2014 Encore - too many repairs at 36K miles

[dclooney]

I'm really disappointed with my Encore. I've had numerous things need repairs fortunately still under warranty. I selected Buick as it's always had a great reputation (I thought). At 36K miles, here is what I've had replaced.
10/29/18 – Thermometer replacement.
09/12/18 – Relay replacement
09/10/18 - AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER HOSE REPLACEMENT
08/31/18 - INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT
02/07/18 - STABILIZER SHAFT LINK REPLACEMENT
I'm not a reckless driver, retired and just putter around town and an occasional small road trip. I've driven Honda, Toyota and Nissans and have never had this many problems with much more mileage. My Encore runs great, smooth and quiet but these nagging repairs are going to hurt when I'm off of warranty. Any comments from Buick?

 

[HotZ28]

Good luck getting any comments, or replies from Buick! Drive it until the warranty expires, then git rid of it!! It sounds like you may have a car built on Monday, or Friday!

 

[Zeroboostbuick]

I'm sorry for your crappy experience and expenses. 4 year old cars should fare much better than that.

 

[dclooney]

Good luck getting any comments, or replies from Buick! Drive it until the warranty expires, then git rid of it!! It sounds like you may have a car built on Monday, or Friday!

Thanks, I'm not holding my breath. Just hate that it depreciated by 50% in a couple of years. They keep calling that they want to buy my car......but I tell them can't afford to since their cars depreciate so fast. I made a gain on one of my Altima's I traded.

 

[ken-clifton]

I've driven Honda, Toyota and Nissans and have never had this many problems with much more mileage.

Not taking up for GM on this, but to offer an additional perspective...
The most recalled car I have owned is a 2008 Toyota Prius. Now sitting at five major recalls. Little things like sudden uncontrolled acceleration, unhardened bolts in the steering linkage that fail, main displays that fail (now not under any warranty and big bucks), inverter cooling pumps that fail and many more issues.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Not siding with any manufacturer, but each one is getting vendor supplied parts which is where most of the problems come from. So do you think that every person who built every component had a good day at work? Simply putting it, we are all beta testers LOL.

 

[HotZ28]

Most vendor suppliers are are from south of the border, or far west countries. It seems that the quality of work has taken a dump. Maybe they do not have the tools & equipment to do the job right! Most big conpany's have outsourced to foreign lands for low labor rates and underage/children workers!

 

[Zeroboostbuick]

Encore is made in Bupyeong, South Korea, as far as I know.

My brother has had his 2014 Verano since new and has not had a single problem. The Verano was made in Estados Unidos de America.

I'm not saying South Korean cars are no bueno, because KIA nowadays is one of the most reliable cars sold in North America.

And NO, I'm no Latino Americano nor Spaniard. I'm Western Slavic.

 

[HotZ28]

Let us not get policical or racial here! Like I said, parts are now out sourced out of the USA for low labor rates elsewhere, and that is a fact!

 

[DocBrown]

Actually parts come from all over, US and overseas. Here's an interesting spreadsheet

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Oh let's not forget those darn Canadians LMAO, just kidding. So wheel hubs for EU VW car models assembled and sold in the EU, come from a USA manufacturer. So that makes the USA to the EU worker's?

It's a world market and whoever has the price wins. Don't try to put logic in any of it or you'll find out quickly it may make your head hurt, it's shareholders and profits that makes these decisions.

Just getting back to the vendor supplied parts, Takata airbag, sort of covers how goofy things really are LOL

 

[KevinJ]

2007Lucerne is correct....
Don't try to put rhyme or reason to any of it.
It's all about meeting shareholder expectations and dividend ratio's.
Anybody that thinks that the manufacturers (and dealers) actually care about the consumer experience are sadly mistaken.

And it is possible to get the "lemon" when others of the same make, model, and year are good cars.

Now just to add some fuel to the fire.
My 2013 Verano has had ZERO problems...., So far....
It's just shy of 40,000 miles, so fingers crossed.
And it was "made" here in the USA, though I am sure the majority of the parts are foreign made.

My Brother has a 2017 Encore which is what brings me to this forum.
So far he had no problems with it, but it is still pretty low miles. Less than 20,000.

The Verano Forum is pretty quiet compared to this Encore Forum.
Does that mean that the Verano is a "better built" vehicle?
Hard to say? The fewer posts may just be because a lot fewer Veranos were sold compared to Encores.

 

[buggy]

My 2014 Encore is giving me problems at less than 60,000. Charging problems, then the solenoid coil went. Fixed that. Dead car and new battery 3 months later. Dead AGAIN and am told its now the alternator. Not to mention the clunking in the pass. wheel well. My questions are : If the alternator is replaced do belts and waterpump usually go along with that? What kind of labor does it entail? Removing the manifold? The clunk, I've read, could be a carriage bolt? No steering problems, just noise. No longer under warranty, actually love my Encore, it has all the bells and whistles. Bought it used 2 year s ago March. My Honda Element limped along for 10 years .

 

[dclooney]

Not taking up for GM on this, but to offer an additional perspective...
The most recalled car I have owned is a 2008 Toyota Prius. Now sitting at five major recalls. Little things like sudden uncontrolled acceleration, unhardened bolts in the steering linkage that fail, main displays that fail (now not under any warranty and big bucks), inverter cooling pumps that fail and many more issues.

Thanks for the comment. I've driven Toyota Camry and friends also. Your's is a one off, never heard of any troubles with Toyotas like that. I feel your pain though. '87 Camry got 200K on it and was still running like a top. Used no oil. Good luck!!!

 

[dclooney]

I'm really disappointed with my Encore. I've had numerous things need repairs fortunately still under warranty. I selected Buick as it's always had a great reputation (I thought). At 36K miles, here is what I've had replaced.
10/29/18 – Thermometer replacement.
09/12/18 – Relay replacement
09/10/18 - AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER HOSE REPLACEMENT
08/31/18 - INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT
02/07/18 - STABILIZER SHAFT LINK REPLACEMENT
I'm not a reckless driver, retired and just putter around town and an occasional small road trip. I've driven Honda, Toyota and Nissans and have never had this many problems with much more mileage. My Encore runs great, smooth and quiet but these nagging repairs are going to hurt when I'm off of warranty. Any comments from Buick?

I'm baaaack! 2/8/19 - 39K, just had the crankshaft seal replaced. Leaking oil and falling on belts and squeaking was happening. Next thing to diagnose is creaking when turning steering wheel in cold or damp weather.......any ideas anyone? It was doing it today then when I got to the dealer it stopped.

 

[dclooney]

2/19/19, Back again.....new problem was diagnosed today.l Car made a creaking sound when turning left or right when weather is cold or damp. Got it to do that at the dealer today, diagnosis - strut cap issue. Part is on order. How much more is going to go wrong after my bumper to bumper expires in a few weeks? I can't think about that today.

 

[Mseads]

2/19/19, Back again.....new problem was diagnosed today.l Car made a creaking sound when turning left or right when weather is cold or damp. Got it to do that at the dealer today, diagnosis - strut cap issue. Part is on order. How much more is going to go wrong after my bumper to bumper expires in a few weeks? I can't think about that today.

Mine does that creaking also.

 

[dclooney]

Mine does that creaking also.

sorry to hear that. Take my comment to the dealer so they know what to inspect. I can't stand any noise like that knowing something is not working correctly or needs repairing.

 

[dclooney]

Mine does that creaking also.

I made a comment on Buick's Facebook page under one of their sponsored advertisements on the Encore....and they monitor that. The messaged me and I'm to message back to let them know what happened. It didn't take long for them to message me at all.