2021 Buick Encore
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
- Fuel economy
- 26–27 mpgcombined; city 24–25, highway 29–30; every version of this model year
- Five years of fuel
- $12,030–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $10,750–$11,160 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
- Recall campaigns
- 0none on file
- Owner complaints
- 9filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales
Problems owners report
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Encore. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
| Part | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
Every Encore year side by side
Recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2021 Encore. NHTSA's recall lookup checks a specific VIN.
Service bulletins and investigations
Carmakers sent NHTSA 537 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2021 Encore, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (148), electrical system (115), engine and engine cooling (96), unknown or other (95), power train (48).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2021 Encore.
Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5
Specs
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Fuel | City / hwy / comb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Encore Front-Wheel Drive | 1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo | Automatic (S6) | Regular Gasoline | 25 / 30 / 27 |
| Encore All-Wheel Drive | 1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo | Automatic (S6) | Regular Gasoline | 24 / 29 / 26 |
Sources and dates
- U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
- NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data