Buick

Encore (1st)

2013-2022 · Subcompact SUV · 2 engines
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (2.7)
567 NHTSA Complaints
13 Recalls
7 Fire Reports
52 Crash Reports
📋 Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 4/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (17.9% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 4/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (19.8% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

Buick Encore Unidentified Engine

⚠️ Caution (2.7)
41 complaints 5.1 per year
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
10
other
6
brakes
6
safety systems
5
electrical
5

Known Issues

Engine Issues (10 complaints)
Brakes Issues (6 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (5 complaints)

LUV

1.4L 4-cyl Turbo
Avoid (1.8)
526 complaints 49.4 per year Gasoline
6 fire reports 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
219
electrical
87
safety systems
73
transmission
68
fuel system
53

Known Issues

Engine Issues (219 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (87 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (73 complaints)

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Buick Encore regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (229 complaints)
engine critical
Electrical System Issues (87 complaints)
electrical critical
Safety Systems Issues (78 complaints)
safety_systems critical
Transmission Issues (68 complaints)
transmission critical
Fuel System Issues (53 complaints)
fuel_system critical

Recalls (13)

20V668000Oct 28, 2020serious
Powertrain

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

20V537000Mar 8, 2020serious
Seats

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.

18V774000Jan 10, 2018serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

17V437000Oct 6, 2017serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

16V651000Aug 8, 2016serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

16V502000May 6, 2016serious
Electrical System

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

15V162000Mar 19, 2015serious
Equipment

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 26, 2014, to February 9, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Trax vehicles manufactured October 13, 2014, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles have tire placards that do not provide the rim size information for the front or rear wheels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

15V146000Mar 12, 2015serious
Steering

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured November 27, 2014, to February 24, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Trax vehicles manufactured November 18, 2014, to February 17, 2015. The steering column assembly housing may contact the power steering printed circuit board causing the circuit board to wear.

14V446000Jul 22, 2014serious
Seats

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.

14V488000Aug 7, 2014serious
Seat Belts

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.

14V298000Jun 5, 2014serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured April 10, 2013, to May 8, 2013, and Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured December 30, 2012, to March 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, an improper weld on the passenger side front air bag inflator may result in the air bag not deploying.

14V417000Feb 6, 2014serious
Equipment

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

13V105000Mar 27, 2013serious
Steering

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured between December 9, 2012 and December 28, 2012, and equipped with a heated steering wheel. The steering wheel fastener may not have been properly installed. This could cause the steering wheel to come loose or separate from the steering column.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2013-2022 Buick Encore problems?

The 2013-2022 Buick Encore has accumulated 567 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Electrical System, Safety Systems. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Buick Encore engine is most reliable?

The 2013-2022 Buick Encore was offered with 2 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 1.4L Turbo 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2013-2022 Buick Encore a good used car?

The 2013-2022 Buick Encore can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 567 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013-2022 Buick Encore have?

The 2013-2022 Buick Encore has 567 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2013-2022 Buick Encore?

There are 13 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2013-2022 Buick Encore vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Buick Encore?

Before buying a used Buick Encore, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, Electrical System, Safety Systems, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Encore?

The 2022 Buick Encore received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (17.9% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Optional. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 567 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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