The Most Common 2018 Buick Encore Problems

The 2018 Buick Encore doesn’t have any official recalls, and there are not a lot of customer complaints either—but the complaints that do exist are doozies.
Written by Matt Nightingale
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The most reported problems experienced by 2018 Buick Encore owners include sudden loss of power and brake failure.
Buick has found its niche as the bridge between economy and luxury vehicles—and this crossover SUV reflects that perfectly. The Buick Encore rides smoothly and quietly with an interior that’s flush with standard comfort and safety tech, making it the perfect melange of sensibility and sophistication. You won’t pay as much for as say, a
BMW X1 xDrive28i
, but you will pay more than competitors like the
Mazda CX-3 Sport
.
But, every rose has its thorn and the 2018 Encore has a few nasty ones. Here to look at what problems Encore drivers have encountered is licensed broker and
car insurance
comparison app,
Jerry
. To make sure you’re covered when problems arise, Jerry will also show you the trick to saving on your
Buick Encore insurance costs
!

The most common 2018 Buick Encore problems

The Buick Encore has established itself as a capable city commuter, with a quiet interior decked out with amenities that will help keep you calm when rush hour traffic congestion swells. It’s quick off the hop with nimble handling, but when it comes to power, the 1.4-liter 138-
horsepower
engine is a bit timid.
The most serious complaints that the 2018 Encore has received are related to its engine. Owners have complained of a sudden loss of power while driving, compromising their ability to steer their vehicle. Some of these issues appear to be related to the Encore’s turbocharger.
There have only been 6engine-related complaints filed with the National Highway and Transportation Safety Association, however, which is not too concerning considering over 93,000 Encores were sold in 2018. That said, there have been 31 total complaints lodged with the
NHTSA
regarding the 2018 Encore, and this issue makes up a large portion—about 20 percent.
Other 2018 Buick Encore problems include: 
  • Brake failure
  • Sudden acceleration
  • Blindspot monitoring system failure
  • Headlight not working
These are not just superficial problems. Any one of these issues could cause a serious accident in the right conditions. 
Despite these complaints, there have been no 2018 Buick Encore recalls issued to date.
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Is the 2018 Buick Encore reliable?

In terms of reliability, the 2018 Buick Encore scores quite well.
Repair Pal
gives the Encore an above-average reliability rating of 4.0/5.0. Repair Pal also places the Encore’s average annual car repair cost at about $466 a year, which makes the Encore a relatively inexpensive vehicle to maintain. The 2018 Encore also scores a solid 85/100 for reliability from J.D. Power.
Surprisingly, however, the Encore is outdone by a handful of its classmates, including the
Mazda
CX-3, which has a 4.5/5.0 Repair Pal dependability rating and an average annual repair cost of just $345. The CX-3 is rated lower by J.D. Power, though, with a dependability score of 78/100.
On the other hand, the Buick Encore tends to need fewer trips to the mechanic compared to the CX-3, so the Encore’s higher cost of repair may be offset by less time spent in the repair shop.

How to simplify car insurance shopping (and still optimize coverage!) 

The 2018 Buick Encore may have pretty good safety and reliability scores, but no car is perfect. If you want protection, you’re first going to need to lock in an affordable
car insurance
. That’s where
Jerry
comes in.
You can depend on Jerry's
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rates for the coverage you need. Just download the app, enter some quick info, and watch the awesome car insurance quotes come rolling in. It’s easy—and the average Jerry user saves over $800 a year on car insurance.
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