NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 25 complaints against the 2022 Buick Encore GX. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2022 Buick Encore GX complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2022 Buick Encore Gx has generated 50 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2022 Buick Encore Gx has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Buick pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2022 Buick Encore Gx have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 12 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2022 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while shifting to park, the message “Shift to Park” remained on the instrument panel. The door locks failed to unlock automatically causing the contact to have to unlock the door manually. The following day the vehicle failed to start immediately. The contact stated that several attempts were made to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the gear shifter was not responding as needed. Additionally, the vehicle was idling rough. The mechanic informed the contact that the failure was related to Technical Service Bulletin: 23/NA/119 with NHTSA ID Number: 11009103 (Power Train) and referred the contact to the dealer. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the TSB and that the gear shifter repair was not covered under the warranty. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not covered under warranty, TSB, or recall. The failure mileage was 43,132.” (NHTSA Complaint #11639002)
The 2022 Buick Encore Gx has generated 10 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The bolts connecting sections of the exhaust system broke off at 18 months. The bolts are not separate pieces. they are part of one side of the exhaust so you have to replace an entire section the the exhaust” (NHTSA Complaint #11707485)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2022 Buick Encore Gx have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 6 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2022 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the power steering and brakes were difficult to operate. The contact coasted to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the message “Battery in Safe Mode” was displayed. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The dealer was able to restart the vehicle however, the dealer was unable to determine what caused the vehicle to stall. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred two more times. The contact had the vehicle towed to a different dealer, and it was diagnosed and determined that the alternator and the 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.” (NHTSA Complaint #11704489)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2022 Buick Encore Gx include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 6 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “For the last week or so, my car, a 2022 Buick Encore GX Sport, that I bought brand new and currently only has 30,000 miles, does not acknowledge being in Park when I park the vehicle and try to turn it off. This causes the car to remain on and radio playing and it beeping that it needs attention and to shift it to Park. if you try to close the door, it honks letting you know the car is still on, and pushing the shifter forward, trying to ensure it is all the way in Park does not resolve the issue. Restarting the car and trying to move it in a different gear either way (forward or reverse) and putting it back in park does not resolve the issues either. This is very frustrating and now I am worried about the car rolling or even having transmission issues since you have to restart and try to wiggle and finagle the shifter just so to finally get it to recognize it’s really in Park. I did a recall search and have not found any recalls, I called the Dealer where I purchased it and they stated they have had to replace many shifters in this make and model and as a matter of fact where working on one at the time of my call and therefore did not currently have any parts available to correct this issue on my car. This is my only form of transportation and I cannot afford the estimated quote for this repair when parts do finally come in. What’s the point in having a car that doesn’t shut off?!?!?!” (NHTSA Complaint #11680101)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2022 Buick Encore Gx have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 4 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2022 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the emission purge pump was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance in adding the VIN to a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 7,350.” (NHTSA Complaint #11687416)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2022 Buick Encore Gx by the NHTSA or Buick. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT:STAND
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the jack, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owner of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 26, 2021. A second notice will be mailed once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2022 Buick Encore Gx:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Buick to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Buick must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2022 Buick Encore Gx qualifies as a lemon under California law, Buick may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Buick a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Buick dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Buick pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Buick a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Buick is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2022 Buick Encore Gx has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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