YearToAvoid

2019 Buick Encore Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

89/100

#2 most-complained of 10 Encore years

The 2019 Buick Encore ranks 2nd worst of 10 model years, with a Complaint Index of 89 and 86 complaints, mostly engine-related (52% share, median 60,000 miles). Two recalls cover the transmission and airbag sensing module, giving it an overall Avoid verdict relative to other Encore years.

Complaints
86
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
9 / 2
Injuries / deaths
10 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
27
25 city / 30 hwy

Top 2019 Buick Encore problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine45 (52%)
  2. Electrical System12 (14%)
  3. Fuel System12 (14%)
  4. Other12 (14%)
  5. Airbags11 (13%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain10 (12%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (9%)
  8. Brakes7 (8%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (3%)
  10. Lane Departure2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses power and stalls unexpectedly at various speeds, sometimes with the check engine light on.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly accelerates forward at low speed while parking, leading to collisions.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in low-speed crashes, resulting in injuries.
  • Start-stop feature reportedly causes the car to surge forward unexpectedly when the driver's foot leaves the brake.
  • Brake pedal travels to the floor and requires repeated pumping to engage.
  • Engine catches fire in the engine bay while driving.
2019 Buick Encore complaints: complaints filed per quarter102019 Q12020 Q12021 Q12022 Q22023 Q22024 Q22025 Q22026 Q2
127 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q3 (10).

2019 Buick Encore recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V668000Oct 29, 2020Transmission & Powertrain194,105 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    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.

  2. NHTSA 18V774000Nov 1, 2018Airbags12 vehicles

    Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

    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.

2019 Buick Encore fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2019 compared with other Encore years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Avoid10089228
2018Caution5674028
2019Avoid8986227
2020Best2219226.5
2021Best09026.5

All Buick Encore years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Buick Encore reliable?
Compared to other Encore model years, the 2019 ranks 2nd worst out of 10 with a Complaint Index of 89 and an Avoid verdict. It has 86 NHTSA complaints, with engine issues making up 52% of them.
What problems does the 2019 Buick Encore have?
The top problem area is the Engine, accounting for 52% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 60,000 miles. Electrical System and Fuel System issues each account for 14% of complaints.
Does the 2019 Buick Encore have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists two recalls: one for the start-stop transmission accumulator (campaign 20V668000) and one for an airbag Sensing Diagnostic Module left in manufacturing mode (campaign 18V774000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2019 Encore compare to the 2020 model?
The 2020 Encore has a much lower Complaint Index of 22 with only 19 complaints and a Best verdict, compared to the 2019's Complaint Index of 89 and Avoid verdict.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Buick Encore?
The 2019 Buick Encore gets an EPA-rated 27 mpg combined (25 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400.

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.