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2021 Buick Encore

Gas Compact SUV

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
B
Safety Signal
86 / 100
BSafety Signal · 86 / 100
2Recalls · NHTSA campaigns
61Complaints · owner reports
5★Crash rating · NHTSA overall
31 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2021 Buick Encore is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Encore GX FWD, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 61 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Encore GX FWDGasFWD1.3L 3-cyl turbo303231$2,000
Encore GX FWDGasFWD1.2L 3-cyl turbo283129$2,150
Encore GX AWDGasAWD1.3L 3-cyl turbo262928$2,250
Encore FWDGasFWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo253027$2,300
Encore FWDGasFWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo243227$2,300
Encore AWDGasAWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo242926$2,400
Encore AWDGasAWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo233026$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

Out of factory warranty soon?

The 2021 Buick Encore is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Equipment

moderate
135,400 vehicles

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.

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 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.

NHTSA campaign 21V440000 · reported Jun 10, 2021 · General Motors, LLC

Service Brakes

high
3,677 vehicles

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.

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 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202307260.

NHTSA campaign 20V588000 · reported Sep 24, 2020 · General Motors LLC

Owner complaints

61 complaints filed

2 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 5 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2021: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 16

Most-cited components

  • Engine — 18
  • Power Train — 14
  • Service Brakes — 9
  • Fuel/Propulsion System — 7
  • Unknown Or Other — 7
“Intermittent Service Brake Assist Light with very hard brake pedal and almost no breaks backing up. Have had it to several shops who said it was a turbo booster issue so scheduled service with Patriot GMC Boyertown Pa. Also intermittently has little to no power causing driving hazard suddenly especially uphill. Seems t…”May 27, 2026 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“I have continuously had my check engine light pop on. I have took it in twice for them fix the issue which is the purge sensor. It did not fix the issue because the light just pops back on. This has caused issues with me passing emissions and has been an headache shortly street I obtained the vehicle.”Nov 11, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2021 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was firm while depressed. The contact had to slam on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the Hill Assist message was displayed. The brake pedal was pumped several times before th…”Aug 21, 2025 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆20%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Encore model years

A

2026 Encore

0 recalls · 4 complaints

A

2025 Encore

0 recalls · 15 complaints

A

2024 Encore

1 recalls · 31 complaints

A

2023 Encore

0 recalls · 25 complaints

A

2022 Encore

1 recalls · 40 complaints

D

2020 Encore

4 recalls · 87 complaints

C

2019 Encore

2 recalls · 84 complaints

A

2018 Encore

0 recalls · 74 complaints

B

2017 Encore

2 recalls · 89 complaints

B

2016 Encore

2 recalls · 79 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 42683, 42521, 42686, 42637, 43574, 42639, 43576). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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