General Motors has issued a service bulletin for the Buick Envista and Encore GX over a climate control problem that can cause reduced airflow or a complete loss of air from the dashboard vents during normal driving.
Climate Control Problem Under Investigation
GM Authority reports that the service bulletin addresses an issue affecting the climate control systems in the Buick Envista and Encore GX. The problem is considered a preliminary issue while General Motors continues to investigate the cause and determine an appropriate remedy.
According to the bulletin, symptoms can appear around 30 minutes after driving with the air conditioning turned on. Some owners report that airflow from the dashboard-mounted vents becomes significantly weaker or disappears completely.
Increasing the airflow to its highest setting does not resolve the problem.
GM Suspects Evaporator Freezing
General Motors currently suspects that the issue may be caused by the evaporator freezing over during extended driving with the air conditioning operating.
Ice can accumulate on the evaporator to the point that it restricts the airflow passing through it and into the cabin.
2024-2026 Models Affected
The service bulletin states that the issue affects Buick Envista and Encore GX models built from 2024-2026 and sold in North America.
The problem can affect all engine and transmission combinations of the specified models. Vehicles undergoing inspection must also have the required refrigerant level.
Issue Not Considered a Safety Concern
GM says the issue is not considered a safety issue. However, the automaker’s engineering team is still working to determine the specific fault and the appropriate remedy.
