2020 Buick Encore Safety Report

The 2020 Buick Encore presents a generally strong safety profile based on NHTSA crash test ratings, achieving a perfect 5-star overall rating, including 5 stars for frontal and side impacts, and 4 stars for rollover. However, despite these excellent ratings, the vehicle has accumulated 17 NHTSA complaints, with 1 crash and 1 injury reported. A significant pattern in these complaints revolves around the powertrain and engine, specifically recurring issues with the turbocharger failing prematurely, often around 38,000 to 64,000 miles, leading to loss of power, sluggish acceleration, and check engine lights. This suggests a potential durability concern with a critical engine component. Recall history for the 2020 Buick Encore includes two significant campaigns. One recall (NHTSA ID: 20V792000) addresses a potential transmission oil leak due to missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap, which could lead to a loss of propulsion and increase crash risk. The second recall (NHTSA ID: 20V675000) pertains to critical fasteners, specifically missing rear attachment bolts for the front seats, which could cause the seat to move during a crash and increase injury risk. While these recalls address serious safety concerns, the low number of overall complaints (17) for a vehicle of this age suggests that these issues, while critical, may not be widespread across the entire fleet. Beyond the recalls, other reported issues include stalling and hesitation due to a high-pressure fuel pump control module, catalytic converter problems causing pungent odors and health symptoms, and isolated incidents like an exploding sunroof, power steering loss, and electrical system malfunctions (e.g., horn going off, battery drain). The combination of strong crash test performance with specific, albeit less frequent, mechanical and component failures, particularly with the turbocharger, paints a picture of a vehicle that performs well in controlled crash scenarios but may have some reliability vulnerabilities in its powertrain components.

Our recommendation: While the 2020 Buick Encore boasts excellent crash test scores, potential buyers should be aware of the recurring turbocharger issues and ensure both recalls have been addressed, as these could impact long-term reliability and safety.