Used 2013 Buick Encore Consumer Reviews

Love my 2013 Encore

I've had my Encore for 2 months now. I've been using it for my daily commute of 70 miles round trip...and am getting an average of 27.2 mpg. Just got back from a 10 day 10 state trip driving through torrential rain (tropical storm Andrea) and the only complaints I have is the Bluetooth wouldn't always connect with my phone and sometimes the GPS wouldn't work. It was a little bit hard to pass other cars in the mountains of Pennsylvania but every other part of the trip the driving was great! We averaged 33 mpg. Plenty of room for 2 people and with the back seats folded down there was plenty of cargo space. Update. I am at just over 60,000 miles and I am still happy with my Encore. I am considering trading it in, only because of the amount of miles I have on it. The only problem I have had with the car was this past winter the heat didn't work. It was still within warranty so the dealership replaced the radiator and some plastic tubing at no cost to me...I got it back when the temp was down in the single digits. Never had another problem.

Would not recommend buying a Buick Encore

I bought a brand new 2013 Buick Encore and never had any major problems with it until recently. It now has 78,000 miles on it. Last week my engine light turned on and shortly after that a repetitive almost clicking noise came from the engine when it was running and it would have issues accelerating and decelerating. The engine light would also come one and off and the noise would decrease a bit when it was off. I called my dealership and made an appointment. I was told my lifters needed to be replaced and also that I had a crack in my front exhaust. My dealership said for how old my car is this should not have happened. I also take in my car regularly for maintenance check and oil changes. My change oil light has never even come on. I had my dealership do the repairs and $1,000 later my car seems to be working properly again. I called Buick and opened a case to see if there was anything they could do. I was also told by them that the lifters should not have gone out. I received follow up today and was informed there is nothing that can be done. The powertran warranty is what covers that and since it only goes until 70,000 there is nothing that can be done and they cannot extend the warranty. I asked if my car only had 72,000 miles on it if that would have made a difference and they said yes. So basically because my lifters decided to crap out for no reason at 78,000 and that's not close enough to 70,000 I am stuck with those repair costs. I will never be buying a Buick again. I don't know a lot about cars but I do know that I had a used Oldsmobile Alero for 10 years that I took way less care of and never had a single engine issue. I would not recommend buying this car and I have read a lot of other people's issues with Encores and problems that should not occur and having to pay a lot of money out of pocket for them.

Engine Issues

After driving 13800 miles, in trips of 1400 to1600 miles per trip, since I purchased this SUV I can honestly say it needs more horse power for the road. Going up hills, and going into headwinds puts a definite strain on this little engine. And the more it strains the less MPG it gets. I also am concerned with the air intake design beings this car stalled out on me while driving one crappy winter day in ND. This is not a good situation for a new car to have happen to it and the passengers. Snow/moisture should not get into parts of the engine compartment where it can cause problems.

Great ride, very quiet

Bought this after driving the other small suv choices. This had the best options and the best ride for the money. This is a small vehicle, but has plenty of front legroom for my wife and I. Those that complain about the lack of power, this is not and not meant to be an enclave. I find adequate power, just push down a little farther on the gas pedal. As an empty-nester this car does what we bought it for, comfort, quiet, room to carry cargo and pets with rear seats folded and good gas mileage.

heater

on short trips at 25 below c. the heat gauge comes up to normal then when you turn the fan wide open the heat gauge goes back to cold and blows cold air on highway driving works ok dealer put new thermostat in still same problem returned to dealer who phoned gm and was told there seems to be a problem with heat has anyone else had this problem

Cute ute

This is one small compact crossover. We looked at all of them and I mean all! None of them made us feel the way this little baby Buick did. Its classy, sharp, upscale and cut all in one. True its not going to win a race but it is not mean to nor was it made for that. It has plenty of punch. We only have 385 miles on it and are getting 27 in the city, not bad for an AWD that take regular. Give this vehicle a chance. Buick has touched upon an important market and we are glad they did.

