Short answer
Among Buick Encore model years through 2024, 2018 and 2023 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2013 has the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Buick Encore: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 14 (2013–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 17
- Fewest recalls
- 2018 and 2023 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2013 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Seat belts (9)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2015, 2016, 2017 and 8 more years
Buick Encore Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2024 | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2023 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2022 | 1 | 5 stars | Equipment |
| 2021 | 2 | 5 stars | Equipment, Service brakes |
| 2020 | 4 | 4–5 stars | Equipment, Power train, Seats |
| 2019 | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags, Power train |
| 2018 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2017 | 2 | 5 stars | Seat belts |
| 2016 | 2 | 5 stars | Seat belts |
| 2015 | 4 | 5 stars | Seat belts, Equipment, Steering |
| 2014 | 4 | 4–5 stars | Seat belts, Equipment, Seats |
| 2013 | 6 | 4–5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20251 recall
- 20242 recalls
- 20230 recalls
- 20221 recall
- 20212 recalls
- 20204 recalls
- 20192 recalls
- 20180 recalls
- 20172 recalls
- 20162 recalls
- 20154 recalls
- 20144 recalls
- 20136 recalls
Buick Encore: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Buick Encore recalls are seat belts (9), equipment (6), back over prevention (3), seats (3) and air bags (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 14 of these 14 model years, and 2015, 2016, 2017 and 8 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Buick Encore Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Buick Encore?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2018 and 2023 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Buick Encore model years have the most recalls?
2013 has the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Encore", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy