RecallMyCar

2013 Buick Encore Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2013 Buick Encore, and owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
52
owner complaints to NHTSA
4 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
25–28
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 2013 Buick Encore

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Ignition (electrical system) and power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

    NHTSA 16V502000 Reported 8,367 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    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. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…

  2. Seat belts: front

    NHTSA 14V488000 Reported 48,114 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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,…

    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. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014…

  3. Seats

    NHTSA 14V446000 Reported 124,007 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    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. Owners may contact GM customer…

  4. Electrical (equipment)

    NHTSA 14V417000 Reported 2,990 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    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. Owners may contact Buick…

  5. Air bags

    NHTSA 14V298000 Reported 61 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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.

    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. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick) or…

  6. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 13V105000 Reported 144 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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.

    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.…

52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2013 Buick Encore have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 33,057 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 16 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 resear”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 21, 2023 · Engine

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 17, 2023 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2013 Buick Encore (Encore AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined25–28 mpg
City / Highway23–25 / 29–33
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 1.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Compare Buick Encore model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Buick Encore model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2013 Buick Encore652
2014 Buick Encore460
2015 Buick Encore4124
2016 Buick Encore280
2017 Buick Encore289
2018 Buick Encore074
2019 Buick Encore286
2020 Buick Encore219
2021 Buick Encore09
2022 Buick Encore08

Checking a specific 2013 Buick Encore

How do I know if my 2013 Buick Encore has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2013 Buick Encore; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buick dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 13V105000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Buick models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.