Excellent vehicle, very happy

After purchasing the vehicle new June 29, 2013 and logging approximately 3000 miles, I am very satisfied. After a recent trip of 2850 miles in 10 days through highways, interstates, and the back roads and mountain roads of West Virginia, I am very satisfied. From Indiana to Florida and back, the car averaged 33.2 miles per gallon running the air conditioning all of the time. I was originally concerned that it might lack power in the mountains but I was pleasantly surprised. I was able to pass on hills and the Encore was responsive to quick acceleration. The car was very comfortable. The convex blind spot mirrors take some time to get used to but I am very pleased with the vehicle. As an Encore to the Encore, I have been so pleased with the performance of the Encore that we purchased another Encore, a 2015 Encore convenience package with AWD in May of 2015. The upgrade list of features for safety have been great with blind spot warning side view mirrors and back up alert with cross traffic warning. Still a great car. No mechanical issues experienced with just routing oil changes and tire rotations. Great car for empty nesters or those with smaller children. Plenty of room and would purchase again. March 2020: The only mechanical issues I have had is with there is a coolant line that has leaked at the turbo. This has occurred twice, the first time was within warranty and the second time we had to pay. Also had a water pump go out. Somewhat disappointing since the car has only 37K on it at this time. Still pleased with car other than for these issues.... Still doing well in March 2022. Approximately 40K miles now.. Just over 40k in 10/22. No issues. 3/24. No issue. Now at 45k. No issues, currently at 47k.

Money pit Encore

I have a 2013 Buick Encore. I really liked it for the first few years. Now at 75,000 miles is it falling apart. First issues, an electrical issue that caused the car to be unresponsive, would not move when started. Had it repaired for 150.00. Then the reduce engine speed system was active, in traffic, could not go more that 2 miles an hour, very dangerous and scary. Next 4 major engine oil leaks, repairs on those 1200.00. Now I have to pay for repairs on a cracked turbocharger, 2000.00. I bought a Buick because they are supposed to be safe and reliable. I am stuck with a crappy car and frankly scared to drive it any distance for fear I will get stuck somewhere, especially in the winter. Very disappointed.

2 Turbo engines - 2 months! 😤

This car is very nice looking and handles well when the engine is working. I bought this car brand new and have had nothing but problems. Paint fell off the mirrors at 33,000 miles (garage kept). Multiple engine issues and Buick extended my warranty. Then warranty expires and bam! Turbo engine goes out $1300 on an engine with a car that only has 89,000... driving along yesterday and turbo goes out again. The piece is evidently back ordered and the first time i had to wait 6 weeks for the turbo. This cars engine is garbage!

Nice car for the money

You get a super nice car for around $30,000, if you go with the premium package like we did. We got the saddle brown leather interior, which smells and feels wonderful, and is very luxurious. We put a child seat in the back, and in doing that, you have to move the front seat up, which makes for a less than comfy ride...and I'm only 5'7"! The gadgets are well placed, and the ride is very quiet and comfortable. The car looks very elegant inside and out, and has every option you could ever want. Performance on this vehicle sucks, straight up. It is probably one of the weaker vehicles I have ever driven, and takes about 10 seconds to get to 60 mph.

Quiet ride with luxurious comfort and reasonable gas consumption

Based on first impressions, the new Encore offers a nice comfortable super-quiet ride. It is is easy to maneuver in traffic and it has a lot of good features. During the test drive, I could get it to merge on the highway without any problems--of course, I did not expect it to glide (say the way an Infinity does). I bought it because of its fuel economy, but it is still fun to drive. It took no time to connect my blue-tooth phone and have music come out beautifully from the Bose speakers. Don't let all the knobs discourage you--the system is actually easy to use! Having moved from an Acura TSX, I like the slightly higher ride while still having a compact size.

Bad purchase!

Tons of issues with sensors and lots of money spent in 4 years on a well maintained car. Small and compact and drove very nicely but always something wrong with it! Never will buy another one!

A petite SUV to love

What I like best about my petite Encore? ( leased) 1a. the smooth, very comfortable and quiet ride, just high enough up to give (petite) me a good view of the road; size of vehicle; 1b. The heated steering wheel, individually heated front seats and auto start; 2. Leather interior in saddle is eye catching and of very good quality- always looks great; 3. Cargo space is convenient for shopping bags/ travel cases, and is larger than it appears to be from the outside; 4. Great running car - no mechanical or technical problems during 3 years of leasing; very reliable and love the way it maneuvers through traffic and in-out of parking spaces.

I bought a used Encore

I bought this car on Mother's Day from a Buick dealer here where I live. It is an amazing car all of the instrumentation works well it gets about 33 miles per gallon. I keep reading about it not having to get up and go to pass people and I find that to be untrue. I am so proud to own this car it's beautiful it's reliable it's economical and it looks so cool. it only had 72,000 miles on it and there is not one thing that I can complain about.

Would never buy again

The 2013 Buick Encore is truly a beautiful vehicle but it stops there. I was so happy that I purchased a extended warranty. I have had non stop check engine lights come on. I am now on my 4th catalytic converter which of course the warranty doesnt cover. Anything that could leak has! I only have 107000 miles on it at this time. Will never buy a Buick again!

