Buick Encore Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Buick Encore model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2021 drew the fewest (9) and the 2015 the most (124).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 26–27 |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
9 | 0 | Engine | 5★ | 26–27 |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
19 | 2 | Engine | 5★ | 26–27 |
| 2013 Among the fewest complaints |
52 | 6 | Engine | 4★ | 25–28 |
| 2014 | 60 | 4 | Engine | 4★ | 25–28 |
| 2018 | 74 | 0 | Engine | 5★ | 27–30 |
| 2016 | 80 | 2 | Engine | 5★ | 26–30 |
| 2019 Among the most complaints |
86 | 2 | Engine | 5★ | 26–28 |
| 2017 Among the most complaints |
89 | 2 | Engine | 5★ | 27–30 |
| 2015 Among the most complaints |
124 | 4 | Electrical system | 5★ | 26–28 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Buick Encore years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2015 Buick Encore: 124 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 30 (24%); Engine 29 (23%); Steering 27 (22%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 33,200 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2017 Buick Encore: 89 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 35 (39%); Air bags 13 (15%); Power train 9 (10%).
Reports mention 12 crashes, 4 fires, 28 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 41,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2019 Buick Encore: 86 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 33 (38%); Fuel/propulsion system 12 (14%); Air bags 11 (13%).
Reports mention 9 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 34,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
The Buick Encore years with the fewest complaints
2021 Buick Encore: 9 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 3 (33%); Power train 3 (33%); Service brakes 2 (22%).
Reports mention 1 injury. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Buick Encore: 19 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 7 (37%); Electrical system 4 (21%); Fuel/propulsion system 4 (21%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2013 Buick Encore: 52 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 21 (40%); Electrical system 8 (15%); Power train 7 (13%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 21,693 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Buick Encore owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 86 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 34,000 |
| 2018 | 74 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 20,000 |
| 2017 | 89 | 12 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 41,000 |
| 2016 | 80 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 32,251 |
| 2015 | 124 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 33,200 |
| 2014 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50,000 |
| 2013 | 52 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21,693 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Buick Encore recalls
- Frontal Air Bags May Not Deploy (2014–2017 model years; 3,640,162 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2016; 16V651000)
- Missing Bolts on Start/Stop Accumulator (2019–2020 model years; 194,105 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2020; 20V668000)
- Front Seats may not Remain Anchored in Vehicle (2013–2014 model years; 124,007 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2014; 14V446000)
- Seat Belts may not Remain Retracted Under Load (2013 model year; 48,114 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2014; 14V488000)
- Frontal Air Bags May Not Deploy (2014–2017 model years; 40,683 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2017; 17V437000)
All 13 Buick Encore recall campaigns · Buick Encore problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Buick Encore years FAQ
Which Buick Encore year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2021 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (9). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Buick Encore years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2015, 2017 and 2019 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the engine. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Buick Encore problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the engine (223 of 601 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Buick Encore have?
NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns covering the Buick Encore. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Buick Encore recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.