Buick Encore Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Recent Safety Incidents — Last 5 Model Years
Own a Buick Encore? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Buick Encore — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023Best | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2022 | Excellent | — | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | Unknown Or Other | Full report → |
| 2021 | Excellent | — | 6 | — | 2 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2020 | Good | — | 20 | 2 | 2 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2019 | Avoid | 1 | 66 | 7 | 7 | 3 | Engine | Full report → |
| 2018 | Caution | — | 58 | 10 | 3 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2017Worst | Avoid | 1 | 61 | 13 | 28 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2016 | Avoid | 1 | 55 | 3 | 10 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2015 | Avoid | 1 | 82 | 3 | 4 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2014 | Caution | 1 | 50 | 3 | 4 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2013 | Good | 2 | 32 | 4 | 1 | — | Engine | Full report → |
11 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Buick Encore Problems
Based on 437 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Recent Owner Complaints
Direct reports filed with NHTSA by Buick Encore owners — 2022–2023 model years.
I have had my vehicle to a GM dealer on a few occasions with the EMC code stored in the vehicle and an active check engine light on. While I’m driving - now during 70 percent or more of my trips - my vehicle loses power very suddenly and lunges me forward. I’m unable to stop and go on hills of any noticeable grade and have narrowly missed being in an accident many times. The dealer’s service manager has told me I should just BF glad the car is drivable when I have expressed ongoing safety concerns. I cannot get assistance from GM nor from the dealer in having this warranty connected part replaced. I do not have any other vehicle to drive, and I know I’m unsafe. I teach school and must get back and forth to work.
The EMC on the vehicle appears to be faulty. The vehicle is burning more than double the fuel than it should, and I’m able to smell a strong oil burning odor while driving it. The SUV lunges you forward violently when this defect begins to act up, which can be at any point in a short or longer trip. The vehicle has little to no power once this is triggered and seems to go into limping mode. I’ve had this to a dealer three times, and they have failed to repair the issue. The first time I left it there for almost a month and within three miles of the dealership, the same problem happened. The dealer denies that the repair should be covered under the emissions regulation, which makes GM-BUICK responsible for repairs of this equipment until 8 years or 80,000 miles.
My Encore is full of mice and mice droppings. The man at the dealership said GM should have screens or other safety measures done at the factory. This car has just 10,000 mils and I keep it in pristine condition. People can't believe how clean I keep it and this happens??? The tech told me there are at least 8-10 spots were mice come in. It is too easy for them. My brand new car is going to be totaled or close to it. I have AAA, but am already with all the added fee's at Enterprise car rental and my $500 deductible $700 out of pocket! I'm [XXX] and on a very fixed income. I'm still making car payments for the next 4 or 5 years. It's like never smoking and getting lung cancer. I didn't do anything wrong. GM is responsible. The are very irresponsibly in their manufacturing. Should I get a lawyer? The man who's meeting with the adjuster from my insurance told me how dangerous it was for driving this car. He said the smell (which I was unfortunately used to it, it's called olfactory fatigue, also known as odor fatigue, olfactory adaptation,) was very toxic. Yes, Gene Hackman's wife died from the inhaling rodent waste. I'm a Respiratory Therapist and know about the toxic particular you don't see and how it can and will kill you. Something has to be done. There are millions of innocent people that are dying because GM is too cheap to have this done in the factory! Please help asap. Thank you. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving on interstate highway, CEL illuminated. When able to stop and check, DTC codes P1467 & P146b where detected. These codes deal with the Evap Purge system. The pump was recalled in model year 2021 for the make, model and engine in this vehicle. Failure to fix this issue results in increased fuel vapor escaping to the atmosphere as well as potential system damage. Since the same part was faulty in the previous model year, it seems GM did not correct the issue. A recall should be issued or an extended warranty with reimbursement in the 2022 model year also. Thank you.
The contact owns a 2022 Buick Encore. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the GMC mobile app alerted the contact of emissions failures and advised to contact the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the emission pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred 9-months later. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Simms Chevrolet Co (4220 W Vienna Rd, Clio, MI 48420) where it was diagnosed that the emission pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer ordered the part. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 30,474.
The contact owns a 2022 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while parked and refueling the vehicle, the contact observed an abnormal gasoline odor. Additionally, when the contact entered the vehicle there was an abnormally strong strong gasoline odor inside the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,786.
Seatbelts on my year old Encore with only 15k are frayed and unraveling, I am having the vehicle in for other unrelated repairs on Friday and will be certain to inform the dealership at that time but feel that this is extremely dangerous and totally unacceptable in a year old vehicle and I feel like I or my passengers could be injured or thrown from the vehicle in the event of an accident, no warning lamps or messages prior to failure.
None of my air bags went off in my car and my car was totalled. My insurance company has possession of the car now.
8 total complaints retrieved from NHTSA for 2022–2023. For older model years, see individual year pages.
Encore Years to Avoid
Best Encore Years to Buy
Buick Encore Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Buick Encore Reliability
What year Encore has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 Buick Encore had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 61 complaints and 1 safety recalls. See the full 2017 report for specific defects.
Is the Buick Encore reliable?
The Buick Encore has accumulated 437 owner-filed complaints and 7 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. There have been 3 reported deaths associated with complaints. The 2023 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Encore.
What are the most common Encore problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Engine (107 reports), Electrical System (41 reports), Power Train (40 reports), Air Bags (38 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my Encore has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Buick Encore VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
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