2018 Buick Encore: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 0 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
72
Complaints
0
Recalls
10
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
9
Injuries
155.6
Severity index
Severity index 155.6 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 121 2018 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2018 Buick Encore ranks 9 of 121 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 93% of its model-year peers. See the full 2018 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 27 | 37.5% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 11 | 15.3% |
| POWER TRAIN | 10 | 13.9% |
| AIR BAGS | 10 | 13.9% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 10 | 13.9% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 9 | 12.5% |
| STEERING | 6 | 8.3% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 5 | 6.9% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 27 of 72 complaints (37.5%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 7 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.7x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.