2019 Buick Encore Problems: 13 Known Issues

On the 2019 Buick Encore, owners of 2019 Encores report turbocharger failures with the check-engine light on, rough running and loss of acceleration or power, in some reports while merging or on the highway; one owner reports a replacement turbocharger that also failed. GM's Special Coverage N232395330 for turbocharger failure lists 2017–2018 Encores with the 1.4L LUV engine and does not list the 2019 model year, which several of these owners point out. Applies to: 2019 Buick Encores, from owner complaints filed with NHTSA and shown on the linked page; the reports do not state which 1.4L engine (LUV or LE2) the car has. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

On the 2013-2022 Buick Encore, contamination (ice, water, oil or sludge) at the charge-air bypass valve, a restricted bypass solenoid, ice in the intake manifold blocking the PCV passage, a plugged crankcase vent tube or ice in the charge air cooler can restrict air to the engine. Owners may notice loss of power, hesitation, smoke from the tailpipe, stalling, a burning-oil odor or the check-engine light; GM adds that higher crankcase pressure can cause oil leaks at seals and gaskets. GM says the bypass-valve condition (22-NA-067) can occur in any weather, while the icing conditions are tied to extreme cold of 0°F (-18°C) or below. This applies to 2013–2020 Encores with the 1.4L LUV engine (22-NA-067) and 2013–2021 LUV Encores in extreme cold (16-NA-405). GM covers the same charge-air-cooler icing on 2016–2019 and 2021–2022 Encores with the 1.4L LE2 engine in bulletin 17-NA-221. GM's Service Update N222372590 (2016–2022 Encore) added a thermal wrap to the turbocharger wastegate regulator solenoid valve and, where applicable, an engine-computer update; that service update expired June 30, 2024.

On the 2013-2021 Buick Encore, owners report misfires, rough running and a flashing check-engine light traced to the one-piece coil pack that sits over all four plugs. They describe a broken coil tower, or a boot, spring and plug that had corroded on one cylinder while the others looked clean. It affects Encores with the 1.4L turbo LUJ or LUV engine, which uses a one-piece coil pack. The linked reports come from owners of 2013, 2014 and 2016 Encores. One owner notes that the 1.4L LE2 engine uses individual coil packs; the LE2 was fitted to the 2016–2019 Sport Touring, offered as an option on all but the base model in 2017–2018, and used in later-build 2021 Encores, so those cars are not covered here. One 2014 owner reports the failure at 62,000 miles.

On the 2013-2019 Buick Encore, some 1.4L turbo Encores use oil between changes or blow blue smoke, sometimes with a check-engine light and codes P0171, P0300 or P0299. GM's acceptable consumption is 1 quart (0.9 L) in 2,000 miles (3,200 km), not counting leaks. GM lists a leaking camshaft-cover PCV orifice, a missing intake-manifold non-return valve and a weak or broken piston ring land as possible causes. It affects 2013–2019 Encores with the 1.4L turbo LUJ or LUV engine, as listed in GM PIP5197K. GM later replaced the PIP5197 series with bulletin 19-NA-114, which keeps only the PCV-diaphragm test; no GM document found lists the 2020 or 2021 Encore, so this does not cover them. It does not cover Encores with the 1.4L LE2 engine: the 2016–2019 Sport Touring, the LE2 option offered on all but the base model in 2017–2018, and later-build 2021 Encores.

On the 2013-2019 Buick Encore, the PCV crankcase pressure control diaphragm is built into the plastic camshaft (valve) cover. If it tears, un-metered air enters the crankcase, the check-engine light comes on and a lean-fuel-trim code (P0171) can set; the PCV valve may make a whistling noise. GM's earlier PIP5197K adds that a missing intake-manifold non-return valve may have damaged the diaphragm. It affects 2013–2019 Encores with the 1.4L turbo LUJ or LUV engine, as listed in GM bulletin 19-NA-114, which replaced the PIP5197 series. No GM document found lists the 2020 or 2021 Encore, so this does not cover them. It does not cover Encores with the 1.4L LE2 engine: the 2016–2019 Sport Touring, the LE2 option offered on all but the base model in 2017–2018, and later-build 2021 Encores.

