Model year 2019 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
2019 Buick Encore: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2019 Buick Encore at 26–28 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 88 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
2
EPA combined mpg
26–28
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Buick dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2019 Buick Encore recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 2 safety recalls for the 2019 Buick Encore, newest first.
Power train: Automatic transmission
NHTSA 20V668000Reported Oct 29, 2020
Filed by
General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N202313440)
Units affected
194,105 (estimate)
Problem
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. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
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 increase the risk of fire.
Remedy
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 Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Air bags: Air bag/restraint control module and 1 more component
NHTSA 18V774000Reported Nov 1, 2018
Filed by
General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 18365)
Components
Air bags: Air bag/restraint control module; Air bags
Units affected
12 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Remedy
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 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18365.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2019 Buick Encore fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2019 Buick Encore crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2019 Buick Encore NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2019 Buick Encore SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
17.9%
Optional
2019 Buick Encore SUV FWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
19.8%
Optional
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2019 Buick Encore owner complaints
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Buick Encore, most recently on Oct 19, 2026. 9 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 10 injured people and 1 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2019 Buick Encore complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Engine
33
Fuel/propulsion system
12
Unknown or other
12
Air bags
10
Electrical system
10
Power train
10
Service brakes
7
Vehicle speed control
7
Exterior lighting
5
Engine and engine cooling
4
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
