BUICK Complaints

I wanted to update a previous report. The vehicle had had some odd electrical issues. The brakes ended up failing while driving but no electrical issues at the time proceeding it. What I wasn't able to report before was that the brake pedal sunk to the floor with no effort to stop the vehicle at all. The emergency brake is a button on the left side of the vehicle which was attempted to be engaged to stop. It made no effort to stop whatsoever. The vehicle is a danger to society. I just got it back from the dealership and they made an update to the computer or console but replaced no parts. These all need to be recalled no one should be driving these.

The vehicle began shuddering and losing power during normal driving. The issue occurs at various speeds, especially between 35–60 mph, and feels as though the car is slipping or will stall. A certified service center diagnosed a failing torque converter, which is part of the transmission/power train. The repair estimate was several thousand dollars. This failure poses a safety risk because the vehicle can suddenly lose acceleration or struggle to move in traffic. The service center confirmed the defect but stated there is no recall or assistance from Buick or GM. I have contacted Buick Customer Care and GM Executive offices with no response. The vehicle remains unsafe to drive.

The contact owns a 2005 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the fuel gauge sensors failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the fuel gauge sensor failed to provide adequate information regarding the fuel level. The fuel warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, there was an abnormal humming sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the front driver’s side hub bearing had failed to function as intended. The contact had replaced the hub bearing three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,647.

I was involved in an accident that myself and my passenger were injured in due to our airbags not deploying and because of this we both hit our heads. I hit the steering wheel they hit the dashboard and side windows.

Headlight on right side failure - no light. AI shows a recall for this problem, but my vin was not listed. Notice also states 2022, 2023, and 2024 vehicles. It should be as car was only 2 years 10 months old with about 42000 miles. GM has the part now. Dealer inspected the car. Light had less then 750 hours on it; references say average light should last 20,000 hours. An obvious defect. Only noticed failure due to a neighbor seeing it. We drive mostly in the day due to age. Car is used only to go to work. Car has auto headlights, and they do not operate during daylight when we drive.

The contact owns a 2016 Buick Encore. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the message "Steering Fault" was displayed, the steering icon was illuminated, and the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The following day, the contact discovered that the vehicle could be started. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the steering failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V146000 (STEERING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer had not yet been contacted. The failure mileage was 88,300.

Powder Train When parking the car in garage, placed vehicle in park, then turned vehicle off, received a message on dash "SHIP TO PARK". The car was in park. Even thought the engine was off, it would now allow radio or lights to shut off util message goes off. Some times several minutes for it to go out. Taken it to the GM dealer ship was told shifter assembly needs replaced. I have learned their currently is a a class action suit for this issue at this time. My car was under warranty for 5 years and was still under the warranty when this happened to me. I don't feel I should have to pay $491.00 out of my pocket.

The contact owns a 2011 Buick Lacrosse. The contact stated that while attempting to use the defroster, the HVAC system was not working properly, and paper towels were used to wipe the inside and outside windshield. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH or while slowing down to come to a stop, there was an abnormal creaking sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer to have the HVAC system reprogrammed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the HVAC system could not be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or mechanic to have the abnormal sound coming from the rear end diagnosed. The contact researched online and related the failures to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V149000 (Visibility) and 20V764000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

The problem started in the past year (2024-2025) with severe shuddering while driving over 35-40 mph and going over a patched pothole or other irregularity in the road. The shuddering would continue until I slowed to stop. It is quite alarming & feels like the car is falling apart and is more difficult to manuever when this occurs. Once I slow to a stop, the shuddering stops and I am able to proceed once again. I mentioned it earlier in the year (2025) when I went for an oil change but dealer was not aware of what it could be. I look for potential road irregularities but sometimes they are unavoidable as it has occurred again recently.

To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a recurring issue with my 2020 Buick Encore GX (VIN: [XXX] ) related to the “Shift to Park” defect, which is documented in GM’s Technical Service Bulletin 23-NA-119. My vehicle intermittently fails to recognize when it is in park, preventing me from turning off the engine and causing safety and usability concerns. Despite following GM’s recommended steps and scheduling an appointment through Buick Customer Care, I was charged $195 for a diagnostic fee and quoted $495 to replace the shifter assembly. The dealership confirmed the issue matched the bulletin, yet refused to offer goodwill coverage or reimbursement. This expense is a significant hardship. I am still making payments on this vehicle, which is barely five years old. I previously owned a Honda for 20 years without encountering issues like this. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I’ve faced a manufacturer-documented defect with no support. My previous vehicle, a Mitsubishi Outlander, suffered from a known transmission issue that was later part of a class action lawsuit. Despite experiencing the same symptoms, my VIN was excluded. The cost of repair outweighed the value of the vehicle, and I ultimately had to walk away from it as a total loss—leaving me without a car. I am deeply disappointed to now face a similar situation with Buick. I chose this vehicle expecting reliability and support, and I’ve done everything asked of me to address this issue responsibly. I believe GM should be held accountable for this known defect and the financial burden it places on consumers. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)