Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 32 safety complaints
about the 2022 Buick Encore GX with the US government. Of those, no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering equipment.
The most complained-about system is the power train,
named in 13 complaints, 41% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 28,586 miles,
the median across the 7
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers May 2022 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
32 complaints on file
32
Complaints
0
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
0
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 13 · 41%
13 41%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9 · 28%
9 28%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 · 28%
9 28%
ENGINE 4 · 13%
4 13%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 · 9%
3 9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 9%
3 9%
EQUIPMENT 1 · 3%
1 3%
SEATS 1 · 3%
1 3%
WHEELS 1 · 3%
1 3%
0815
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 32.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2024 at 10.
12 9 6 3
222022232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2022 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2022 Buick ENCORE GX, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SUV AWD
SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
17.9%
18.5%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
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
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
towed · 31,000 miles
The contact owns a 2022 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to exceed 35 MPH and made an abnormal loud sound that became louder as the contact continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was test-driven, and the contact was informed that there was an exhaust leak. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle was drivable. The contact drove to the residence. The contact stated that upon parking the vehicle, the contact noticed that the exhaust pipe laying onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the exhaust pipe had detached. The dealer …
NHTSA complaint 11698247, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
towed · 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2022 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the power steering and brakes were difficult to operate. The contact coasted to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the message "Battery in Safe Mode" was displayed. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The dealer was able to restart the vehicle however, the dealer was unable to determine what caused the vehicle to stall. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred two more times. The contact had the vehicle …
NHTSA complaint 11704489, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
At 15,000 miles the check engine light came on while going to a store. At the store, the vehicle was put in park and tried to shut off engine. The dash said "shift to park". Took to the dealer, was told sensor went out on transmission. They said it was the electronic controle module. They didn't think that was part of the drive train warranty. When I looked online I found many other Buick owners complained of same issue. Posting online that they are slamming shifter into park up to 20 times to get sensor to register that it is in park so they can shut vehicle off. I feel it is a known buick problem and gm doesn't know how to fix so they won't issue recall. If you can't shut the vehicle off, …
NHTSA complaint 11761985, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
28,586 miles
The contact owns a 2022 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the emissions warning light illuminated and hot air was coming from the A/C unit, despite the A/C cooling setting being activated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the purge pump and an unknown part needed to be replaced, and loose bolts in the A/C caused Freon to leak. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,586.
NHTSA complaint 11760079. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR BEGAN GIVING AN ALERT THAT SAID "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN VEHICLE WAS CLEARLY IN PARK BUT CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I CALLED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP & HAVE THE PROBLEM CONFIRMED WITH THE SERVICE DEPT. & THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE FOR ME. (THEY DID NOT TELL ME NOT TO HAVE IT FIXED). I KNEW THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE, YET NO RECALL AS OF YET. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM (AS LISTED IN THE LAWSUIT). I HAD TO PAY $503 AFTER THEY GAVE ME A $100 GOODWILL DISCOUNT. I CALLED BUICK BACK TO EXPLAIN THAT I HAD THE CAR FIXED AT MY EXPENSE (I HAD NO CHOICE-THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF) & ASKED HOW TO GO ABOUT BEING REIMBURSED FOR A KNOWN …
NHTSA complaint 11756921, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle has less than 60,000 miles. Sometimes, when it is shifted into park, the info center states that it is not in park. I have to jiggle the shift or shift it into other gears and go back to park. The shift is definitely in park when this happens.
NHTSA complaint 11745800. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
I have a 2022 Buick Encore GX with 34,200 miles and I put my car in park but the dashboard said Shift to Park. I tried several times to put it in park but it wouldn't recognize it was in park. The car also wouldn't cut off. I reversed and went forward and back several times trying to put it in park, but it wouldn't see it was in park. I called the dealership and they said jam the gear shifter really hard forward and it would recognize it until they could see the car. The only appointments they had were 2 weeks away. I can't use my car for 2 weeks. That isn't right. It shouldn't have done this at 34,200 miles! Also if the computer doesn't think it's in park then it could roll and hit and …
NHTSA complaint 11743014, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer: I only have 34,200 miles on my 2022 Buick Encore GX and when I put my car in park, I get a warning message on the dashboard telling me "Shift to Park" but I am already in park and my car won't shut off. Why at 34,000 miles? 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer: What if the car thinks it isn't in Park and starts rolling hitting a child, another car, or building? 3.Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Answer: Yes, and it is a known issue with the make and model car I have a 2022 Buick Encore GX but no …
NHTSA complaint 11742093, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed June 10, 2021.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst