This service bulletin provides information on regular inspection of the Seat Belt Lap Anchor.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Buick Encore seatbelts problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Buick Encore have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the seatbelts at roughly $500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See seatbelts across all vehicles →
| Model year | seatbelts complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Encore (this page) | 3 |
| 2017 Encore | 3 |
No new NHTSA seatbelts complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering seatbelts on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides information on availability for a seat belt extender.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPOSITION THE FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE FOR CONCERNS REGARDING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING OR LATCH PLATE COMING TWISTED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information to advise dealers about seat belt buckles not operating and/or seat belt warning light illumination, as well as difficulty latching and unlatching the buckle or the buckle release button sticking.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗14567A - SPECIAL COVERAGE (REVISED PARTS INFORMATION SECTION). ON CERTAIN 2013-2015 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET TRAX AND BUICK ENCORE VEHICLES, THE REAR-SEAT-BELT BUCKLE COVER MAY BE BROKEN AND FULLY SEPARATED FROM THE REAR-SEAT-BELT BUCKLE DUE TO SEAT-BELT-BUCKLE HEAD CONTACT BETWEEN THE ISO FIXTURE AND THE SEAT-HINGE STUD, SEAT-HINGE BRACKET, OR FLOOR PANEL. THIS CAN OCCUR IF THE BUCKLE IS NOT PROPERLY RETAINED IN THE ROUTING STRIP. OVER TIME, THE SEAT-BELT BUCKLE MAY INTERMITTENTLY NOT LOCK OR THE WEBBING MAY SEPARATE FROM THE SEAT-BELT BUCKLE IF THE BUCKLE COVER BECOMES DETACHED. AFTER VERIFYING THE ABOVE CONDITION, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE BOTH REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
2013 Buick encore consumer wants to know if recalls are real or just some of them *cn
When I bought the car last year the dealer took $1900 of my money in a ruse - I will die before ever stepping foot in [xxx] ever again. I will not take this vehicle in for any safety recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
Common questions
How serious is the seatbelts problem on the 2013 Buick Encore?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the seatbelts typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $500 for seatbelts repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to seatbelts?
No active recalls currently cover seatbelts issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.