Buick Encore: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Buick Encore problems by model year, from 783 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (74%, 52 drivetrain complaints), 2018 (68%, 42 drivetrain complaints) and 2022 (66%, 25 drivetrain complaints). 11 of the 11 Buick Encore years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 8 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Buick Encore year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2015 (41%).
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (52 of 404 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Buick Encore year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Encore | very high | 62% | 28 | 52 | 6/11 | 6 |
| 2014 Encore | very high | 60% | 32 | 60 | 8/11 | 4 |
| 2015 Encore | high | 41% | 42 | 124 | 11/11 | 4 |
| 2016 Encore | very high | 74% | 52 | 80 | 1/11 | 2 |
| 2017 Encore | very high | 64% | 46 | 89 | 5/11 | 2 |
| 2018 Encore | very high | 68% | 42 | 74 | 2/11 | 0 |
| 2019 Encore | very high | 64% | 49 | 86 | 4/11 | 2 |
| 2020 Encore | high | 49% | 41 | 89 | 9/11 | 4 |
| 2021 Encore | very high | 61% | 36 | 62 | 7/11 | 2 |
| 2022 Encore | very high | 66% | 25 | 40 | 3/11 | 1 |
| 2023 Encore | high | 48% | 11 | 27 | 10/11 | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Buick Encore years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Buick Encore transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Buick Encore involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 15 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2020 | 20V668000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2019–2020 |
14 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2013 | 13V105000 | steering: steering wheel/handle bar | 2013 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V298000 | air bags | 2013 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V417000 | equipment: electrical | 2013–2014 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V446000 | seats | 2013–2014 |
| Aug 2014 | 14V488000 | seat belts: front | 2013 |
| Mar 2015 | 15V146000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2015 |
| Mar 2015 | 15V162000 | equipment: other: labels | 2015 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V502000 | electrical system: ignition | 2013 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V651000 | air bags: frontal | 2014–2017 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V437000 | air bags: frontal | 2014–2017 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V774000 | air bags | 2019 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V537000 | seats: critical fasteners | 2020 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V588000 | service brakes | 2020–2021 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V440000 | equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift: stand | 2020–2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Buick Encore
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Buick Encore
What are the worst years for the Buick Encore?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Buick Encore years are the 2016 (74% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2018 (68% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2022 (66% of relevant complaints, very high). 11 of 11 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Buick Encore?
No Buick Encore year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2015 (41%).
Does the Buick Encore have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 11 scored years, 404 of 684 relevant NHTSA complaints (59%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Buick Encore reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 11 of 11 Buick Encore years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 59% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Buick Encore?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Buick Encore years we track, out of 15 in total: 20V668000 (Oct 2020, 2019–2020). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.