BUICK Complaints

The driver side headlight was working and then it wasn't. A very costly expense to replace.

Formal Complaint – 2019 Buick Enclave Rear A/C Evaporator Failure I am filing a safety complaint regarding repeated refrigerant leaks and rear A/C evaporator failure on my 2019 Buick Enclave. My vehicle has 72,000 miles and has experienced two A/C system failures within 60 days. The first Freon leak was repaired under a GM special warranty. Only two months later, the system failed again, and the dealership diagnosed a rear evaporator core leak requiring a $3,000 repair. This is not normal wear. GM has documented this defect in bulletins PIT5335, PIT5335A, and 16-NA-046, which describe rear evaporator corrosion caused by blower-motor copper brush dust contaminating the evaporator. My vehicle is experiencing the same failure pattern. This defect presents safety concerns including: • Loss of cooling in high-heat conditions, affecting driver alertness • Moisture or fogging that can impair windshield visibility • Air-quality risks from refrigerant leaks and potential mold • System failure during highway travel, impacting driver comfort and concentration The rapid recurrence of the failure after a GM-covered repair indicates a systemic defect, not a maintenance issue. GM refuses to cover the second repair despite acknowledging the defect in its own bulletins. I have owned four new GM vehicles since 1998, including two I kept for ten years each, with no A/C failures. This repeated defect is financially burdensome and potentially hazardous. I request NHTSA investigate rear A/C evaporator failures in Buick Enclave models, determine whether a safety recall is warranted, and review whether GM’s special warranty coverage should be expanded to address repeat failures.

The factory-installed turbocharger assembly on my 2017 Buick Encore failed mechanically while operating the vehicle, creating an immediate and severe roadway safety hazard.The structural failure of the turbocharger causes the vehicle to experience a sudden, unpredictable, and extreme loss of engine propulsion while actively driving. This severe power degradation makes it incredibly dangerous to accelerate, merge into highway traffic, or clear busy intersections safely, as the vehicle fails to respond to throttle input and drops speed rapidly. The vehicle is displaying an active diagnostic trouble code P0299 (Turbocharger Underboost condition).The manufacturer, General Motors, is fully aware of this exact component defect and has issued corporate Special Coverage Adjustment Bulletin N232395330 to address cracked turbo housings and wastegate failures on this model. However, because my vehicle is over their arbitrary 120,000-mile corporate warranty limit, GM’s Executive Resolution Team (Case #103125607) has issued a final refusal to repair the component.The manufacturer's mileage limitation leaves a documented, highly dangerous engine propulsion defect completely uncorrected on an active vehicle, posing a continuing, severe safety risk to the occupants and other drivers on public roads.

I am submitting this complaint regarding several serious mechanical and electrical issues with my 2020 Buick Encore GX that raise significant concerns about the vehicle's reliability and safety. Most concerning, I was recently informed by the dealership that my vehicle requires another transmission replacement, despite having the transmission replaced in 2024. I was also advised that I would need to pay for an additional diagnostic inspection because technicians discovered oil leaking through the lines, which appears to have contaminated engine components. According to the dealership, metal particles have been found within the engine, causing it to malfunction. They have stated that they are unable to determine the source of the contamination at this time. In addition to these major mechanical concerns, I am experiencing several electrical and system malfunctions, including: The passive keyless entry system does not consistently unlock the doors using the exterior door handle, even with a brand-new battery installed in the key fob. The vehicle repeatedly displays a "Shift to Park" warning even though the gear selector is already in the Park position. The vehicle continues to display brake-related alerts and notifications indicating that the brakes need to be serviced or replaced, despite having brand-new brakes installed. These ongoing issues have resulted in repeated repair costs, loss of confidence in the vehicle, and concerns about my safety while driving. The transmission failure occurring shortly after a previous replacement, combined with unexplained engine contamination and persistent electronic malfunctions, suggests there may be underlying defects that warrant further investigation. I respectfully request that these issues be thoroughly investigated to determine whether they are related to known manufacturing defects or warrant a safety recall or other corrective action. I also request that Buick review my repair history and provide appropriate assistance.

