Model year 2020 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2020 Buick Encore: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2020 Buick Encore at 26–31 mpg combined across 5 versions. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 89 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
4
EPA combined mpg
26–31
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
NHTSA lists this vehicle as ENCORE GX.
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.
2020 Buick Encore recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 4 safety recalls for the 2020 Buick Encore, newest first.
Equipment: Mechanical: Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift: Stand
NHTSA 21V440000Reported Jun 10, 2021
Filed by
General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. A212335470)
Units affected
135,400 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Risk
A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
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 contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A212335470.
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.
General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. A202307260)
Units affected
3,677 (estimate)
Problem
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 and the brake boost system.
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.
Remedy
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 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202307260.
General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. A202304380)
Components
Seats: Critical fasteners; Seats
Units affected
105 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Remedy
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 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202304380.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2020 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.
2020 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.
2020 Buick Encore NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2020 Buick Encore GX SUV AWD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
17.9%
Standard
2020 Buick Encore GX SUV FWD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
18.5%
Standard
2020 Buick Encore SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
17.9%
Optional
2020 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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2020 Buick Encore owner complaints
Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Buick Encore, most recently on Sep 26, 2026. 6 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 4 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2020 Buick Encore complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Power train
22
Unknown or other
22
Engine
21
Service brakes
21
Electrical system
20
Vehicle speed control
8
Fuel/propulsion system
7
Steering
5
Air bags
4
Back over prevention: Warnings
1
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
