Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Buick Encore, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 15% |
| Engine | 7 | 8% |
| Air bags | 7 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 6% |
| Power train | 5 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 4% |
| Tires | 3 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Loss of acceleration due to cracked turbo boost. I guess you need a special 2019 vin # to be included in a recall. Recall for 2017 2018 and a select few 2019 very disappointed with this big repair job that is a known pro
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Turbo boost failed. shows recalls for this issue on 2018 and 2019 Buick Encores, but GMC states mine is not covered.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
92,000 miles my catalytic convertor went bad, had for 5 years. This resulted in lag when trying to accelerate and pull out in traffic. It cost $3,000 to fix as well as the turbocharger being broke. The blind spot detec
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
On XXX, at approximately 1:00 p.m., my 2019 Buick Encore unexpectedly caught fire while I was operating it in [XXX]. Prior to the fire, I experienced abnormal symptoms, including the vehicle failing to restart, a hissing
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
FRONT RADIATOR COLLANT OVERFLOW EXPANION TANK W/CAP & SENSOR FLUID LEVEL GETS EXTREMELY LOW AND SETS OFF A DASHBOARD MESSAGE STATING ENGINE OVERHEATING - ONCE I FILL UP THE COLLANT THE LIGHT GOES OFF THIS CONTINUALLY OC
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Car purchased new in Nov 2018. Within 3 years needed a turbocharger replacement. At this time this was covered under warranty. Recently had to undergo replacement for the turbocharger again. This time it was not covere
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Car has airbag light on. The car keeps leaking which then caused damage to my spark plugs and coil pack. It then led to the O2 sensors being burned. It has been at the dealership multiple times within a 3-week time frame
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
My check engine light continues to turn on and the code is related to the wastegate actuator/turbo charger. My car is running rough and doesn't accelerate properly. It sometimes rocks back and forth when I try to acceler
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2019 Buick Encore. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Risk: If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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 a
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. Th
Risk: 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 p
Fix: 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 contac
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 83 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 48 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 13 of them (15%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2019 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.