Head-to-head reliability
Buick Enclave vs Buick Encore
How the Buick Enclave and Buick Encore compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Buick Enclave vs Buick Encore: The Enclave averages 42.4 complaints per year with 152 air bag issues, while the Encore averages 33.0 with 109 engine complaints. The Enclave has 14 recalls, the Encore 10. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Enclave or Buick Encore more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Enclave
The Buick Enclave is a large SUV with a high complaint rate of 42.4 per year, dominated by air bag issues. Owners report non-deployment in crashes and seatbelt failures, alongside engine stalling, brake grinding, and electrical gremlins like random tailgate opening. Living with it means worrying about safety systems that may not work when needed.
Buick Encore
The Buick Encore is a subcompact SUV with 33 complaints per year, led by engine and powertrain failures. Owners describe complete loss of power on the highway, transmission replacements, and electrical issues like charging system warnings. It also has unusual problems like rodent intrusion and false diagnostic results.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Enclave | Buick Encore |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 424 | 330 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 | 10 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 22 Better | 33 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 42.4 | 33.0 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 Better | 52 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Buick Enclave
- 01AIR BAGS152
- 02ENGINE57
- 03SERVICE BRAKES56
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM54
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER46
Owners report air bags failing to deploy in crashes, even when struck from behind and forced into another vehicle, and seatbelts not locking. This is a critical safety concern that may leave occupants unprotected.
The engine can suddenly lose power while driving, lurch forward, and then refuse to shift out of park. The auto stop-start feature also causes dangerous hesitation when turning left across traffic.
Brakes grind loudly, especially after the car sits, and the noise persists. Dealership visits often don't resolve the issue, indicating a chronic problem with brake components.
Headlights and brake lights fail due to electrical faults, and the tailgate randomly opens on its own, even while driving. This poses both visibility and safety risks.
“Motor vehicle accident 12/9/2023 in which I was struck from behind by fast moving vehicle, and forced into vehicle directly in front of my vehicle. No driver airbag deployment, nor did my seatbelt lock, as verified by responding officer.”
Buick Encore
- 01ENGINE109
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM53
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER52
- 04POWER TRAIN44
- 05SERVICE BRAKES38
Complete powertrain failures occur, with sudden loss of power on the highway, leaving the car unable to exceed 20 mph. Some owners experience this after a full transmission replacement, suggesting deep-seated issues.
The charging system fails, triggering 'Service Charging System' warnings and potential stalling. Backup cameras also fail intermittently and then stop working entirely.
Rodents can enter the cabin through gaps, leaving droppings. The OnStar diagnostic system returns false negatives, failing to detect active mechanical failures.
Transmissions fail completely, requiring replacement, and then fail again shortly after. Owners also report lack of power and unwanted downshifting.
“Second complete powertrain failure on March 14, 2026 at 13,993 miles, nine days after first repair (complete transmission replacement for bone-dry sealed transmission). Symptoms: sudden loss of power on highway (unable to exceed 20 mph with accelerator fully…”
“PURCHASED NEW BUICK ENCORE 2020 ON 05/22/2000. PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS HONDA CIVIC. ENCORE NEVER SEEMED TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER & WOULD DOWNSHIFT. ON 10/19/20 THERE WAS AN ISSUE ACTION REQUESTED) DETECTED BY BUICK BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THEN ON 10/28/2020, WE WERE…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Buick Enclave — 14 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
The risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
The risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-…
The defect: 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…
The 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 presence of an ignition source may increa…
The 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 contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267,…
Buick Encore — 10 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an interruption of communication between the sensor…
The risk: If communication with the sensor is interrupted, the electronic brake boost assist could be lost. Extra pedal force will be required to slow and stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4…
The defect: 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 fix: 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 con…
The defect: 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 fix: 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 con…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.
The risk: If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438…
Buyer analysis
Buick Enclave or Buick Encore: which should you buy?
The Buick Encore has fewer complaints per year (33.0 vs 42.4) and fewer recalls (10 vs 14). However, its powertrain failures are more severe, with complete loss of power on the highway, while the Enclave's air bag issues are a direct safety threat. Neither is a clear winner.
Key differences
- Enclave has more air bag complaints (152 vs 0 in top 5), including non-deployment in crashes; Encore has none in top 5.
- Encore has more engine complaints (109 vs 57) and powertrain failures that leave you stranded on the highway.
- Enclave has brake grinding issues; Encore has rodent intrusion and false diagnostic errors.
- Enclave has 22 crash-related complaints vs Encore's 33, but Encore has 52 injuries and 1 death vs Enclave's 17 injuries and 0 deaths.
- Check for any history of air bag non-deployment or seatbelt locking issues, especially after a crash.
- Inspect brake condition and listen for grinding noises, especially after the car has been parked.
- Verify the transmission has not been replaced or had repeated failures; ask for service records.
- Check for signs of rodent entry (droppings, chewed wires) and test the backup camera and charging system.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report for any crash-related air bag deployments or repairs.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for engine hesitation or loss of power.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brakes for wear and unusual noise.
- Check all electrical systems: lights, tailgate, backup camera, and charging system.
- Review recall completion status for both models, especially air bag and transmission recalls.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Buick Enclave | Buick Encore |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 35 | 13 |
| 2024 | 7 | 24 |
| 2023 | 18 | 22 |
| 2022 | 12 | 8 |
| 2021 | 23 | 9 |
| 2020 | 49 | 18 |
| 2019 | 39 | 78 |
| 2018 | 63 | 71 |
| 2017 | 178 | 87 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Buick Enclave or Buick Encore in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Enclave vs Buick Encore
- Buick Enclave total complaints
- 424
- Buick Encore total complaints
- 330
- Buick Enclave total recalls
- 14
- Buick Encore total recalls
- 10
- Buick Enclave avg complaints/year
- 42.4
- Buick Encore avg complaints/year
- 33.0
- More reliable overall
- Buick Encore
- Buick Enclave top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Buick Encore top complaint area
- ENGINE