Check a vehicle VIN check Latest recalls Latest complaints Common problems Rankings Compare vehicles Recall roundups All makes Guides Share your experience
Theme

Electrical system

2019 Buick Encore Electrical problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2019 Buick Encore's electrical system with NHTSA - 11% of all its complaints, most recently on October 3, 2025. They describe 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Deaths
1

Electrical complaints

Electrical systemLightsEngine & cooling

My suv dies while im driving it. The engine stalls the lights go off. Its very dangerous I had a semi truck behind me last night and my encore basically became invisible. No lights no power, nothing. He almost hit me. Ive had this encore to several mechanics and none of them knows what the problem is. There are no warning lights on and it does not show any codes when hooked up to a diagnostic machine. I have called Buick Corp.and she told me to take it to a mechanic.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11691122
Electrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

I have been calling Autonations for months now since my car started driving funny. I was first told it was a head gasket that needed replacement however using my vin number the engine that's currently inside the vehicle is not the one that matches with what pulls up using the vin number. Than the antifreeze leaks out, the oil leaks out and one day the car started smoking on the freeway with my children and I inside. It just stopped and haven't been working ever since. I literally just got messed out of money...

Read the full complaint

because I purchased this vehicle a year ago not knowing it was a recall and this is one of the recalls now I am completely screwed over without a car and my money!! Now I'm being told I have to pay because this car was sold to me already over the mileage limit to be fixed for free!!

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11687171
Electrical systemAcceleration & cruise controlDriver assistance

my car engine did not shut off i had to call on star to assist turn off my engine. there is problem with ANTI theft system and cruise control. i had to press cruise button numberous time to shut it off. on start customer advice me to take it to dealer to take look. they did on board diagnosit test they found these code

Filed Incident Electrical system · Vehicle speed control · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11584728
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

On six occasions the vehicle stalled in moving traffic. The car had to be stopped, placed in park and restarted. Buick Service repair in Johnston, Rhode Island cannot repair. The car has been taken to them 6 times with no resolution.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11518939
Electrical systemLightsEngine & cooling1 injury1 death

I got my car from Buick of Long Island City I was giving the wrong key mess up battery the car will not start and I crashed

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11504755
Electrical system

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The windshield wipers stop and or turn on intermittently. They have stopped in the middle of a rainstorm on more than one occasion and they have turned on while just driving normally without any of the controls being touched. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My safety is put at risk anytime I am driving my vehicle in the rain (it rains heavily and a lot where I...

Read the full complaint

live). My visibility has been suddenly reduced to zero during highway travel requiring me to put on my hazard lights and attempt to pull off to the side of the road if I dare to try crossing lanes without being able to see. 3. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? On Friday 24 Sep 2021 the car will be inspected by a certified Buick mechanic. 4. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There are no warning lights or any other symptoms present, however, the audio on the right side of the car has stopped working but I am not sure if they issues are related.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11433604
Electrical system

This car has the engine shutoff feature when stopped. My wife was waiting in the left turn lane of a major street with three lanes on her side plus two left turning lanes. Due to the busy intersection the wait for a green light is long, perhaps three minutes. The engine shut off and would not restart when she released the brake pedal. Also, almost everything electrical was inoperable, including the interior door release. My wife and granddaughter were temporarily trapped inside the vehicle. She tried the door...

Read the full complaint

handle, tried to put down the windows, tried to unlock the car with the keyless remote but nothing would work, she was trapped. After several attempts of trying to restart the car and hitting the unlock button on the keyless entry the doors finally unlocked. The mechanical issue turned out to be a bad car battery; it had shorted out. The safety issue is when the battery dies most components are inoperable, including the interior door release. The dealer said this is the way the car works. If an Encore were to catch fire and the electrical system gets disabled, occupants would be trapped in the car. I think it is a design flaw for the doors to not open when the battery is dead. This should be easy to replicate. Unhook the car battery. Place someone in the car and have them lock the doors. Have the person try to exit the vehicle. In hindsight, the problem was going on for some time. My wife noticed the car taking longer times to restart after shutoff. The day before this incident she was at another long traffic light where the vehicle did not start on its own but the first manual try to restart started the vehicle. I believe this was due to the car battery slowing dying. The car has not been inspected for this as the dealer said the car is working as designed. The Buick dealer replaced the car battery under warranty. One thing I wish I brought to their attention but did not is the fact that no warning light came on indicating a weak car battery.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11417542
Electrical systemLightsEngine & cooling

While driving down the road the vehicle turns itself off. Headlights go off and there is no control of the vehicle. Sometimes the vehicle will crank itself without touching the start button. Sometimes several times before it will remain on long enough to start driving again. It is very dangerous to drive because you have no control over the vehicle at the time of engine shutdown. It doesn't matter if it is highway speeds or in town. Tonight it took over 2 hours to travel a normal 20 minute drive. It all...

Read the full complaint

started 27 feb 21 and today (28 feb 21) it is progressively getting worse. Most of the times that it happens a bell will ding 4 times and right after the bell chimes the engine immediately shuts off. All lights extinguish, it loses steering control and brakes are minimized.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · EngineNHTSA 11398316
Electrical system

Hacker its being able to change stereo and penetrate into the unit and manipulate car settings as he's please. Dangerous while I am driving.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11376463
Electrical systemEngine & coolingCrash1 injury

I was stopped in a drive thru taco bell and the clerk dropped my change dollars from my purchase so I reacted by opening the door to pick up the money by taking my foot off the brake without putting it in park because it was a reaction. The car's stop start feature surged the car forward pinning my legs between the car and the building. I couldn't put the car in park because my legs were pinned and the vehicle shift would not go into park. I screamed and the clerk had to take my shoes off so I could pull my legs in...

Read the full complaint

the car. I went directly to urgent care. My legs were severely bruised. This is a major safety issue. The car should not surge forward like that. I've had the car for 1 month and it scraped the driver side door and front tire/rim. $1500 Damage but lost a days work and several weeks of recovery. The same thing could happen at an atm. I used to work for gm and test drive vehicles this engine stop/start feature should have an electric feature similar to what ford has that once the door opens, the drive goes automatically to park. This should be a safety recall!!! 10/8/19.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11268006

Buick Encore electrical complaints by year

Encore electrical problems, every year

Had a electrical problem with your 2019 Encore? Tell other owners.

Your experience goes live straight away and helps every owner and buyer who checks this vehicle. Anonymous, free, no account.

Overall, how would you rate it? *

0/4000 · Please leave out names, phone numbers and your full VIN.

By posting you confirm it's your own, honest experience and agree to the rules. Safety defect? Also report it to NHTSA - that's how recalls start.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

Owners helping owners

Know before you drive.

Every experience you share - good or bad - shows on that vehicle's page and helps the next owner and buyer. Two minutes, anonymous.

Share your experience