2018 Buick Encore Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2018 Buick Encore, and owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2018 Buick Encore. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 Buick Encore have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash. Reports cite 9 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 39,253 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 14 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Not long after I purchased my car, i noticed it was lacking power during takeoff and when driving uphill which forced my car to hit very high RPMs during normal use. There was also a P0299 code that a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 2, 2026 · Engine
“General Motors issued a Special Policy N202299080 covering 2014 Buick Encores. My 2018 Encore had the same issues and symptoms as this Policy. My concern is because of this known problem the crankcase”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 31, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2018 Buick Encore (Encore AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 27–30 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 24–27 / 30–33 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
Compare Buick Encore model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Buick Encore model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Buick Encore | 6 | 52 |
| 2014 Buick Encore | 4 | 60 |
| 2015 Buick Encore | 4 | 124 |
| 2016 Buick Encore | 2 | 80 |
| 2017 Buick Encore | 2 | 89 |
| 2018 Buick Encore | 0 | 74 |
| 2019 Buick Encore | 2 | 86 |
| 2020 Buick Encore | 2 | 19 |
| 2021 Buick Encore | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 Buick Encore | 0 | 8 |
Checking a specific 2018 Buick Encore
How do I know if my 2018 Buick Encore has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buick dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Buick models
- Lesabre3,728 complaints
- Regal3,264 complaints
- Enclave2,501 complaints
- Lacrosse2,122 complaints
- Century1,817 complaints
- Park Avenue1,368 complaints
- Rendezvous1,241 complaints
- Lucerne943 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.