KL4AMBSL5RB0331802024 BUICK Encore GXPreferred
2024 BUICK Encore GX was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There is 1 open recall on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 27 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
Executive Summary
2024 BUICK Encore GX
2024 BUICK Encore GX was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There is 1 open recall on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 27 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
- 1 open recall — verify these have been repaired before purchase
- 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — above average for this class
- Common owner-reported issues: electrical problems, check engine light
- Complaint rate is accelerating — issues appear to be getting worse, not better
- Electrical is flagged in both recalls and owner complaints — double-confirmed failure pattern
27 owner complaints filed — top areas: Electrical (56%), Engine/Powertrain (19%), Other (15%). Common issues: electrical problems, check engine light.
Title Brand Check
Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle Specifications
Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- BUICK
- Model
- Encore GX
- Year
- 2024
- Trim / Series
- Preferred
- Body Style
- Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
- Vehicle Type
- MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)
- Drive Type
- FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline
- Engine
- 3-cyl 1.3L
- Doors
- 4
- Manufacturer
- GENERAL MOTORS LLC
- Assembly
- BUPYEONG, SOUTH KOREA
- GVWR
- Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Assembly Plant Quality
Plant: BUPYEONG, SOUTH KOREA
No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.
Safety Intelligence
Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
✓ No high-risk recall components found
- ⚠27 complaints on a 2-year-old vehicle — unusually high
Lemon law eligibility depends on state law, number of repair attempts, and days out of service. Consult an attorney for actual eligibility.
The same components appear in both official NHTSA recalls and owner-filed complaints — a double-confirmed failure signal.
Driver Assistance Features
ADAS equipment data from NHTSA vPIC database
Deferred Failure Risk
Vehicle-specific risks from this model-year's complaint record, known defects, and service milestones
Owners of the 2024 BUICK Encore GX report electrical issues more than most other systems. Complaints concentrated in one area often signal a systemic weakness worth a targeted pre-purchase inspection.
Owners of the 2024 BUICK Encore GX report engine/powertrain issues more than most other systems. Complaints concentrated in one area often signal a systemic weakness worth a targeted pre-purchase inspection.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
1 RECALLNHTSA VIN-specific recall lookup returned no data for this VIN. The 1 recall below are model-wide and may or may not apply to this exact vehicle depending on production date. Verify at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Average repair completion across 1 recall is ~70%. Always ask the seller for dealer service records confirming each repair.
Statistical model based on recall age, component type, and manufacturer. Not a repair confirmation. Demand dealer service records.
BUICK completes recalls at a fair rate (87%). If this vehicle has open recalls, follow up with a dealer — average remedy time is ~20 months.
Avg time to remedy open recall: ~20 months · Source: NHTSA Recall Completion Rate Reports
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SummaryGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Buick Encore GX, Envista, and Chevrolet Trax vehicles. The software in the Virtual Cockpit Unit Module (VCU) may cause the instrument panel display to intermittently go blank at vehicle startup or while driving.Read full details...
~30% chance this recall was never fixed
Moderate RiskSource: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type
Recall Intelligence
Detailed analysis of recall history and severity
Recall Remedy Effectiveness — Complaints Continue After Fix
RECALL DIDN'T FIX ITOwner complaints filed AFTER recall remedies were issued for the same components
100% of complaints about "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL" were filed AFTER recall campaign 23V744000 (2023-06-11) — the recall remedy may not have fully resolved the issue.
Continuing complaints after a recall may indicate an inadequate fix, a new failure mode, or that many vehicles never had the recall performed. Verify recall completion status directly with NHTSA.
Complaint Intelligence
27 complaints analyzed across 6 system categories
⚠ Complaint rate is accelerating — issue may be getting worse
Owner Complaints
HIGH VOLUME27 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
The contact owns a 2024 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH and attempting to stop the vehicle, the instrument panel displayed a blank screen. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electrical system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V744000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.
When driving on the freeway 60 mph, the car jerked and locked up, no warning lights, speedometer was rising and dropping rapidly, car slowly dropped speed. Had to pull on the side of the road, when car was put to parked, neutral, or drive it went backwards until it wasn’t able to move at all. Car was towed to the GM Chevrolet in my area where it was fixed previously for transmission module issue. After inspection it was found by a mechanic that it was a transmission failure. Thankfully, we didn’t get into an accident but it was a close call.
The contact owns a 2024 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-65 MPH on the interstate, the vehicle was shuddering abnormally while accelerating, and the transmission failed to properly shift into gear. The contact was concerned about safety while driving the vehicle at highway speeds. There were no warning lights illuminated, or messages displayed prior to the failure. After the most recent failure, the vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,500.
The contact owns a 2024 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the instrument panel displayed a blank screen. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred every 31 seconds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed VCU module. The contact was informed that the VCU module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. In addition, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown recall or warranty program. The failure mileage was approximately 55,300.
