Although problems are not common, drivers have reported some alarming issues with the 2018 Buick Encore including brake system malfunctions and complete loss of power at highway speeds.
Key Points
- The 2018 Buick Encore has not been recalled, but owners have reported dangerous vehicle malfunctions.
- Drivers have reported brake system problems that caused the vehicle to accelerate, resulting in a crash.
- Multiple owners have had loose hose connections on the turbocharger, which can cause the turbo to fail completely, requiring replacement.
- A complete loss of power at highway speeds has been reported by owners, with the likely cause being a bad battery or battery connections.
- The 2018 Encore isn’t known to be problematic, but some issues that are reported are dangerous, and the cause of the problems is often unknown.
Brake System Malfunctions Raise Serious Safety Concerns, as Multiple Owners Report the System Failure Caused a Collision
The most frequently reported problem with the 2018 Buick Encore is also a serious safety concern. Multiple owners have reported through the NHTSA that while driving at speeds of about 45 miles an hour and then applying the brakes, the engine would attempt to accelerate.
One owner reported that they had lost power steering as well as power brakes and that the vehicle began to shake. An additional two other owners reported that the malfunction resulted in an accident.
It is unclear what would cause this problem, and currently, the NHTSA shows that there is no current investigation into this issue. Unfortunately for drivers who experience this problem, there is no known repair or diagnosis, leaving some drivers afraid to operate the vehicle, fearing that the problem could cause a serious accident.
Multiple Reports Show That Connections to the Turbocharger Become Loose, Causing the Turbo to Fail
The drivetrain in the 2018 Encore has few reported issues and seems to be mostly problem-free; however, several owners have reported issues specific to the turbocharger, which could leave owners with an expensive repair bill.
In a registered NHTSA complaint, one owner reports that the turbocharger on his Buick Encore failed twice and needed to be replaced because the turbocharger’s bearing system didn’t receive oil after a supply line had failed.
A second report shows that another driver experienced a similar problem where hoses connected to the turbo came loose. After having the clamps realigned and tightened, the problem occurred again.
Many 2018 Buick Encores on the used market are outside of a warranty, and the price to replace a turbo, according to Repair Pal, is between $1,192 and $1,490.
Dangerous Electronics Failure on the Encore Can Cause a Loss of Power at Highway Speeds
Drivers have also reported loss of power steering and power brakes at highway speeds. Unfortunately, the cause of the problem isn’t clear.
According to this Buick Forums thread, a driver who experienced the problem with reduced power replaced the battery, which seemed to solve the problem. Other Buick owners confirm that the battery and its connections are a likely culprit.
Vehicle History‘s owner reviews also find 2018 Buick Encore owners sharing stories of problems they’ve encountered, including inadequate room for child seats, outdated tech, and electrical glitches.
“As with other Buicks we have owned in the past, our 2018 Encore has electrical problems,” says one owner on Vehicle History, where the 2018 model received a rating of 4.4 out of five stars. “The dashboard does not always stay lit, and the problem extends to the radio. It similarly does not stay lit so we do not know how to change a station.”
“My car is awesome but outdated, and very small,” says another 2018 Buick Encore owner. “For the price I could’ve gotten a small car with a lot more features.”
Problems are Rare on the 2018 Encore, But Issues That Do Occur Can Be Dangerous
With zero recalls and few complaints, the 2018 Buick Encore doesn’t have many problems. However, the brake system malfunctions and loss of power raise serious safety concerns.
For prospective buyers looking at this 2018 Encore, you may want to have the hose connections on the turbo inspected to ensure that the turbo is receiving proper oil flow.
Fortunately, however, for the large majority of 2018 Encores on the road, problems do seem to be rare, and drivers likely won’t face any major issues.
Photos: Buick
