Consumer Reports recently identified the 2015 Buick Encore crossover as one model that is likely to require a head gasket replacement at some point during its lifecycle.
The non-profit consumer organization recently published a list of older vehicles produced in the last decade that were prone to head gasket failure. The list is based on data collected from the annual Consumer Reports Annual Auto Survey, and includes nine individual models, including the 2015 Buick Encore crossover. A few other GM vehicles listed include the 2011 Buick Lucerne and 2011 Chevy Cruze.
The list is organized by the likelihood that a head gasket failure will occur, with those models most likely to experience head gasket failure at the top. The 2015 Buick Encore was positioned at the bottom of the list.
According to Consumer Reports, the 2015 Buick Encore typically experiences a head gasket failure around 75,000 miles. To note, the 2015 Encore is motivated by the turbocharged 1.4L I4 LUJ/LUV, which is rated at 138 horsepower at 4,900 rpm and 148 pound-feet of torque at 1,850 rpm. As Consumer Reports points out, a head gasket failure can lead to a variety of issues that may cost upwards of several thousands of dollars to repair.
“It is striking how such a simple component can lead to such catastrophic problems,” says Consumer Reports chief mechanic, John Ibbotson. “Catch a failure early, and you might limit the expense. Better yet, learn from others, and avoid models known to have a higher risk of these dreaded issues.”
The organization lists the 2015 and 2016 Lexus NX as a viable, more-reliable alternative.
In a review, Consumer Reports rates the 2015 Buick Encore with 1 out of 5 in reliability and 1 out of 5 in owner satisfaction. Per owner responses, problem areas include the cylinder head, bad rings, cooling line failure, and turbo failure.
In related news, the organization also identifies the 2006 Buick Lucerne as one GM model likely to require an engine rebuild during the course of its lifecycle, with engine failure typically occurring between 116,000 and 143,000 miles.
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Source: Consumer Reports
Comments
I had a 2011 cruze and its not the head gasket its the valve cover gasket. Its because of the bad valve in the intake that can get clogged if you don’t use synthetic oil and keep up on the oil changes. Which can build up pressure and cause the gasket to leak. Its a bad design but when i was in the cruze forum never heard of head gasket issue.
They do also leak oil as they get older but the head gasket is not one of them.
Then, use synthetic oil, which is likely what the manual specifies.
Gee another false un scientific CR report story again. These engines are no better or worse than most anything on the market.
As for not following directions on proper oil and changing it that is on the owner.
Many issues are self induced.
I have a 2015 Encore, and at 69,000 miles, it needs a new head gasket! I drive like an older woman. I am 63! I change my oil like clockwork. As an owner of this vehicle, I can testify it is true! Maybe not scientific, but I am one of the unlucky examples of it happening to me. So there you have it!
1.4T is a POS. Had a 16 Encore whose engine started falling a part just out of warranty. Blown turbo, bad vacuum seals and then something undiagnosed as I gave up and traded it in to a Toyota dealer who did not test drive trade ins. 1800 Buick offered me a free year of on star so could get free towing when it broke in the future. Last GM product for me
GM Junk at its finest!
I have a 2014 encore and just now after 90k miles they are trying to charge me $2k for Discharge hose, valve cover gaskets, coolant outlet replacement. Ugh.
once you are out of warranty NEVER go to a dealer for repair work .. find a GOOD local mechanic and pay about 40-50% less GM Dealer will charge you $1400+ for a intake gasket .. local engine shop around $650-800. (in Scranton, PA, S&L motor fast best & reliable
There’s that GM quality. -Scotty Kilmer.
Most 1.4T engines I have been involved with need the valve cover replaced due to a vacuum leak that develops from poor maintenance. Have also seen a few turbos go out on earlier run 2011’s.
Scotty Kilmer is a loud mouth idiot… He also bashes Kia cars to… Anything that’s not a Toyota, and notice in his videos that all the Toyotas he works on are older better cars then the new Toyota’s… Bottom line is lack of maintenance will ruin ANY car weither it be a GM, Kia, Toyota, heck you can ruin a lawn and garden tractor without changing the oil! That’s why car companies give you that thing called an “owners manual” with a service record in the back of the owners manual.
I have a 14 encore at 72k it works fine thus far i need to know what can i do now to avoid any future hiccups? Anyone any ideas thanx
Probably following the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual.
Stock up on a turbo and all related seals and gaskets, turbo oil pipes, valve cover, VVT solenoid seals, a flex pipe (they all blow the flex out on it) a thermostat and a water outlet. Oh don’t forget the coolant bypass hoses off the outlet because those will break too.
Miałem przypadek wycieku płynu chłodzącego z obiegu i komunikat nie wyłączaj silnika, niech pracuje na wolnych obrotach. Z uwagi że była to pora zimowa i szczęśliwie temperatury niższe niż minus – 15 stopni Cel. to mimo przejechania jeszcze ok. 10-14 km zanim dolałem płynu odpowiedniego kupinego na stacji benzynowej to uszczelka nie puściła, sprawdzone ciśnienie w cylindrach i naprawa węży gumowych w ASO Opel. Dotyczy to silnika w Oplu Mokka – Buick Encore silnik B1.4 NET turbo AT6 140kM. Krótko to nie wada uszczelki, bo jest ok i trwała, to coś innego. Zgadzam się co do stałego monitorowania sukcesywnych wymian oleju i to jakościowo dobrych oraz systematycznych wymian filtrów. A tak naprawdę to dużo zależy od dobrego paliwa, który nie wytwarza nagarów, to zabójstwo dla silnika z niw wymienianiem oleju.
To co przeczytałem w opisie powyżej to jakiś bełkot. Ja tego tak nie napisałem. Krótko uszczelka pod głowicą ok. To co innego.
My GM dealer ASME mechanic says CR editors must be confusing the “cylinder head gasket” with the 1.4L turbo “valve cover gasket”. Says he has rarely changed cylinder head gasket under 150,000 miles.
I own a 2011 and a 2015 Cruze and I changed the valve cover gasket on the 2011 because of a little oil seepage. Took $30 and 2 hours including one cold beer. Just saying.
The head gasket is the last part to fail on those 1.4s. First its the valve cover that warps and the PCV plugs so you replace that. Then you get “engine hot idle” warning for the water outlet because oh wait its plastic and warps and fails. Then you fix that and boom “engine hot idle” and the thermostat fails which oh wait, plastic again! Then, after all that, P0299 underboost and you need a new turbocharger and the oil feed line because its clogged like a heart attack victim and the PLASTIC oil drain pipe because that broke too. Don’t forget the VVT solenoid seals. After all that? Then you might get a head gasket failure.
The 1.4 Ecotec is bar none THE WORST engine GM has done, possibly rivaling or outdoing the Northstar.
I own a 2015 Buick Encore with 144,000 miles. No problem except AC compressor replacement, in Florida running daily.
ACZ – stop being a GM fan boy. They produce the worse engineered vehicles, period. Ask any mechanic including myself what cars to avoid based solely on reliability and gm, ford and chrysler will be the first words out there mouths. The asian car makers produce vehicles that people actually want to service and repair. I don’t agree with CR but i do agree to avoid buying any american vehicle unless you want a disposable car.
Is this engine still being used in the current Encore? I was thinking of looking into a used 2017 -2018 in a few years to replace my Saturn ION. It looks like I am going to looking at a pre owned RAV4 -the last generation not the current model or a Corolla. I am so grateful that my ION doesn’t have that turbo charging or the ridiculous stop/start feature. It may getting a bit long in the tooth even with it very low miles but is a better vehicle apparently that what most of GM products are today.