The instrument panel gets really hot. I've taken the car to a dealer to diagnose the problem but they say that that can't find anything wrong .There were no warning lights or any message. I purchased the car in 2025 and it already had a little over 10,000 miles on it. Not just the instrument panel gets hot, but, also yhe panel where the radio is.
The contact owns a 2024 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blurry image, and the rear-view camera later displayed a solid red image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that there were no issues with the rear-view camera image. The failure reoccurred, but the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown related recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
The information screen has gone totally black and calls are cutting in and out. In my research I've seen there was a recall for this issue on this year and model but, it does not show for my particular vehicle.
Vehicle was started and started misfiring and then shut off, no check engine lights came on. Tried to restart the car and it continued to misfire but eventually stopped. Car also misfires sometimes after refueling. Car was taken to dealership to be looked at and there were no findings of any issues, they suggested it was bad gas.
door locks don't work. This is the second time in less than a year. Last time it took Buick 28 days to fix. Vehicle wont lock while driving or when parked. No warning. The dealer has had the vehicle since 10-20-25.
The display screen will glitch and completely go black while driving. I have tried turning the car off to hopefully “reset” the issue, and sometimes the entire display will not come on at all. I have taken my car in 4-5 times to my local dealership only to be blown off. Lately my headlights and taillights are going off at random times. The are a huge safety concern and it seems increasingly common for many Buick owners. The recall needs to be expanded to include my vehicle before I have an accident and I, or someone else is seriously hurt.
The brakes squeak constantly and occasionally skid or lock up. The car will occasionally have all electrical power disconnected so all screens go blank for 2-3 secs (sometimes in succession for 3 times max), the car will continue to run and drive. However, the screens will blink as if starting up each time the car does this. The car will also indicate 44 miles left until tank is empty, working 10-12 more miles the car will stop as if it’s out of gas and will not start again until you put gas it (all indications on gauges show enough gas to go 25-30 miles left). Very disappointed in the car and dealership can’t figure it out.
Same issue that happened a couple years ago in which a recall was issued. My 2024 Buick Encore GX ST screen went blank. I was unable to see my odometer, speed, fuel gauge etc. while operating the vehicle.
The contact leased a 2024 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel was pulling to the left and to the right. The contact was able to remain in the middle lane. The contact had to use both hands while driving the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering column needed to be replaced. After two months, the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 30,620.
Noticed around 7000 miles that the brakes are squealing and grabbing at slow speeds
The issue has happened three times and has been "repaired" three times. While driving, the vehicle starts to shake violently. Then the check engine light comes on and the vehicle shuts off. It has happened on extremely busy roads and almost caused major accidents. It has been a problem with fuel pump and sensor. Again, it has happened three times.
On [XXX], I was driving on the [XXX] in San Diego, a rather busy freeway, and the instrument panel went black with no interference from me. I could not see speedometer or any other information about the car, like check engine light. I drove the 17 miles home. At my home, I restarted the car several times and the screen was still black. A separate screen with the radio, etc. was still working though. I made sure that a button to dim the screen hadn't accidentally been touched, and it hadn't as I turned it back and forth with no response. There was no error message, etc. I was at risk of not knowing how fast I was going, not having the safety feature of knowing how close I was to other vehicles, and not knowing if there was a check engine indicator. There was no symptoms prior to the incident. The car has about 1,246 miles on it. I just purchased in bout 7 weeks ago brand new. I contacted OnStar as they have a help feature and they instructed me I had to bring the car in to the dealer. I have been ill the last few days but will have to take in there to be inspected. I have not started the car today on 7/11/2025 to see if the screen will come on, but a black instrument panel seems to be an ongoing problem the Buick Encore GX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2024 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated there was an abnormally strong foul odor inside the vehicle, and there was mildew and mold inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected. The dealer informed the contact that the failure had occurred due to the design of the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that water and debris were entering the vehicle through the gap between the windshield and the cowl. The dealer was currently cleaning the vehicle with mold removal products; however, no assistance was provided to correct the gap between the windshield and the cowl. The dealer advised the contact to park the vehicle in a garage. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that her daughter was asthmatic and was taken to the hospital because her asthma might have been triggered by the mold and mildew inside the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,500.
On 10/21/2024 the main gauge cluster began flickering and lasted that way for several days while GM had part on back order. Then on 11/9/2024 the gauge cluster went completely out while driving at night with no indication of speed or status. The incident was very disorienting but did not cause an incident. GM has been waiting on the part since 10/28/2024 with the latest delivery expected in Feb 2025. Each month the part's expected arrival slips several weeks, and our confidence is low that the part will be available in Feb.
Screen gets very hot and randomly goes black and malfunctions as well as carplay
this is a software issue. it’s always cutting in and out turning blank at times/ glitching / disconnecting just a bunch of stuff that gets very annoying and frustrating especially when driving.
All door locks wont activate both from door switches and key fob. Alarm is malfunction. Doors wont lock when moving. My car has been at the dealers for three weeks they have not been able to fix it.
