2013 Buick Encore Reliability
The 2013 Buick Encore has 52 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Encore model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Encore's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
52
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Buick Encore complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2013 and 2023. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 21 | 40% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 15% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 7 | 13% |
| Speed control / throttle | 6 | 12% |
| Air bags | 5 | 10% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 4 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 6% |
| Tires | 3 | 6% |
2013 Buick Encore recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V105000 | Mar 28, 2013 | Steering — steering wheel/handle bar | 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… |
| 14V298000 | Jun 6, 2014 | Air bags | 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… |
| 14V417000 | Jul 2, 2014 | Equipment — electrical | 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… |
| 14V446000 | Jul 23, 2014 | Seats | 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… |
| 14V488000 | Aug 8, 2014 | Seat belts — front | 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… |
| 16V502000 | Jul 5, 2016 | Electrical system — ignition | 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… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Encore years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Encore analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 (this page) | 52 | 6 | Engine | Solid |
| 2014 | 60 | 4 | Engine | Solid |
| 2015 | 124 | 4 | Electrical system | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2013 Buick Encore
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Buick Encore can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Buick Encore reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Buick Encore reliable?
The 2013 Buick Encore has 52 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Encore model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Encore's typical year.
What are the most common 2013 Buick Encore problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Buick Encore are engine (21), electrical system (8), powertrain / transmission (7), speed control / throttle (6). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Buick Encore have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Buick Encore, including 13V105000 (steering — steering wheel/handle bar) and 14V298000 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Buick Encore compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2014 has 60 complaints and 4 recalls (solid). The 2013 has 52 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Buick Encore?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Buick Encore research
Other Buick Encore model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Encore, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.