9 complaints reported

2018 Buick Encore Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
9
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
4

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2026

The front passenger air bag sensor turns off either before we begin driving or while the vehicle is in motion. The manual says that if you have a seat cushion or are not in the position for the sensor to "see" you, it may turn off. I have a bad back, and I need my 2-inch seat cushion for long trips, or I will be in pain. But when I use my seat cushion, the sensor turns the air bag off. So, if I use my seat cushion (or the sensor otherwise decides to turn the air bag off), I am not protected in the case of an accident. If I don't use my seat cushion, I am in pain from my back. The front passenger air bag should have a manual switch and have the ability to be kept on all of the time, that decision being made by the passenger and not a sensor that is not smart enough to adjust to an additional cushion or other situation.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCORE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2026
Aug 2025 Crash Injury

When crossing through an intersection at approximately 45mph, I was struck by another vehicle, speed unknown, who failed to stop at a stop sign. My vehicle was struck on the front passenger corner. My vehicle continued in a forward motion for several hundred feet. Both driver and front passenger wore seat belts, however the driver struck her head on steering wheel, loosing consciousness for several minutes. Side airbags deployed, however front air bags did not

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCORE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2025
Mar 2025 Crash

A deer came out of nowhere and I hit it head on. It totaled the car. The airbag did not go off

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCORE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2025
Oct 2023

My airbag light is on and malfunctioning. It will cost $200 for the diagnostic and no repair. To repair it will cost $873.19. I see there are more complaints in regarding this issue. To me this is a safety issue and concerns me as I drive my grandchildren in this car. I am told it is an actual sensor in the cushion of the seat. My vehicle is under 5 years old. Something has to be done.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCORE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2023
Dec 2022

previous airbag recall, but not including my VIN. However, my airbag light is on and malfunctioning. It will cost $200 to just diagnose the repair and no idea what the cost to fix this saftey issue on a car that is only 5 years old. Please help!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCORE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2022
Jul 2020

I HAVE BROUGHT MY NEW 2018 BUICK ENCORE VEHICLE INTO DELRAY BUICK DEALERSHIP, DELRAY BEACH, FL FOR NUMEROUS SERVICING TO ADDRESS CORRECTING/REPAIR/REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SWITCH AND OR ANY COMPONENTS IN THE SYSTEM EFFECTING THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT WHICH SHOWS 100% OF THE TIME THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF WHEN THERE IS IN FACT AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AND CONCERNINGLY IS A HAZARD TO THE PASSENGER IN THIS SEAT AND ALL PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. DELRAY BUICK AND GM HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND TO INSPECT COMPONENTS AND CONTACTS THROUGH THIS SAFETY SYSTEM ITS MODULES, COMPONENTS AND CONNECTIONS TO CLEAR THIS COMPLAINT IN ANY WAY. THE TICKET NUMBERS FOR SERVICING ARE AS FOLLOWS: 2/11/20 INVOICE # 207656; 1/16/20 INVOICE # 206511; & 12/19/19 INVOICE # 204865. I ALSO CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER CARE (CASE # 9-5827839607) ON 02/20/20 SPOKE WITH ALONDRA (SENIOR ADVISOR) WITH NO RESOLUTION TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY DEFECT TO ATTEMPT RESOLUTION. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT FOR MY VEHICLE THAT PLACES THE FRONT PASSENGER AND POSSIBLY ALL OCCUPANTS THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY FOR RESOLUTION TTHROUGH THE DEALORSHIP OR GM THEMSELVES. I AM SEEKING THE HELP FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION TO INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY DEFECT SO THAT MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS ALL OTHERS ARE PLACED IN SERVICE ON THE ROAD WITH ALL HIGHWAY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS IN PROPER REQUIRED OPERATING CONDITION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCORE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2020
Jul 2019 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, CRASHED INTO THE CORNER PANEL OF AN UNKNOWN VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AND FLOOR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEGS AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO FIRE DUE TO THE CRASH. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO PROVIDED CASE NUMBER 9-5265716704 HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. *BF *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCORE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2019
Mar 2019 Crash Injury

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN VEICHLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. 2 PEOPLE WHERE INJURED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCORE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2019
Feb 2019 Crash Injury

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON AUTO ACCIDENT. IMPACT AREA WAS FRONT CORNER FENDER ON PASSENGER SIDE. POSSIBLE GAS RELEASED INTO PASSENGER SIDE OF CABIN SMELLED 'ELECTRICAL' AND 'SMOKE' FILLED PASSENGER FOOTBOARD AREA. NO LOSS OF COOLANT FROM CAR TO EXPLAIN SMOKE. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON DASHBOARD DISPLAY. CAR WAS TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED 30-35MPH, BRAKES APPLIED, THEN CRASHED INTO A TURNING CAR IN FRONT - TURNING FROM PASSENGER TO DRIVER DIRECTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 BUICK ENCORE, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2019

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Buick Encore has 9 Air Bags complaints on file. 5 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.