Most common 2020 Buick Encore problems
Share of the 19 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Encore complaints by model year
Best Encore years: 2021, 2022, 2020. Years to avoid: 2015, 2019, 2017. Compare all years →
2020 Buick Encore recalls (2)
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.
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.
Seats › Critical fasteners
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020.
What 2020 Buick Encore owners say
Engine & cooling
I am co-owner of the vehicle. My daughter was driving the SUV when the Check engine light came on. There was no warning whatsoever, and the turbocharger has gone bad . Prior to the light eliminating there was nothing wrong with the suv. I was driving the suv when the check engine light came on. I also own another 2020 Buick encore where this also happened. I was driving the vehicle when the check engine light came on with no prior warning and it was a failed turbocharger. There is something wrong with these vehicles .
Engine light is on and vehicle is sluggish on hills and keeping up in traffic. Rpms run high if I try. Error code p0299 shows on scanning device- turbo under boost. I have 112,000 miles and need turbo replaced already. this vehicle is very well maintained. I did see a special notice for the GX version of this vehicle. But dealer says my vin does not qualify
Electrical system
Imthe original owner and purchased the car new 4 years ago. At 89,000 miles, the check engine light came on indicating codes for emission controls not working efficiently. Later additional codes indicated problems with the fuel evaporator. The car started having problems every time I filled up the gas tank it would stall, hesitate and have problems starting shortly after the fill up. Problem also occurred if I let the fuel level run down to 1 gallon when the reserve indicator light came on the fuel tank. So now I fill up when I reach a quarter tank. Steady driving for at least 10 minutes would clear the problem temporarily. Car hesitates, stalls and misfires when going uphill, steep hills and also when coming to full stop Such as a red light. Later additional problem of car hesitating and misfiring during acceleration. I have replaced the spark plugs and ignition coil. …
I was driving on the interstate and the vehicle was in cruise control. It acted as it was accelerating and then the cruise control quit and I lost speed. I regained speed and then it lurched again; the cruise control again went off. When I applied the brake to pull to the side of the road, the engine started to throttle up and accelerate, I had to brake harder to come to a full stop.
Transmission & drivetrain
Engine light is on and vehicle is sluggish on hills and keeping up in traffic. Rpms run high if I try. Error code p0299 shows on scanning device- turbo under boost. I have 112,000 miles and need turbo replaced already. this vehicle is very well maintained. I did see a special notice for the GX version of this vehicle. But dealer says my vin does not qualify
Unknown issues w/ sensors and wiring lead to turbocharger failure. This led to spontaneous acceleration issues on the highway. Less than a year after the warranty covered the replacement of the turbocharger (less than 60k miles on the car) the turbocharger again failed (64k miles on car).
2020 Buick Encore engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | CVT | FWD | 30 / 32 / 31 |
| 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 26 / 29 / 28 |
| 1.2L 3-cyl turbo | CVT | FWD | 26 / 30 / 28 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 24 / 29 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Buick Encore a good car?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Encore rates better than average: 56% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Encore at the same age. It is one of the best Encore years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Buick Encore?
The engine & cooling — 7 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (4) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 2020 Buick Encore have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2020 Buick Encore, the most recent from October 29, 2020 (automatic transmission). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021, 2022 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2019 and 2017. See the full Buick Encore years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Buick Encore problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 29,000 miles; 67% 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.