On the 2019 Buick Encore, certain 2019 Buick Encore crossovers are covered by GM safety recall 18V774000 (GM number 18365). On these vehicles the Sensing Diagnostic Module - the air bag control module - may still be in "manufacturing mode," the setting used during vehicle assembly, rather than the normal operating mode. An Encore in that condition may not deploy its air bags in a crash, and GM states this increases the risk of injury. The campaign is very small: 12 vehicles across all of the models included (Buick Encore plus the Chevrolet Spark, Traverse and Trax), a figure that applies to the whole campaign and not to the Encore alone.

On the 2018-2019 Buick Encore, the connector and its connector position assurance (CPA) clip for the driver's front seat outboard seat-back (side) air bag may not be fully engaged, turning on the air bag warning lamp in the Driver Information Center. Codes B0014 0E and B0021 0E may be set. Applies to: 2018–2019 Buick Encores, as listed in GM bulletin 19-NA-168 (with the 2018–2019 Chevrolet Trax).

On the 2017-2022 Buick Encore, unwanted radar reflections can trigger false side blind zone alerts, so the side mirror indicates a vehicle is present when there is not. GM notes the reflections are usually worse on the driver side. This applies to 2017–2023 Buick Encores equipped with side blind zone alert (RPO UFT, "Side Active Safety - Obstacle Detection"), as listed in GM bulletin 18-NA-056. Encores without side blind zone alert are not affected.

On the 2019 Buick Encore, gM recall N202313440 includes certain 2019 Buick Encore vehicles with a start-stop transmission accumulator whose endcap may have missing bolts. Fluid leakage can lead to loss of propulsion and, near an ignition source, fire. The 2020 Buick model in the bulletin is Encore GX, not Encore. A model-year match alone does not establish that a VIN is included.

On the 2019-2020 Buick Encore, a shorted steering-wheel wiring harness under the driver air bag (inflator) module can cause an unwanted front-wiper swipe when the vehicle is started or powered up, front wipers that will not park, cruise control that will not turn on and steering-wheel controls that do not work or work erratically. Codes P155A/00 and B1529/03 may be stored. Applies to: 2019–2020 Buick Encores, all engines and transmissions, as listed in GM bulletin 21-NA-246 (with the 2019–2020 Chevrolet Trax).

On the 2018-2019 Buick Encore, invalid data stored in a key fob can leave the passive (keyless) entry and passive starting functions of one or both fobs inoperative from first use, sometimes with a "No Remote Detected" or "Place key in transmitter pocket" message. The fob buttons and the backup starting method still work. Applies to: 2018–2019 Buick Encores equipped with passive entry (RPO ATH), as listed in GM bulletin 18-NA-259, which also covers many other 2016–2019 GM models.

On the 2013-2021 Buick Encore, owners report slow coolant loss, a sweet burning smell and, in some cases, overheating. Leaks were found at the turbocharger coolant lines (which can drip onto hot exhaust parts and burn off, leaving no puddle), a cracked water outlet or thermostat housing, brittle outlet hoses and the coolant reservoir. It affects Encores with the 1.4L turbo LUJ or LUV engine. The linked reports come from owners of 2013 and 2015 Encores, with a further overheating report from a 2018 Encore whose engine is not stated. Not established for the 1.4L LE2 engine. In the 8 linked owner reports that give a mileage, the leak showed up between 12,500 and 101,000 miles.

On the 2019 Buick Encore, certain 2019 Encores had a strut replaced at the port and may not have had a wheel alignment afterward. Without the alignment, the vehicle could pull slightly to one side and the steering wheel may be off center. Applies to: Certain 2019 Buick Encores marked open for GM Service Update A192221650 (June 2019), which covered about 585 vehicles across the 2019 Encore and Trax. Only a dealer VIN check shows whether a specific car was involved. The service update expired at the end of each involved vehicle's New Vehicle Limited Warranty.