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#BS-2018-BUIENC-197D

2018 Buick Encore

Based on reports from 99 owners and 0 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
99
Crashes
14
Fires
0
Recalls
0
TSBs
890
🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 99 complaints, 14 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

poor mpg

2 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

side sensing alert module faulty

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

turbo gaskets and seals

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

28 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 20K miles.

!Inspect the BrakesMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

23
0–30K
6
30–60K
5
60–90K
2
90–120K
2
120–150K
2
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (23 reports) • Median: 20K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (28 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine28 (28%)
Other10 (10%)
Brakes10 (10%)
Drivetrain9 (9%)
Airbags9 (9%)
Electrical8 (8%)
Stability Control5 (5%)
Steering5 (5%)

2018 Buick Encore: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 28% of all reports filed for the 2018 Buick Encore, with 28 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 20,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 20K-mile mark.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2018 Buick Encore, with 10 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2018 Buick Encore, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2018 Buick Encore, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

6
18
11
19
9
20
11
21
14
22
10
23
17
24
17
25
4
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2018 Buick Encore. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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The worst model year for the Buick Encore is the 2014 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2018 Buick Encore vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

99

Class avg

436

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 99 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 0 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Buick Encore Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013
View all Buick Encore years →

2018 Buick Encore: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Buick Encore?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2018 Buick Encore is related to the engine, with 28 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2018 Buick Encore reliable?
The 2018 Buick Encore has 99 complaints, 14 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How much does it cost to fix 2018 Buick Encore problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2018 Buick Encore have any recalls?
No recalls have been issued for the 2018 Buick Encore according to NHTSA records.
What mileage do Buick Encore problems start?
Based on 40 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 20,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 99 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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