Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Buick Encore
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Buick Encore has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 74 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 29 complaints
- Service Brakes 11 complaints
- Air Bags 10 complaints
- Power Train 10 complaints
- Unknown or Other 10 complaints
- Electrical System 9 complaints
Of the 74 complaints on file, 10 report a crash; across all 74 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Buick ENCORE has a below-average reliability rating due to 74 owner complaints and no recall campaigns. The significant number of engine and brake issues highlight potential reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 50,000-80,000 miles | $1,500–$4,000 | common |
| service brakes | 40,000-70,000 miles | $300–$800 | occasional |
| air bags | Unknown | $500–$2,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections
- Tire rotations
- Coolant flushes
- Transmission fluid changes
- Belt and hose checks
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfires
- Brake pedal vibrations
- Airbag warning lights
- Delayed gear shifts
- Unresponsive steering
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Buick Encore at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.