YearToAvoid

2018 Buick Encore Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 15 brake complaints for the 2018 Buick Encore, 20% of its 74 total complaints for the year. Four crashes and one injury are linked to this area, with a median failure mileage of 20,200. No related recall is listed.

Brakes complaints
15
20% of 74
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
20,201 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report unintended acceleration or failure to stop when the brake pedal is pressed, in some cases causing a collision.
  • Some describe sudden brake and steering failure occurring together while driving on the highway.
  • Several report the vehicle stalling or shutting off while braking, with warning lights and onstar alerts tied to antilock brakes and stability systems, especially in rain.
  • A few describe brakes locking or engaging on their own, causing the car to slow unexpectedly with a foot still on the gas.
  • One owner reported the vehicle glitching, losing steering and braking ability at the same time, along with screen and door lock malfunctions.

When 2018 Buick Encore brake complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 13, 2019, latest Apr 29, 2026.

2018 Buick Encore brakes complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2019Feb 2020Aug 2021Jun 2023Apr 2024May 2025Nov 2025
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2019 to Apr 2026; peak Nov 2019 (2).

Brakes recalls for the 2018 Buick Encore

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Encore model year

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

  1. 20133 (6%)
  2. 20145 (8%)
  3. 201525 (20%)
  4. 20162 (3%)
  5. 20179 (10%)
  6. 201815 (20%)
  7. 20197 (8%)
  8. 20203 (16%)
  9. 20212 (22%)
  10. 20220 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2018 Buick Encore have?
NHTSA lists 15 brake-related complaints for the 2018 Encore, which is 20% of the 74 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2018 Buick Encore?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this brake complaint area on the 2018 Encore.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up on the 2018 Encore?
The median mileage at failure among reported brake complaints is 20,200 miles.
Have brake issues caused crashes in the 2018 Encore?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 4 crashes and 1 injury connected to brake complaints for this model year.
How does the 2018 Encore compare to other years for brake complaints?
The 2018 Encore's brake complaint share is 20%, matching the 2015 model year and higher than 2016 (3%), 2017 (10%), and 2019 (8%).

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.