Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the steering, electrical, and transmission. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2023 Buick Encore GX: inspection sheet
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Buick Encore GX, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The car bounces side to side and the wheel pulls left or right at various speeds, making it hard to keep straight. Other reports describe rattling through the front end and steering wheel at low speed, over speed bumps and in turns, along with an unstable feel and tires worn in the center. "Service ESC" and "Service Power Steering" warnings can appear together while the brakes feel less responsive. Several of these complaints also mention noisy, hard brakes and the car lurching forward on an incline. One dealer test drive found no fault.
The engine shuts off while driving and sometimes won't restart with auto stop on, leaving drivers stranded in traffic. Repeat shop visits, a battery replacement and a suspected bad ground connection have not fixed it in every case. Headlights dim at random or shut off on the highway. In hot weather with the air conditioning on, the car struggles to stay running, sets low-voltage codes and hesitates. The center display freezes, turns on the backup camera while driving forward and loses its USB-C phone connection. Dealers often call these problems normal.
The shifter stops recognizing Park and shows a "Shift to Park" message even with the lever in Park, so the car cannot be turned off or locked. Replacing the shifter assembly fixed it, with failure reported around 21,000 miles, just past warranty. The CVT transmission has also failed outright. The car made mechanical noises, would not go above about 25 mph and had to be towed, after a few days of hard shifts and no warning lights. Other reports describe high idle, jerking and weak acceleration in heat with the air conditioning running.
Sudden, violent acceleration is reported when shifting from Park into Drive with light pedal pressure. No warning light came on. The car hit trees and a concrete object, and 3 occupants were injured, including fractures. That is the most serious crash risk in this vehicle's complaints. A separate report involves a reduced engine power warning. The dealer pointed to a turbo-related fault, and the warning had been on for almost two months while the owner waited for a part to arrive.
High beams switch on by themselves, and cycling the light switch does not turn them off. That is the only true lighting failure in these complaints. The rest are filed here but describe other problems. In one, the center display goes blank or grainy during navigation and cuts off maps and music. In another, the chrome trim on the dash reflects midday sun into the driver's eyes. With only 2 complaints, no clear pattern emerges.
Excerpts from complaints Encore GX owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
I was driving and randomly my new 2023 Buick Encore GX and two error messages popped up and my brakes started being less responsive. The two error messages that popped up was "Service ESC" and "Service Power Steering". I will be calling the service department tomorrow to get it checked to make sure nothing is wrong. This is apparently an issue with GM cars but I need to verify that it is not an ongoing issue.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2023
While driving at a low rate of speed, turning or speed bumps the vehicle starts to rattle in the front end and steering wheel. Engine feels like it slips while rattling from the front. Seems like a motor mount, suspension, tie rod or some other component. Brakes are very hard and make lots of noise. When starting the vehicle on an incline it Lunsford forward out of control.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2023
Vehicle struggles to stay running in the heat with the air conditioning running. Low voltage codes pulled at dealership. When the air conditioner is running there is an awful toxic smell from the vents both with or without recycling the air. Vehicle struggles to slow then accelerate, such as normal driving conditions in rush hour traffic. Poor ability to accelerate, hesitant and jolting. AWD model with winter package in the desert doesn’t fair well.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
Vehicle appears not equipped to operate in heat with air conditioning on. Vehicle struggles to keep running, idles high and jerks while driving on the highway. When trying to accelerate after slowing down it doesn’t accelerate.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2023
The engine reduces power light came on almost two months ago I toke it to family gmc in St. George in sc. They put is on a machine and said they said the I think turbo compassion for the air to the gas is bad. I am still waiting on them to receive a part to fix it. So I was wondering if anybody else had this problem with the 2023 buick encore gx
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks fifth for owner complaints among 7 Encore GX years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the fourth model year of the Encore GX's first generation (2020–2023).
Buick updated the Encore GX for 2024, so a 2023 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2024 (not on a 2023)
Cars shoppers compare with the Buick Encore GX, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
