The Used Car Index

2020 Buick Encore problems

NHTSA lists 19 complaints for the 2020 Buick Encore, 1 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 1 complaints mention an injury, with 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BUICK ENCORE.

At a glance

Complaints
19
With crash
1
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
194,105
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
655

Complaints per 100k sold: 42.838. Units sold: 44,353; sales year: 2020; basis: calendar_year_us_sales_proxy_for_model_year. goodcarbadcar.net.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE736.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM421.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM421.1%
POWER TRAIN421.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER315.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL315.8%
SERVICE BRAKES210.5%
AIR BAGS15.3%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES15.3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC15.3%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESTRUNK LID1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICPEDALS AND LINKAGES1
TIRESPRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLACCELERATOR PEDAL1
VISIBILITYSUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
loss of control631.6%0.84
mechanical failure631.6%0.86
electrical electronic315.8%0.80
structural or corrosion210.5%0.56
fire or overheating15.3%0.96
noise or comfort15.3%0.74
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate1368.4%0.84
low526.3%0.81
high15.3%0.60

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 19 tagged complaints of 19 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

20V668000

Date: 2020-10-29. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: 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. (excerpt)

Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire. (excerpt)

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 r (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

20V537000

Date: 2020-09-03. Systems: SEATS.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

655 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT219
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM134
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING107
UNKNOWN OR OTHER88
ENGINE63
POWER TRAIN61
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY35
WHEELS35

11037555

Date: 2026-09-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.

11037253

Date: 2026-09-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

11035340

Date: 2026-07-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

11030974

Date: 2026-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

11030091

Date: 2026-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

11030092

Date: 2026-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

11029950

Date: 2026-03-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss

11027697

Date: 2026-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC's

11027701

Date: 2026-01-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered vehicles and advises of warranty direction.

11027601

Date: 2026-01-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
ENCORE19

Same model, other years

All model years | All Buick models

Other Buick models, 2020

Sources

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