The best and worst Buick Encore years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Buick Encores old enough to judge (2013–2022), the 2020–2022 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2013 and 2015 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2013 Buick Encore · 16.3 per 10,000 sold (1.8× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Stalling and no-start, typically around 58,500 miles; then spark plugs, coils and ignition.
2015 Buick Encore · 18.4 per 10,000 sold (2.0× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Body control and other modules, typically around 24,800 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
Years with the fewest complaints
2020 Buick Encore · 4.3 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Turbocharger and intercooler.
2021 Buick Encore · 4.4 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Turbocharger and intercooler.
2022 Buick Encore · 5.8 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Body control and other modules.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Buick Encore year: 9.1 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Buick Encore?
Among Buick Encores old enough to judge (2013–2022), the 2015 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 18.4, about 2.0× a typical Buick Encore year. The 2013 also stands out.
What is the best year for the Buick Encore?
The 2020 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Buick Encores from 2013–2022: 4.3, against 9.1 for a typical year. The 2021–2022 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2015 Buick Encore?
The most-reported problem on the 2015 Buick Encore is body control and other modules, typically around 24,800 miles.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.