NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The emergency jack can crack or break if not positioned exactly as shown in your owner's manual when you try to use it.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace your jack at no cost to you.
This page covers 4 recalls, 64 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2020 Buick Encore Gx.
28–31 mpg combined
7.6–8.4 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
The 2020 Buick Encore GX received an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing for US-market vehicles. In frontal crash tests, it earned 4 stars. Side crash protection was rated at 5 stars, and side pole crash testing also resulted in 5 stars. Rollover resistance received a 4-star rating. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a vehicle redesign occurs, so this rating covers the 2020 model year shown.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2020 Buick Encore GX draws complaints fairly evenly across the powertrain and brakes, each with nine reports. On the powertrain side, owners frequently describe a false "Shift to Park" warning that appears after the vehicle is already in park, the message prevents the car from locking and keeps interior electronics active until it clears, sometimes for several minutes. Dealers have reportedly pointed to the shifter assembly as the cause. Owners also report the engine entering a reduced-power mode with throttle response dropping sharply, sometimes leaving the vehicle unable to accelerate normally until the condition clears. Brake complaints round out the top reported systems, though the narratives there are thinner on recurring detail. The "Shift to Park" warning is the single most consistently described symptom across multiple reports for this model year.
64
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2020 Buick Encore GX has 4 recalls, the most serious being a brake boost system fault that can cause the brake pedal to suddenly require much greater force to slow or stop the vehicle, raising the risk of a crash.
A faulty sensor connection in the electronic brake booster can cut communication between the sensor and the system, stripping away the power assist that normally makes the brake pedal easy to press. When that happens without warning, a driver expecting normal pedal resistance may find the brakes far harder to apply, extending stopping distances in an emergency. The remaining two recalls both involve the emergency scissor jack included with the vehicle. If the jack is not placed correctly under the vehicle during a tire change, it can crack and collapse under the weight of the car, dropping the vehicle suddenly onto anyone nearby or underneath. These two jack recalls describe the same underlying defect across different model year groupings.
At a glance
What can fail
The emergency jack can crack or break if not positioned exactly as shown in your owner's manual when you try to use it.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace your jack at no cost to you.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The emergency spare tire jack may break if not properly positioned under the vehicle, causing it to collapse and the vehicle to fall suddenly.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the emergency jack. Do not use the original jack; call GM Roadside Assistance if you need a spare tire change.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A sensor connection in the electronic brake boost system may fail, causing a loss of brake assist under certain driving conditions. This would suddenly require much greater pedal force to slow or stop the vehicle.
What the fix does
General Motors will mail you instructions to take your vehicle to a dealer, where they will replace the electronic brake boost module.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Contamination at the sensor connection in the electronic brake boost system may interrupt communication between the sensor and brake boost system.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
