YearToAvoid

2020 Buick Encore GX Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 18 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Buick Encore GX, 26% of its 69 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 24,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
18
26% of 69
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
24,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the shifter displays a "Shift to Park" message even when the vehicle is already in park, preventing the engine from shutting off or the doors from locking.
  • Some owners describe the vehicle lunging or lurching forward unexpectedly, including while attempting to reverse into a parking space.
  • Several complaints describe loss of acceleration or the vehicle entering limp mode, with the accelerator pedal producing no response even when pressed to the floor.
  • One owner reported the engine stalling unexpectedly while driving through an intersection, with the check engine light on and RPMs surging between 6 and 8.
  • Multiple owners were told by dealers that the gear shifter assembly or wiring harness needed replacement to resolve the shift-to-park warning.

When 2020 Buick Encore GX transmission complaints were filed

First complaint May 6, 2021, latest Sep 8, 2026.

2020 Buick Encore GX transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2021May 2024Jul 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Nov 2025Mar 2026Aug 2026
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Dec 2024 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2020 Buick Encore GX

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Encore GX model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 202018 (26%)
  2. 202111 (21%)
  3. 202213 (41%)
  4. 20233 (11%)
  5. 20243 (10%)
  6. 20253 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems on the 2020 Buick Encore GX?
NHTSA lists 18 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Encore GX, which is 26% of all 69 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Buick Encore GX transmission?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this issue as of the latest update.
At what mileage do transmission issues typically appear on the 2020 Encore GX?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 24,000 miles.
What is the most common transmission complaint on the 2020 Encore GX?
The most frequently described issue is a "Shift to Park" dashboard message appearing even when the vehicle is already parked, which can prevent the engine from shutting off.
Have these transmission issues caused crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data shows zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries linked to these complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.