When I stop at traffic lights, my car does not immediately turn back on (it has the auto stop feature). It flashes "parking brake released" on the dashboard. Then, it starts back up. Sometimes, it has not started back up right away & the steering wheel seizes. It has also said, "Assisted Steering Reduced" & "Stabilitrack Not Engaged (or something to that effect)." When the issue started, I tried to start my car & it said to put the car in park but it was already in park. I tried repeatedly to put it drive to put it back in park & it did not register that I was shifting gears. I turned my car off & turned it back on & it shook violently. So I shut it off immediately. The safety hazard is that my car has shut off on me while I was driving, wheels turning, car in drive, going down the street! It came right back on thankfully, but the way it shut off, I would not have time to brake & let driver's behind me know there was an issue, if it had not come back on! Also, if I have to full stop somewhere in the middle of traffic or an unsafe space, and the auto stop does not restart, that is another safety hazard. The problem started December 2025. I stopped at a light & my car would not restart. I was told it was the starter. I had the starter replaced & the issue returned July 4th weekend. Now, I try to brake in a way to prevent the auto stop from engaging as much possible. I shouldn't have to do that!! Please notify General Motors to recall & fix whatever this issue is with the Buick Envision to keep our families & roads safer!! Thank you!

The vehicle is equipment with a Stop/start when brake is applied and vehicle is at a stop, the engine turns off. Randomly the engine does not restart when brake is released and accelerator is pressed, vehicle is required to be put in park and restarted . This has happened on the highway while in traffic, the engine did not restart and required to be put in park and restarted while traffic flowed around me. The other occasion was came to a completed start at a traffic light, again the released the break and pressed the accelerator and the vehicle did not restart . Again had to put in park and restarted while traffic with cars honking . This failure has put us in danger. Vehicle brought to Buick dealer twice , same answer could not recreate, no codes displayed .

92,000 miles my catalytic convertor went bad, had for 5 years. This resulted in lag when trying to accelerate and pull out in traffic. It cost $3,000 to fix as well as the turbocharger being broke. The blind spot detection to passenger side mirror stays on at all times and should only come on when there is an object detected in the right side blind area. I'm [XXX] old and have never ever has a catalytic convertor go bad. Buick should be responsible for these repairs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2019 Buick Enclave (GM) w/ 29481 miles, consistently serviced and in excellent working order. In city traffic about 45-50MPH, no warning lights until total electrical/power failure - no power, no steering, no electrical/lights. Car is owned by [XXX] mother-in-law ([XXX]). Her daughter ([XXX]) was driving. Had [XXX] been driving, there would have been a wreck. [XXX] was able to coast into a corner gas station/garage. Buy next day mechanic was able to isolate failure to alternator. Since we performed the repair at the closest mechanic, I do not know what GM knows. I see on internet a high volume of alternator failures in Enclaves. It doesn't seem an alternator failure should be so abrupt, without warning and with such dire immediate impact. GM has said they 'may' have been able to help with the cost of the repair if we had had it done at an authorized service center. Frankly, this feels like a trap (and Nissan did exactly this to me 2 years ago - asking me to tow into their service center and then saying 'oops, sorry, no warranty ... ). GM should buy their failed alternator back and study why it failed and why that failure had this impact to the vehicle. The repair was made with a GM part - honestly, not sure if that's good or bad, but there is no excuse for GM to not own their part failure. No one other than the mechanic has inspected the car. He would probably be glad to speak to NHTSA. No prior warning lights, messages, symptoms. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Strong odor of gasoline, followed by a crack in the high pressure fuel line. Gasoline poured out under pressure from fuel line approximately 1 foot ahead of the right rear tire. Major amount of spillage - literally several gallons within a minute or so, that eventually faded as the system lost pressure. Could have been a significant safety issue and catastrophic loss if there had been an ignition source nearby. Overall repair required dropping the fuel tank and the replacement of GM Part Number 95080144, a plastic fuel pipe. Overall, a safety issue and expensive (~$900) repair.

The contact owned a 2025 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the GPS failed to operate properly. Additionally, the air conditioning system was inoperable. The contact stated that while driving in the heat, the contact to briefly became unconscious. Due to the failure, OnStar was contacted to providing GPS assistance. After arriving to the destination, the navigation system started operating as designed. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with engine under-boost failure, loss in communication with the telematics communication interface control module, an open ethernet bus, an auxiliary heater command low voltage, lost communication with the inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module, and loss of communication with the direction camera control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.