VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Buick Encore2013–2023
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Buick Encore
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Buick Encore Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 120 complaints
7 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
2 recalls · 82 complaints
28 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
2 recalls · 77 complaints
14 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Buick Encore — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | — | 100 | 72 | 90 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 92 | 82 | 89 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 92 | 88 | 91 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 73 | 84 | 77 | Good |
| 2019 | 2 | 73 | 9 | 48 | 74 | 57 | Avoid |
| 2018 | 0 | 68 | 9 | 66 | 62 | 65 | Caution |
| 2017 | 2 | 82 | 28 | 50 | 50 | 50 | Avoid |
| 2016 | 2 | 77 | 14 | 53 | 40 | 48 | Avoid |
| 2015 | 4 | 120 | 7 | 47 | 40 | 45 | Avoid |
| 2014 | 4 | 60 | 3 | 49 | 40 | 46 | Caution |
| 2013 | 6 | 52 | 2 | 39 | 40 | 39 | Caution |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Buick Encore Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Encore compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 91).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Encore to buy?+
The 2021 Buick Encore scores highest on our Buyer Score (91/100) — combining a reliability score of 92/100 with a value score of 88/100. It has 0 recalls and 8 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Encore years have the most problems?+
The 2015, 2017, 2016 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2015 Encore leads with 4 recalls and 120 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Encore problems?+
The most frequently reported Buick Encore issues involve: ENGINE, AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.