Most common 2021 Buick Encore GX problems
Share of the 53 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Encore GX complaints by model year
2021 Buick Encore GX recalls (2)
Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift › Stand
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.
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.
Service brakes
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020.
What 2021 Buick Encore GX owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2021 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, the RPM was fluctuating from 0 to 3,000 RPM. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact mentioned the failure recurred multiple times with the vehicle being unable to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the emergency jack needed to be repaired under recall. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a second time however, the failure was undetermined. After the third failure, the vehicle was diagnosed with an unknown software needing to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was diagnosed a fourth time and the contact was informed that the engine may not be receiving gasoline and needed to be repaired. …
The contact owns a 2021 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle jerked with the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the speed odometer showed a different speed that the digital speed odometer reading. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed turbo charger. The contact was informed that the turbo charger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer twice for the same failure. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2021 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that during a routine oil change at the local dealer, the contact informed the dealer that while in the park or shifting to park, the engine was shutting off unexpectedly. The message to "Shift to Park" was displayed and the vehicle was difficult to turn off. The contact wiggled the ignition to shut off the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure persisted over time. The contact was concerned about being stranded due to the failure. The local dealer was contacted, and it was determined that there was no warranty or recall coverage on the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact had scheduled an appointment for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle, and no assistance was provided. …
The contact owns a 2021 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while shifting to park(P) and attempting to turn off the vehicle, the message to shift to park(P) was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact removed the key from the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to turn off. The battery had to be disconnected to turn off the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 61,000.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2021 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was lightly depressed and the vehicle unintentionally came to an instant stop; the vehicle then began to shudder. The contact's mom was seated in the front passenger side of the vehicle and sustained a neck injury after the failure occurred. There was no one injured that was not in the vehicle. No medical attention was required. The vehicle was drivable and was driven to a dealer who did not provide a diagnosis but informed the contact that, the failure may have been occurring due to the Vacuum Module in the braking system needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure still occurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,500.
The contact owns a 2021 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was firm while depressed, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and several unknown diagnostic trouble codes were retrieved. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V588000 (Service Brakes); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
2021 Buick Encore GX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | CVT | FWD | 30 / 32 / 31 |
| 1.2L 3-cyl turbo | CVT | FWD | 28 / 31 / 29 |
| 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 26 / 29 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Buick Encore GX a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Encore GX to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Buick Encore GX?
The engine & cooling — 19 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › other fuel types › turbo/supercharger › intercooler. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (11) and brakes (8).
How many recalls does the 2021 Buick Encore GX have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2021 Buick Encore GX, the most recent from June 10, 2021 (stand). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Encore GX?
Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024. See the full Buick Encore GX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Buick Encore GX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 53% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.