The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 40 of 88 complaints (45%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 75 in 2018 to 88 in 2019.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 88
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,200–$2,400
- Combined MPG
- 26–28
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | vs. 2019 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,100–2,300 | 2,100–2,300 | 2,200–2,400 | 2,000–2,400 | 2,000–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 27–30 | 27–30 | 26–28 | 26–31 | 26–31 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 24–27 / 30–33 | 24–27 / 30–33 | 24–26 / 29–31 | 24–30 / 29–32 | 23–30 / 29–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 298–334 | 298–335 | 312–344 | 288–344 | 288–344 | |
| Complaints filed | 90 | 75 | 88 | 89 | 63 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 12 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 28 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2019 Buick Encore have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2019 Buick Encore?
Engine: 40 of 88 NHTSA complaints (45%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2019 Buick Encore get?
EPA rates it 26–28 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2019 Buick Encore?
EPA estimates $2,200–$2,400 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 26 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,200 (low) | 312 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg | 30 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 330 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 25 mpg | 30 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 329 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 24 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 344 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 40 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Brakes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Other | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
- Consequence
- If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18365.