The 2019 Buick Encore has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 194,117 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 122 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN20V6680002020-10-29194,105 affected
Defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop…
Consequence
Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at…
AIR BAGS18V7740002018-11-0112 affected
Defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Consequence
If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18365.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
30
3crashes3injuries1deaths
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
11
AIR BAGS
10
5crashes7injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
10
1crashes2injuries1deaths
POWER TRAIN
9
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
9
3crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
2crashes
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
5
1injuries1deaths
SUSPENSION
4
Total complaints122
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“My check engine light continues to turn on and the code is related to the wastegate actuator/turbo charger. My car is running rough and doesn't accelerate properly. It sometimes rocks back and forth when I try to accelerate. Which is a known problem with buick. Gmc refuses to recall this well…”
“My check engine light continues to turn on and the code is related to the wastegate actuator/turbo charger. My car is running rough and doesn't accelerate properly. It sometimes rocks back and forth when I try to accelerate. Which is a known problem with buick. Gmc refuses to recall this well…”
“3 leaks in oil cooler. When mech got in to do the repairs, they noticed the turbo was cracked. Replaced it with new turbo which also failed. After the second new turbo was installed the car ran fine for about a day and now the turbo continuously stalls while driving it.”
“Car sputtered and slowed on expressway, turbo failed. Recalls issued 2016 and 2017, then reissued 2020 to 2023, same turbo, 2019 was exempted”
“The contact owns a 2019 buick encore. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, with the odor of burning oil inside the cabin of the vehicle, before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle…”
“The contact owns a 2019 buick encore. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with a blown turbo charger caused by low oil pressure. The contact stated that the turbo charger was…”
“Turbo charger and catalytic convertor both failed at 50k miles. The 2017 and 2018 buick encores have a safety recall for turbochargers but the 2019 was not included in that recall despite it having the exact same engine and turbocharger.”
“Driving down the road and car became sluggish to respond/accelerate and could barely operate at slow speeds or not be able to go. Thankfully at this time I was close to home and not on the highway but was leaving on a long trip with areas of no service and isolation and temps in the -20f could be…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2019 Buick Encore as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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