2013 Buick Encore Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Buick Encore.

< older2014
Complaints
70
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
4
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2013 Buick Encore Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#121 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:51,426 mi
#27 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:44,200 mi
Crash-related:2
#36 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:24,992 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Buick Encore.

Engine Problems
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,426
Transmission / Drivetrain
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
44,200
Electrical Faults
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
24,992
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
36,300
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
26,767
Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Buick Encore. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Buick Encore

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~183,683 vehicles.

16V502000Electrical System:ignition · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
~8,367 affected

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. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

14V488000Seat Belts:front
~48,114 affected

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. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.

14V446000Seats
~124,007 affected

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. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.

14V417000Equipment:electrical
~2,990 affected

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 vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

14V298000Airbags
~61 affected

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. In the affected vehicles, an improper weld on the passenger side front air bag inflator may result in the air bag not deploying.

13V105000Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
~144 affected

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. This could cause the steering wheel to come loose or separate from the steering column.

Other Buick Encore Years

2013 Buick Encore — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Buick Encore reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2013 Buick Encore has 70 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 21 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Buick Encore?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (21 complaints, avg 51,426 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (7 complaints, avg 44,200 mi); Electrical Faults (6 complaints, avg 24,992 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Buick Encore?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 42,021 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Buick Encore?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Buick Encore include 7 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Buick Encore have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 183,683 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Buick Encore?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Buick Encore reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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