My Buick Encore GX went into reduced engine power. Is the turbo bad?

Short answer: Read the code first. P0299 means low turbo boost. That can be a cracked turbo, which owners have had replaced under GM warranty, or a leaking hose or sensor. Ask the dealer whether your powertrain warranty or any GM program covers it before paying for diagnosis. If yours stalls at lights, write down when it happens and report each one to the dealer.

Symptom: 'Reduced engine power' shows on the dash, the check-engine light comes on and the car feels weak. Or it stalls at startup or at a light.

What to check first

1. Read the codes with a scanner or at a parts store.
2. Look for loose or split intake hoses between the turbo and engine.
3. Ask the dealer about warranty coverage before paying for diagnosis.
4. For stalling, note the time, temperature, and whether auto stop was on.
5. Run your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Likely causes

1. Turbo not building boost (P0299). P0299 means the turbocharger is making less boost than the computer expects. One owner's brother-in-law had a cracked turbo near the wastegate, the valve that controls boost, replaced under GM warranty.
2. Boost leak or sensor fault. A loose intake hose or a bad sensor can also set P0299, which is why diagnosis matters before replacing the turbo.
3. Stalling at start-up or at lights. Some 2025-2026 owners report stalls when restarting from auto stop or at startup, which needs a dealer diagnosis.

What it usually costs

One owner said the dealer wanted $169 just to diagnose. Owners report turbo replacements done under warranty.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Reduced engine power makes merging and passing risky. Drive gently to a safe place and get it checked. Stalling in traffic is dangerous, so get it in soon.

DIY or shop?

Reading codes and checking hoses is DIY. Turbo and stalling diagnosis is shop work.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists 4 recall(s) for the Buick Encore GX in these years, and none match this problem. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 113 keyword-matched complaints for Buick Encore GX 2020–2026 (of 234 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-01; keywords: turbo, reduced engine power, limp, stall, power, boost, shut) (NHTSA returned no data for 1 model-year queries). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In 2023 Buick Encore GX Limp Mode Activated Out of Nowhere on Reddit r/BuickEncoreGX, a 2023 Encore GX with the 1.2L at 58,000 miles suddenly showed 'reduced engine power' and a check-engine light with code P0299. One owner said a cracked turbo at the wastegate side was replaced under GM warranty. Another said GM covered their 2020's fix after a notice, though the original poster thought that only applied to 2020.
• In Encore GX sometimes stalls on Reddit r/BuickEncoreGX, a 2026 Encore GX at 7,000 miles sometimes stalled at startup or at a light, and was going back to the dealer a second time. A 2025 owner reported the same stall plus door locks cycling and a loss of power.

Quick tip

Ask about warranty first, every time. Turbo issues on these small engines often fall under the powertrain coverage, and the dealer won't always bring it up.

Vehicle focus: Buick Encore GX with the 1.2L or 1.3L turbo three-cylinder, 2020-2026.

Safety / mechanic note

Loss of power or stalling in traffic is dangerous. Verify with a mechanic.