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2018 Buick Encore
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
71 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 16, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (38% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2018 Buick Encore SUV FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 20%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2018 Buick Encore, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (27) · Brakes (11) · Transmission & drivetrain (10) · Airbags (10)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
38%27 complaints · 16 in the last 2 years
“After filling up fuel vehicle starts and stalls out. This occurs while driving at stop signs. And also while driving loss of power. There is something wrong in the eng…”
Brakes
15%11 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“While driving, my car began to glitch out. The screens started turning on and off, the doors began locking and unlocking, and I lost my ability to steer, brake, and ac…”
Transmission & drivetrain
14%10 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“Turbo has gone out four times in less than a year. Car is unable to accelerate and goes way below speed limit on highway which puts me and my passengers in an unsafe p…”
Airbags
14%10 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“A deer came out of nowhere and I hit it head on. It totaled the car. The airbag did not go off”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Buick ENCORE beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every Encore model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Buick Encore against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.