousin the Trax, you can see there are replacements either with coding or different material that prevents corrosion. I am glad I caught this in time as my wife’s safety was in jeopardy. One can see there is a fix for this issue, but the manufacture neglected to take any action to correct it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

12/20/2023

The contact owns a 2020 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact was able to veer over to the shoulder and discovered that the sunroof had exploded. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was advised to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

5/29/2024