CSR

Buick · NHTSA safety record

2020 Buick Encore GX

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

66

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Buick Encore GX have filed 66 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2020 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 19 of them (29%). The typical failure was reported at 1,487 miles, the median across the 23 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT:STAND

21V440000 · June 10, 2021

The defect
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Buick Encore GX and 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner's manual, can fracture while in use.
The risk
A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the jack, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owner of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 26, 2021. A second notice will be mailed once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A212335470.

General Motors, LLC · up to 135,400 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES

20V588000 · September 24, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an interruption of communication between the sensor and the brake boost system.
The risk
If communication with the sensor is interrupted, the electronic brake boost assist could be lost. Extra pedal force will be required to slow and stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202307260.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,677 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 66.

SERVICE BRAKES 19 29%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17 26%
POWER TRAIN 16 24%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 21%
ENGINE 12 18%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 8%
STEERING 4 6%
AIR BAGS 3 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2 3%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 15.

2020 2024 2026
2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BUICK ENCORE GX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS AT A STAND STILL AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN SHE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING HER TO SHOOT FORWARD AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD FRACTURE WHEN SHE WAS IMPACTED AND HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER DID SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AT A NEAR HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT VEHICLE'S DRIVER DID SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER CARLISLE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC (1701

NHTSA complaint 11375090, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed

I was traveling to school when my breaks didn’t work I tried them twice and I crashed into another vehicle. And the month or march I took it into to Buick for break issues and they said everything was fine.

NHTSA complaint 11656817. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed · 113 miles

2/3/2021 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER TODAY. SHE WAS DRIVING AND WE WERE APPROACHING A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. WE HAD A GREEN LIGHT AND I COULD SEE THAT HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. SHE STARTED THE TURN WITH HER FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE STEERING WASN'T RESPONDING. WE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AGO AND HAS LESS THAN 115 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint 11394553. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed · 45,000 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while attempting to stop, the brake pedal was depressed and it traveled to the floorboard causing the brakes to fail to stop the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact residence however, the brakes failed again. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was unaware if a diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

NHTSA complaint 11455501. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I am submitting this complaint regarding several serious mechanical and electrical issues with my 2020 Buick Encore GX that raise significant concerns about the vehicle's reliability and safety. Most concerning, I was recently informed by the dealership that my vehicle requires another transmission replacement, despite having the transmission replaced in 2024. I was also advised that I would need to pay for an additional diagnostic inspection because technicians discovered oil leaking through the lines, which appears to have contaminated engine components. According to the dealership, metal particles have been found within the engine, causing it to malfunction. They have stated that they

NHTSA complaint 11752226, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Transmission would not connect with the engine. La Fontaine dealership in Saint Clair. Said I need a new transmission cost $14,000. It has 59823 miles under the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11745442. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2020 Buick Encore GX which has only $30,600 had the "Shift to Park" message appear on the dashboard screen and my car was not turning off properly. I read online that it is a widespread known issue: however, I had to pay $630.14 to fix the GM well know widespread issue so I can turn off my vehicle. This should be covered FREE of charge by GM as they are aware of the issue affecting the 2020 Buick Encore GX.

NHTSA complaint 11731062. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I am writing to formally report a serious mechanical failure involving my vehicle and to request further review and assistance. While operating my vehicle, it unexpectedly stalled in the middle of an intersection, creating a significant safety hazard. At the time of the incident, the check engine light illuminated and the RPMs surged to a range between 6 and 8. I was able to safely move the vehicle to the side of the road, place it in park, and have it towed to a dealership for inspection. Following their evaluation, I was informed that the transmission requires replacement. I have since become aware of a recall related to transmission issues; however, I was advised by a Buick

NHTSA complaint 11726783, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My 2020 Buick Encore GX is showing a message with accompanying ding ding sounds "Shift to Park" after I put my car in park. This malfunction will not allow the car to be locked. I see there are many complaints and lawsuits that GM has not attended to. How do we get GM to initiate a recall on something they are and were well aware of.

NHTSA complaint 11719307. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
2020 Buick Encore GX; pulling out of a service station, my check engine light illuminated, and message on cluster stated: Engine Power Reduced. I loss throttle response for accelerating. Accelerator pedal was pushed to the floor and no acceleration. Vehicle entered limp mode. Drove 15 miles from service station to my home, in limp mode, unable to accelerate. Called a technician mechanic who check for Diagnostic Trouble Codes; DTC P0299 Turbocharge/Supercharge "A" Under boost condition; is Confirmed, Pending, and Permanent code. Loss of power to Power Train, unable to accelerate.

NHTSA complaint 11718640. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Buick Encore GX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 29 1
2022 30 1
2021 50 2

Other 2020 Buick models

Every Buick on this site — 60 vehicles, 172 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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Independent developer and analyst