The Buick Encore is a subcompact crossover that went on sale in the U.S. for the 2013 model year as the smallest vehicle in Buick's lineup. It was built in South Korea and shared its basic platform with the Chevrolet Trax. All U.S. versions used a small turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. This page lines up every Buick Encore model year from 2013 to 2022 on one scale, so you can see which years drew unusual numbers of owner reports and which stayed quiet.
Buick Encore by model year
Complaints per 100,000 sold. Red: more than twice the model average. Green: the fewest, among years at least three years old.
| Year | Per 100k sold | Complaints | Recalls | Top system | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 163 | 52 | 6 | Engine | |
| 2014 | 123 | 60 | 4 | Engine | |
| 2015 | 184 | 124 | 4 | Engine | |
| 2016 | 102 | 80 | 2 | Engine | |
| 2017 | 102 | 90 | 2 | Engine | |
| 2018 | 80 | 74 | 0 | Engine | |
| 2019 | 86 | 88 | 2 | Engine | |
| 2020 | 46 | 19 | 2 | Engine | Fewest |
| 2021 | 45 | 9 | 0 | Engine | Fewest |
| 2022 | 58 | 8 | 0 | Transmission | Fewest |
Why these years stand out
2020, 2021 and 2022: fewest complaints. The 2020 drew 19 complaints, or 46 per 100,000 sold; The 2021 drew 9 complaints, or 45 per 100,000 sold; The 2022 drew 8 complaints, or 58 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.
What Buick Encore owners report most
Engine complaints lead for the Buick Encore, at 41% of all complaints for 2013-2022. Engine and transmission reports together make up 54%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.
When problems are reported: mileage
315 Buick Encore complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 63% were reported before 50,000 miles and 7% after 100,000. Most reports come early in ownership, which points to problems that show up while the vehicle is still fairly new.
Buick Encore compared with other small suvs
In 10 of 10 model years the Buick Encore drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average small suv we track for the same year. For 2022, the Buick Encore scored 58 against a class average of 85. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.
Buick Encore generations
- 2013-2022First generation
1.4L turbo four · 6-speed automatic
A 2017 refresh brought new front and rear styling, a redesigned dashboard and an 8-inch touchscreen.
A higher-output version of the 1.4L turbo engine was added with the Sport Touring trim for 2016. The 2022 model year was the last for the original Encore in the U.S. The Encore GX, introduced for 2020, is a separate and larger model.
Buick Encore fuel economy
The 2026 Buick Encore is rated at 27 to 30 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the version. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.
Crash test stars
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Buick Encore these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2013: 4-5, 2014: 4-5, 2015: 5, 2016: 5, 2017: 5, 2018: 5, 2019: 5, 2020: 5, 2021: 5, 2022: 5. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.
Questions
What is the best year for the Buick Encore?
By complaints filed with NHTSA per 100,000 sold, 2020, 2021 and 2022 had the fewest among model years at least three years old. 2020 scored 46, against a model average of 103.
What years of the Buick Encore have the most complaints?
No Buick Encore model year passes our rule for "most complaints". By raw count, 2015 has the most: 124 complaints, led by engine reports.
At what mileage do Buick Encore owners report problems?
Across 315 complaints that list the odometer reading, 63% were filed before 50,000 miles and 7% after 100,000 miles. These are miles at the time of the reported problem, not how long the vehicle lasts.
How many recalls does the Buick Encore have?
NHTSA lists 22 recall campaigns across model years 2013-2022 (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year). Check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaint counts are reports filed by owners with NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify them, and a complaint does not prove a defect. Scores are our calculation, explained on the Method page. Not affiliated with any automaker.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (complaints, recalls, investigations), data through October 2026; U.S. sales from manufacturer reports, compiled by motorwick; fuel economy: U.S. EPA estimates; crash tests: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
For information only. Check the official source linked above before you buy, sell or repair.