Buick Encore is an excellent vehicle

We purchased a 2013 Buick Encore Leather FWD in June 2013 and have 17,000 (now 39,000 miles) miles on it. It provides excellent gas mileage, comfort for long trips and versatile utilizing the fold down seats to haul all types of items. I highly recommend the Encore for empty nesters or someone who has no more than 2 children. I have found the Encore to perform well in all situations we have encountered. It handles the mountains of West Virginia, the heat and humidity of Florida and the narrow winding roads of Pennsylvania. The high ground clearance makes it especially good for driving in snow. (The only non-standard repair was a leak in a coolant hose at the turbo which was covered by warranty and was completed in a day.) (UPDATE: the same coolant leak developed at the turbo and was not covered by warranty. 2X for same issue and vehicle has only 38K causes me to wonder if this is an inherent issue that might justify GM looking into a recall) I would, and did buy Encore again. (2015 Convenience AWD) Update 6/6/22. The car now has 40,000 miles and my wife still loves the car. It does well in both rain and snow and has been very dependable. Update 12/8/22. Same review on car. Mileage now at 40,750. Update 6/7/23 Same review on car. Mileage now at 46,500

Has Turbo issues and GM doesn't have the parts

It only has 54,000 miles on it and first the valve gasket leaked and we had to replace that and two valves. Then the O2 sensor went. Now the Turbo has to be replaced and the dealer has had it since 06/25/2019 and GM has a national problem ordering their parts. We have been told that it is on back order and they do not know how long it will take to get the part. We can not drive it either because that could ruin the entire engine. We called GM and got a claim number and they gave us a case worker who is never in and the message says they will return your call and they never due. Per the consumer affairs department this is happening nation wide and is happening with almost all of the GM models that are under warranty and have to have genuine GM parts to be repaired.

Lovin my Encore

Gorgeous. Very comfy. Great mpg for suv. Roomy seating & cargo! Beautiful! Have only had it 2 weeks, so can't speak for reliability, but I'm optomistic based on reviews! I think my car might be too good for me...lol. Elli Encore...i love her. Comfort, quality, luxury, & economy without being ostentatious.

New Encore is nice

Enjoying this vehicle very much. My wife will be driving it and she loves the size and design. Great mpg, very quiet and fun to drive. Looks small on the outside but seems big on the inside. Engine is not overpowering but very peppy. Is a small turbo that uses regular gas.... with mid to high 20's mpg for in-town driving. Fit and finish is very good.

What can go wrong?

Bought used at 106,000 MI. Went well for about 3 weeks. Thermostat started sticking had to change the thermostat. Had a crack in the return to the radiator that was hidden. The coolant level would leak down and it would stop heating. After about 6 weeks it overheated and now I'm having to get the engine rebuilt. The style and features are just what I need. Gas mileage was great while it was running. I want to keep this car. The mechanic thinks I can expect more problems.

New Encore, 1 month in.

So far I love my Encore, it's the perfect size, attractive and plenty of power in the city. I am not experiencing the in town mileage most are posting on here (23.5 mpg) but giving it a little break in time. No complaints so far, although I am experiencing the same thumping noise in the front end another review on here mentions, and eventually gave the car back to GM ? I highly recommend the Encore, and I get a ton of compliments on it.

Beautiful Car

Car is beautiful, well appointed, easy to drive. The technology is a bit hard to get used to. (too many buttons and gadgets to learn) Navigation system not user friendly. No touch screen. The 2013 Premium does not come with blind spot monitoring as seen on many sites. It has a small mirror located on the mirror that is the blind spot monitoring. Lane detection works very well.

Best Buick Ever

What a nice car for just about anyone.

Travelin Encore

I have owned my Encore for awhile now. Recall city on this car. I get it There are bugs to get fixed but it takes the cake that the last recall was a letter not a recall. If I had my car quits on me then I was to let them know by mail. Yikes!! I have had little things go on with my car but what bugs me the most is the dealers here in Colorado just sock it to you when they don't even know how to fix the problem. I've had better luck with outside car repair places. My Buick is doing ok Do I love it ?-no Will I buy another ?-no When I find the car that will get me from point a to b without issues then this car goes up for sale

A great 2nd car

Know that you're not buying a "family" car. You're buying a smaller car that's great for couples. Great for older people as it is small enough for getting in and out of places easily and large enough for most needs. A great 2nd car.

Loving my little SUV

I've had my Encore for about 2 weeks and have begun to have fun driving again. It's very manuverable in traffic and i can zip down the hwy if i want to. I think it looks stylish and not like the rest of the pack. While it's small I had no problem getting into it and I'm a very large person. I have arthritis and some of those higher vehicles just didn't work for me. Also My 77y/o mom can get in and out of this very easy too. I'm getting 24 MPG on my first 300 miles and it's the AWD model and it's city driving. It's had all the features that i was hoping for and more. And i could afford it. Since most adults now spend more time single than married this is the perfect vehicle for a single too!

