2025 Buick Encore GX reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2025 Buick Encore GX holds 15 complaints after 2 years, a rate of 8 per year. It is too early to rank against other Encore GX years: a year is compared here only after 3 years on the road. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Camera.

2020 Buick Encore GX — Photo by Mr.choppers, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (6 of 15), then Powertrain (3) and Back-over prevention (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire.

Next to 2024 and 2026

The 2024 Encore GX has 31 complaints, 10 per year, and the 2026 has 0 complaints, 0 per year.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2025 Buick Encore GX. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (1)

Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2026-08-20 · NHTSA campaign 26V539000

Summary General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2024-2025 Buick Envista, 2024-2026 Buick Encore GX, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2025 Chevrolet Trax vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, if necessary, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 17, 2026. Another letter will be mailed once the parts are available. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A262554900. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 20, 2026.

Complaints by component (15 total)

Electrical system

Powertrain

Back-over prevention

Forward collision avoidance

Air bags

Engine

Fuel system, gasoline

Lane departure

Seat belts

Service brakes

Speed control

Visibility and wipers

Show 4 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"While driving my 2025 Buick Encore GX Avenir, I experienced a sudden, catastrophic electronic and mechanical failure. Without warning, the brake pedal became extremely stiff, requiring massive physical effort to slow…"
Service brakes · filed 2026-08-25
"The contact owned a 2025 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the GPS failed to operate properly. Additionally, the air conditioning system was inoperable. The contact stated…"
Electrical system · filed 2026-07-17
"nStar remote diagnostic system returned five false-negative results across two confirmed mechanical failures. January 2, 2026: two diagnostics at 5:50 PM and 5:53 PM returned "No Error Code Found" while the transmission…"
Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-01
"Sealed transmission found "bone dry" at approximately 13,000 miles. No consumer-accessible dipstick. Complete transmission failure January 2, 2026. Second complete powertrain failure March 14, 2026, nine days after…"
Powertrain, Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-01
"Second complete powertrain failure on March 14, 2026 at 13,993 miles, nine days after first repair (complete transmission replacement for bone-dry sealed transmission). Symptoms: sudden loss of power on highway (unable…"
Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-04-01

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2025 Buick Encore GX SUV AWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2025 Buick Encore GX SUV FWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Encore GX all-wheel drive	1.3L, 3-cyl	Automatic 9-speed	All-wheel drive	26	28	27 MPG	$2400
Encore GX front-wheel drive	1.3L, 3-cyl	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	Front-wheel drive	29	31	30 MPG	$2150
Encore GX front-wheel drive	1.2L, 3-cyl	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	Front-wheel drive	30	31	30 MPG	$2150

Specs and fitment

Encore GX, 2020–present

Body styles Crossover

Oil 0W-30 (1.2L turbo and 1.3L turbo; check manual for temperature band) , 4.2 qt capacity

Tire size 225/55R18

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V588000 covers certain 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles (with Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, and Chevrolet Trailblazer) where sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may interrupt communication and lose brake-boost assist; dealers replace the electronic brake boost module. Recall 21V440000 covers certain 2020-2022 Encore GX vehicles (with 2021-2022 Trailblazer) whose emergency jack can fracture if not positioned as directed in the owner’s manual; dealers replace the jack. Recall 26V539000 covers certain 2024-2026 Encore GX vehicles (with Envista, Trailblazer, and Trax) whose rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image; dealers inspect and replace the camera as needed. Recall 23V744000 covers certain 2024 Encore GX vehicles (with Envista and Trax) whose Virtual Cockpit Unit software may blank the instrument panel at startup or while driving; dealers or an OTA update revise VCU software.

Compare

Previous year 2024 Buick Encore GX See every Buick Encore GX model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Buick Encore GX reliable?

What are common problems with a 2025 Buick Encore GX?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (6 of 15), then Powertrain (3) and Back-over prevention (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire.

Is the 2025 Buick Encore GX more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2024 Encore GX has 31 complaints, 10 per year, and the 2026 has 0 complaints, 0 per year.

Has the 2025 Buick Encore GX been recalled?

The 2025 Buick Encore GX has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2025 Buick Encore GX?

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2025 Buick Encore GX with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2025 Buick Encore GX get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2025 Buick Encore GX is 29 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Buick Encore GX take?

0W-30 for the 1.2L and 1.3L turbos (check the manual for temperature band); capacity about 4.2 qt.

Is there a brake assist recall on early Encore GX models?

Recall 20V588000 covers certain 2020-2021 Encore GX vehicles (with Corvette, CT4, CT5, XT4, and Trailblazer) for electronic brake-boost sensor contamination.