Fuel system, brakes and engine issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2020 Buick Encore GX is the first model year for the lineup, and the automaker hails it by saying it has a “style that stands out.” However, the only things “standing out” with this compact SUV are the defects. This Buick suffers from dangerous service brakes, a faulty engine and a defective fuel system.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2021
Stopping a vehicle before a collision occurs should be a top priority for every driver and automaker. However, Buick doesn’t seem to be concerned with it in their Buick Encore GX.
One Edmunds review reads, “I had my car for 2 weeks and the brakes and power steering went. Towed to dealer. It is the master cylinder. They are on back order and I have had a rental going on 3 weeks.”
It turns out that these brakes are beyond defective. NHTSA Campaign Number 20V588000 states that some vehicles are experiencing sensor connection contamination with the electronic brake boost system that causes communication interruption. When the electronic brake boost assist system goes down, drivers must apply additional pedal force to stop the vehicle, which increases the likelihood of an accident. There’s no faster way to “stand out” than to rear-end a vehicle in your Buick Encore GX.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | |
| Electrical System | |
| Power Train | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Engine | |
| Steering | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Air Bags | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv) |
As a Buick, one would expect that the Buick Encore GX would be equipped with a reliable and potent engine, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Another Edmunds review says, “Engine and transmission had problems the first day I bought it with 20 miles. Dealership couldn’t tell me what was wrong with the car. Maybe it’ll be a recall soon since it’s a 2020.”
With engine issues, Buick is being surprisingly quiet. Until there is a recall, there’s very little chance that any communications will be issued. It appears that Buick doesn’t want to take responsibility for anything, or the defects might “stand out.”
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In conjunction with the lemon engine is a malfunctioning fuel system. These two systems work hand-in-hand to irritate customers.
Just read this Edmunds review. “2 fuel pumps in 4k miles, all kinds of noises, stay away. I leased this pile of junk for 3 years, ugh.”
Again, Buick has sealed communications, so there’s nothing talking about fuel system concerns. It’s just a big secret with the automaker and technicians, but without documentation, the company can make every customer feel like it’s only happening to them. Maybe it’s time owners search for a cheaper, more reliable brand instead of shelling out the big bucks to Buick for a piece of garbage.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Buick pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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We bought a 2020 GX in June of 2021 with 125 miles on it. Love the car. I had to update the software 3 times last year to get the cameras to work properly. The transmission sometimes jumps when I start off from a stop light. We are getting 33.4 MPG with it which is above the stated MPG.
I bought a 2020 Enore Gx turbo in 2021. So far it had brake issues that they finally fixed after a year of driving it. I had a transmission chip go bad last year they had my car for approximately a month, I had to find a rental myself (even though the dealership supposedly advertised rental cars, and shuttle service…I received neither of those. GM did eventually pay for my rental but they refused to pay for the taxi service to and from work. Because I couldn’t find a rental car for a day, and I had to get a cab ride from the dealership to pick up the rental.) Now I have an issue with turning the car off, even though the car is in park an alert pops up on the dashboard instructing me to put the car in park. They are instructing me to drive it this way until they get the parts in they stated it would be over a month to get the back ordered parts. The car has 13,500 miles on it. These are problems I would expect to have after maybe 8 or more years of driving and putting way more miles on it. Not issues to experience within a a couple yrs and 13k miles.
Bought a 2020 Buick Encore GX in November 2020 and at 26,000 miles I’ve had the engine light come on and the engine reduces power immediately and will not go more than about 35 MPH. This has happened twice in 10 days and the dealership the first time said it just needed a software update and now after bringing it back to them on 6/21/2023, they told me they have to order and replace a turbo on the engine. This car should not be having issues at 26,000 miles and I was really livid when it happened a second time within 10 days and it’s very dangerous as I was on the freeway the 1st time doing 65 MPH to have the engine just reduce to 35 – scared the crap out of me and luckily I did not get rear ended.
Bought a 2020 Buick Encore GX February of 2021. Have had ongoing issues of it feeling like it is slipping gears and multiple complete stall outs. These stall outs have happened on a highway crossover- causing me to roll backwards into traffic, stop lights, stop signs, etc. You can put your foot on the gas and it does absolutely nothing. Took it in to the dealership several times last year and was told it was just a “glitch”, it’s fine. Whenever I went in for oil changes- I’d bring it up again that it was still doing the same thing. They didn’t check it, only did the oil change. They apparently didn’t even record that I requested them to look into it. They finally looked into it this February of 2022- AFTER my boyfriend had to ask them to look into it and told them the exact same thing i had previously as they would not listen to me. They replaced a part in the transmission and told me I could pick it up. It was still having the same issue and threw a code within 5 minutes of me picking it up. They told me a line needed vacuumed out. I told them it was still doing the same things and they said it was just because of that and gave it back. Still had same problems after that. Took it back to them again a month ago and they finally said they’d replace the transmission-but it’s backordered. Then said I can take the car back and continue to drive it until the transmission comes in?!? Ummm, no! It is completely unsafe, I had just almost gotten hurt/killed before I brought it to them this time! No time frame on the repair at all. So I am currently paying for a vehicle I don’t even have/can’t drive. Very disappointed all the way around: with the car I’ve only had a year that has less than 15k miles, the service center at the dealership, and GM.
My 2020 Buick Encore GX with 11,000 miles
and leased for 3 years is suffering from fuel injection issues. The strong smell of raw gas in the cabin was a major concern. Brought it into dealer for repair to find out that parts are on back order and nobody knows when they will be available.
Dealer was able to provide a loaner. Couldn’t believe car had this issue after 11,000 miles.
This issue could be a safety issue if not immediately addressed by GM.
I think it is my “grandfather’s car “
GM get out there and support your dealers and owners.
I’m telling everyone I can to stay away from the Encore.
Car blew up while I was driving it.
Bought a 2020 Buick Encore. Got recall letter saying turbo defective. Took it into the dealership and now it gets the worse fuel mileage ever. Took it back to dealership and they say nothing is wrong. I know there is because I have to fill it twice a week compared to once a week before taking it in and driving the same amount of miles.