Upon starting up my car, the instrument panel (showing speed, mileage, warning lights, fuel level, blinkers, etc) was completely blank. The entire dashboard is displayed via illumination. This lasted about an hour. There is an open recall on this exact issue, but my VIN isn't included in the recall.
We bought our Buick Encore in April 2024 and not even a month after we had it the screen went completely blank while I was driving down the road and I couldn’t see my speedometer to see how fast I was going or anything, so I took it to the dealership and they did a system update to supposedly solve the problem. Now, not even four months later I had to take the vehicle back because the control screen that has the mapping system, the phone, Pandora etc. goes out on and off which is a huge hazard if you’re on the interstate in an unknown area and the map goes blank or you’re driving in a hands free state and the phone goes off and you have to fiddle with your phone to switch the caller over to the speaker on your cell phone. I was at the dealer for four hours today and they acknowledged the Buick Encore has a well known Bluetooth connection issue and they said there was nothing they could do but a hard reset on the system. They did that after I’d been there four hours and ten minutes after I left the dealer the system disconnected from my phone again while I was on the interstate going 70+ mph. The sealer also said there was nothing more they could do until Buick came out with a recall on the system. My car is brand spanking new and I shouldn’t have these type of problems out of the vehicle already.
The contact owns a 2024 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into drive, the vehicle failed to move, prompting the contact to turn off the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to immediately restart. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to start. Later, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly began to decelerate independently before returning to normal functionality. The contact also stated that previously, while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel went blank, failing to display any information. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,200. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2024 Buick Encore GX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V744000 (Electrical System), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed; however, while driving 30 MPH, the instrument cluster display and the infotainment system screen display turned black. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that she was able to drive to the nearby residence. The contact stated that upon arriving to the residence, she turned off and restarted the vehicle several times, and the infotainment screen display became operable. The contact stated that she went to the vehicle settings on the infotainment system and selected Update twice, but the instrument cluster display remained black. The contact stated that she then selected Previous Updates and turned off the vehicle for an hour. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the instrument cluster and the infotainment system were operable. The dealer was notified of the failure through a voicemail message. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,714.
The Virtual Cockpit Unit on my Buick Encore GX ST 2024 keeps intermittently blackout at vehicle startup and or while driving. When this happens while driving, I have no way of knowing the speed, gas level, and other important information that would be displayed on the cockpit screen. At times when the screen starts to go out, it starts to glitch (images on screen are distorted). When this happens, it become very distracting while driving. My concern is this vehicle is unsafe under these conditions. I have only had this vehicle since mid OCT 2023. My vehicle has been serviced at the dealership on the above reported incident on [XXX], second time on [XXX], and the third time on [XXX]. I keep getting my car back thinking that the issue is fixed, and only to find out that it is not. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). The contact stated the vehicle virtual cockpit unit/instrument panel has failed again.
I started the Encore and dash flashed.Sevivice side detection system.Now the small lights on mirros dont show any more.It just happend today 12/17/2024 .I hope I dont have other issues with this vehicle. I would hate too use the lemon or too have to trade this in. Thank You
Complaint & Reliability Timeline
Annual complaints (blue) vs. composite reliability score (amber) — recall years marked in red
The blue line shows 27 total NHTSA complaints filed over 4 years, with the worst year being 2025 (11 complaints).
The amber reliability line averaged 94/100 across the vehicle's life — relatively stable, with the lowest point of 90/100 in 2025.
The recall (red dashed line) were issued in the same year or before complaints peaked, suggesting the manufacturer identified and acted on the defect relatively quickly.
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Known class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $31,344 (~$522/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Negotiation Ammunition
Use these data-backed findings to negotiate the price down
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 2024 BUICK Encore GX — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
Recall Probability Forecast
Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
20% estimated recall probability — some indicators present but not alarming.
- ▸Accelerating complaint rate — increasing pressure on NHTSA to act
Maintenance Schedule
OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
Auction History
Public sale records from Copart, IAAI, and auction aggregators
Searching Public Auction Records
Checking Copart, IAAI, BidFax, and other sources for KL4AMBSL5RB033180. Results appear automatically when found.
Insurance Cost Estimate
Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
State-Specific Legal Protections
What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data Table
All decoded fields in a single flattened view
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | KL4AMBSL5RB033180 |
| Model Year | 2024 |
| Make | BUICK |
| Model | Encore GX |
| Trim | Preferred |
| Series | Cab/Utility Body Style |
| Vehicle Type | MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV) |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | FWD/Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
Engine
| Engine Cylinders | 3 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.3 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | GENERAL MOTORS LLC |
| Assembly City | BUPYEONG |
| Assembly Country | SOUTH KOREA |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | KL4 |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 5 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | R |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | B |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 033180 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 1 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 27 |
VIN Structure Decode
ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 8/1/2026, 3:33:50 PM.