2019 Buick Encore: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 82 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
82
Complaints
2
Recalls
9
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
9
Injuries
187.8
Severity index
Severity index 187.8 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 123 2019 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2019 Buick Encore ranks 2 of 123 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 98% of its model-year peers. See the full 2019 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 30 | 36.6% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 12 | 14.6% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 12 | 14.6% |
| AIR BAGS | 11 | 13.4% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 10 | 12.2% |
| POWER TRAIN | 9 | 11.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 8 | 9.8% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 | 8.5% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 30 of 82 complaints (36.6%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 17 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 15 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 2.1x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V774000 | 01/11/2018 | AIR BAGS | 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 |
| 20V668000 | 29/10/2020 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 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 Cadill |
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.