2020 Buick Encore reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Buick Encore over 7 years — 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Encore years here — under the median of the other years, which is 6. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Automatic transmission and Seat fasteners.

2013 Buick Encore — 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 Engine (7 of 19), then Electrical system (4) and Fuel and propulsion system (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Encore has 86 complaints, 8 per year, and the 2021 has 9 complaints, 1 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

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 2020 Buick Encore. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2020-10-29 · NHTSA campaign 20V668000

Summary 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.

Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

Recall Seat fasteners 2020-09-03 · NHTSA campaign 20V537000

Summary 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.

Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202304380.

Complaints by component (19 total)

Engine

Electrical system

Fuel and propulsion system

Powertrain

Speed control

Service brakes

Air bags

Hydraulic brakes

Latches, locks, and linkages

Steering

Tires

Visibility

Show 4 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The contact owns a 2020 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal and accelerator pedal became extremely hot to the touch. The contact became aware that the silver heat…"
Hydraulic brakes, Speed control · filed 2026-06-25
"I took my 2020 Buick Encore to an independent auto repair shop to have a brake inspection after I had contacted GM multiple times about the loss of acceleration, check engine light and stabilitrak light would come on…"
Unknown or other, Service brakes · filed 2026-04-28
"Defective "TURBO CHARGER" at 38,091 miles. The defective worn-out or damaged turbocharger was removed from the engine and a new one was installed at a cost of $1816.00. This part should not wear out at 38,000 miles. My…"
Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-02-25
"I've been dealing with a frustrating car issue lately where my vehicle keeps stalling and hesitating during acceleration - whether I'm pulling away from a stop or trying to pick up speed on the road. After getting it…"
Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-10-03
"I am co-owner of the vehicle. My daughter was driving the SUV when the Check engine light came on. There was no warning whatsoever, and the turbocharger has gone bad . Prior to the light eliminating there was nothing…"
Engine · filed 2025-05-11

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2020 Buick Encore SUV AWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2020 Buick Encore 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 all-wheel drive	1.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	24	29	26 MPG	$2500
Encore front-wheel drive	1.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	25	30	27 MPG	$2400
Encore GX all-wheel drive	1.3L, 3-cyl	Automatic 9-speed	All-wheel drive	26	29	28 MPG	$2300
Encore GX front-wheel drive	1.3L, 3-cyl	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	Front-wheel drive	30	32	31 MPG	$2100
Encore GX front-wheel drive	1.2L, 3-cyl	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	Front-wheel drive	26	30	28 MPG	$2300

Specs and fitment

First generation, 2013–2022

Body styles Crossover

Oil 5W-30 full synthetic (1.4L turbo and 1.4L NA) , 5 qt capacity

Tire size 215/55R18

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 15V-146 covers certain 2015 Buick Encore vehicles: the steering column housing may wear the power-steering circuit board and cause a sudden loss of electric power steering assist; dealers inspect and replace the column as needed. Campaign 16V-651 covers certain 2014-2017 Encore vehicles among a large multi-model GM population where SDM software may prevent frontal air bags or pretensioners from deploying; dealers reflash or replace the SDM. Campaign 18V-774 covers certain 2019 Encore vehicles left in SDM manufacturing mode so air bags may not deploy; dealers reprogram the SDM. Campaign 20V-668 covers certain 2019-2020 Encore vehicles (with many other GM models) for missing bolts on a start/stop transmission accumulator endcap that can leak fluid and progress to loss of propulsion or fire risk; dealers inspect and replace the accumulator if bolts are missing. Shared campaign unit counts cover multiple nameplates.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Buick Encore Next year 2021 Buick Encore See every Buick Encore model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Buick Encore reliable?

What are common problems with a 2020 Buick Encore?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (7 of 19), then Electrical system (4) and Fuel and propulsion system (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2020 Buick Encore more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Encore has 86 complaints, 8 per year, and the 2021 has 9 complaints, 1 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Buick Encore been recalled?

The 2020 Buick Encore has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Buick Encore?

Owners have filed 19 complaints about the 2020 Buick Encore with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Buick Encore get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Buick Encore is 28 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Buick Encore take?

5W-30 full synthetic for the 1.4L turbo and 1.4L naturally aspirated engines on the GK generation (2013-2022).

What tire size does the Buick Encore use?

215/55R18 is the common GK-generation size listed on this site.

What does NHTSA campaign 15V-146 cover on the Encore?

Certain 2015 Encore vehicles: the steering column housing may wear the power-steering circuit board and cause a sudden loss of electric power steering assist; dealers inspect and replace the column as needed.