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2022 Buick Encore: engine and transmission complaints

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
66%
25 of 38 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

66% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2022 Buick Encore are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 88% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 2 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 63%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
25
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
40
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
1 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN15 · 38%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER13 · 33%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9 · 23%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4 · 10%
ENGINE4 · 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3 · 8%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
62%
28 of 52
2014
60%
32 of 60
2015
41%
42 of 124
2016
74%
51 of 79
2017
64%
46 of 89
2018
68%
42 of 74
2019
64%
47 of 84
2020
48%
39 of 87
2021
62%
36 of 61
2022
66%
25 of 40
2023
48%
10 of 25

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Other subcompact SUVs with no elevated signal

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTH11/29/2025
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 …
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER10/05/2025
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 lit…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING04/29/2024
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 th…

Three of 25 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (1)

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT:STAND
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Buick Encore GX and 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed …

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2022 Buick Encore

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.