Most common 2013 Buick Encore problems
Share of the 52 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Encore complaints by model year
Best Encore years: 2021, 2022, 2020. Years to avoid: 2015, 2019, 2017. Compare all years →
2013 Buick Encore recalls (6)
Electrical system › Ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016.
Seat belts › Front
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available.
Seats
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014.
Equipment › Electrical
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014.
Air bags
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured April 10, 2013, to May 8, 2013, and Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured December 30, 2012, to March 1, 2013.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2014.
Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured between December 9, 2012 and December 28, 2012, and equipped with a heated steering wheel. The steering wheel fastener may not have been properly installed.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and make any necessary repairs on the steering wheel. These services will be provided at no charge to the customer. The safety recall began on May 21, 2013.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 Buick Encore:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2013 Buick Encore owners say
Engine & cooling all 23 →
The check engine light came and took the car to O'Reillys and was informed it had low turbo boost code took car to the dealership and they indeed confirmed that was the issue and that it would be over $3000.00 to fix!!! I bought this car 4 months ago and this seems to be an issue with a few other owners as well Buick needs to recall this part!!! If not fixed it may cause deceleration or overheat and start to burn into the manifold of the exhaust. No other parties have looked at the car except the dealership. only lamp that came on was the check engine light and it was sometimes go off and then come back on.
My car had problems with overheating. I check my oil and coolant levels. My car show check engine light so I took it to mechanics to get check. The invoice states possible blown head gaskets. I research online similar complaints with other Buick Encore 2013. I just this car March 2023 has about 89000. I am making payments.
Electrical system
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.
Tl 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
Transmission & drivetrain
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.
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.
2013 Buick Encore engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 33 / 28 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 23 / 29 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Buick Encore a good car?
Based on 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Encore rates average: 36% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Encore at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Buick Encore?
The engine & cooling — 23 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (8) and transmission & drivetrain (7).
How many recalls does the 2013 Buick Encore have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2013 Buick Encore, the most recent from July 5, 2016 (ignition). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Encore?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021, 2022 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2019 and 2017. See the full Buick Encore years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Buick Encore problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 22,000 miles; 72% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.