Super stoked about my Encore

After two months of car shopping, I ended up right where I started & that's gotta say something about my new ride! After GM agreed to buy back my 2011 Chevy Equinox because it was a lemon, I suddenly found myself test driving everything from the Toyota prius to the Chevy cruze. In the end I went with the Encore because it's a snappy little SUV with great MPG & even though my Chevy was a lemon, GM did right by me & took care of it with little effort on my behalf.

The little engine that couldn't.

The engine is too small and under-powered for this car. It's a solid,quiet,comfortable car that has a hard time getting out of it's way. It must be a common complaint as Buick is adding about 20 hp to the same engine.

DON'T DO IT

I bought this vehicle used when it was 7 years old. It had 'spotless' service records. I liked that it was a mini suv type. It broke down 3 months later due to a huge coolant leak. My car literally overheated and almost exploded driving down the road, I had to pull over and got stuck. Since then, I have spend thousands of dollars repairing almost every part of the coolant system. The air compressor went out so no AC in 110 California weather. The catalytic converter went out. The engine stalls while trying to accelerate. Leaks EVERYWHERE, and they keep coming back. Smells like burning oil when you run the heater. Check engine light mysteriously comes on and off. This is all with regular maintenance and the car being at 110,000 miles. I feel like it genuinely breaks down every three months. What a huge mistake it was to buy this car. Please DO NOT buy a Buick.

Awesome little ride!

In search for a perfect urban family vehicle

Picked up this emergency upgrade from a 2006 Scion xB on 2/7/13. As I heard, xB upgrade was some of Buick's engineer's purpose for Encore design. This review is my first impressions. So far, I hate one and only thing: bling. All Leather Group Encores that were available right now had chrome wheels and you can't change it. This is an addition of $1,000 to the total car price that was forced down my throat by some schlub on Buick's payroll who decided that's what the first batch of Leather Group Encores should have. There are other decorative, non functional "design" elements that I am learning to tolerate. Fake plastic hood vents are not cool, despite what the hoodlums are saying.

Disappointed with Buick Encore

Vehicle road tested wonderful during the dealer visit, but has been a huge disappointment after taking it home. We already exchanged the vehicle (so we're on our second one) and really appreciate the dealership's cooperation with doing their best to make the situation right for us. Both vehicles have the same problem, in fact the 2nd one is worse and I wish I had kept the 1st one. While entering and exiting our driveway (with the steering turned left or right) which has a normal drainage dip (water canal) between the road and driveway elevation, there are thumping noises coming from the suspension. Of course as is typical...the problem could not be duplicated at the dealership. I have driven many many cars on my driveway and never heard this type of noise from any other car. I owned 4 GM cars over a 20 year period through 2009, and finally gave up due to the consistent need to pour money into repairs after about 4 - 5 years of ownership. I thought things may have improved and gave it another shot, but I guess I was dead wrong. I feel terribly let down and like I made a huge mistake. The classic definition of 'insanity' is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I must be insane for falling for the same mistake over and over.

2013 Encore

BEAUTIFUL

BEAUTIFUL, COMFORTABLE LITTLE GAS SIPPER SUV

ESPRESSO

'Ordered' my ENCORE as they could NOT 'locate' one in the Entire-State of Calif. in the 'Espresso-Color' that was in the Brochure. I've just now passed the 44K mark on the Mileage. BUICK is is GREAT CONDITION...imho...Sunroof & all.

Buick Encore I like it but....

Hello Just bought the new buick encore. Well, I really like it! Fun to drive and great style. However less than 24 hrs from purchasing the car I hit something in the road and damage the front bumper. Well, now waiting for GM to get the part! My dealer has been great but looks like GM is not ready to service the car. It has been week and no confirmed date on when the part will arrive. Nice car but you may be waiting if you have any damage and it needs repair.

I'll Never Buy a Buick Again

Had a 2013 Buick Encore. Around 75,000 miles, the catalytic converter puked, and month by month, the water reservior, coolant hose, and thermostat housing failed. Keep in mind I drove only 8,000 miles per year, if that. I am so thoroughly disgusted, I can't even articulate that disgust here without wanting to use profanity. This car never showed temperature issues, yet it's head gasket blew at 80,000 miles. My husband owned a Buick LaCrosse. Another POS. Though that lasted 200,000 miles, it too died of engine issues, no lights indicating a problem until it was catastrophic. These are horrible vehicles.