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Buick Encore VIN Number Check

Run a free NHTSA vPIC decode on a Buick Encore VIN to confirm the model year and engine, then see which of the 13 NHTSA recall campaigns for 2013–2022 cover that year.

VIN prefixKL4

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Buick Encore

About the Buick Encore

Buick sold the Encore in the US for model years 2013–2022. Across those years NHTSA lists 13 vehicle recall campaigns and 601 owner complaints. The 2015 has the most complaints of any model year (124). EPA rates it at 25–30 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2013–2022
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle
NHTSA recall campaigns13
Owner complaints601 at NHTSA
Buick Encore photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Buick Encore at a glance

One generation in the data, 2013–2022: 13 NHTSA recall campaigns and 601 owner complaints.

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Encore
2013–2022Small Sport Utility Vehicle
Buick Encore (2013–2022)

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20132020
2013–2022

Buick Encore

EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle
EPA combined mpg25–30
NHTSA recalls13

Engines (EPA)

  • 1.4 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2013–2022

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, FWD
  • automatic (2013–2022)

Known issues to check

Engine and cooling (248)Electrical system (84)Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (77)1 high-risk recall campaign

Mentions in 601 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · EncoreKL4CJASB?KB······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2019 Buick Encore Preferred, built in Bupyeong, South Korea
Check an Encore VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Encore model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 13 campaigns on file for Encore model years 2013–2022, and the 2013 shows up in more of them than any other year (6), ahead of the 2014 (4). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2013
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Buick Encore owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2015 and 2017 hold 213 of the 601 complaints, or 35%. Tap any bar or generation.

601NHTSA complaints, 2013–2022
52mention a crash
9mention a fire
76injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearEncore: 601 complaints · most for the 2015 (124)

Top complaint areas · Encore

Mentions in 601 complaints, 2013–2022.

Engine and cooling248
Electrical system84
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)77
Air bags70
Fuel system63
Brakes57
Crashes 52Fires 9Injuries 76

2013–2022

NHTSA data summary

Engine and cooling owns this generation. Its 248 mentions are more than twice the next area, electrical system (84). Complaints peak with the 2015 (124 of 601).

What Encore owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2013–2022 (1st generation)

Owner complaints are modest for this subcompact. On the 2015, NHTSA reports most often involve power steering, and on the 2017 turbocharger and check engine complaints are the most common. CarComplaints, with about 50 reports for 2013, ranks inadequate power first, followed by a turbocharger that failed and bubbling paint. Recalls cover a steering column housing on some 2015 models that can wear the power steering circuit board and air bag sensing software on 2014–2017 models that under certain conditions may keep the front air bags from deploying. [1] [2] [3]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the steering column recall on some 2015 models and the air bag software recalls on 2014–2017 models.
  • Ask for turbocharger repair records.
  • On the drive, feel for weak acceleration or hesitation, watch for a check engine light or steering warnings and look over the paint for bubbling.
Sources (3) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2015 Buick Encore
  2. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2017 Buick Encore
  3. CarComplaints.com, 2013 Buick Encore problems

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Encore complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Encore version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

601complaints, 2013–2022
52mention a crash
9mention a fire
76injuries reported
1complaint reports a death
Most complaints: 2015 (124), 2017 (89), 2019 (86)
124’1589’1786’19’20

2015 · 124 complaints

Crashes 6 · fires 2 · injuries 7

Electrical system30
Engine29
Steering27
Service brakes21
Air bags16

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Encore CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 30 Encore versions for model years 2013–2022. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 297 g/mi (2016). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Encore2013–2022

25–30 mpg · CO₂ 297–351 g/mi

2021
27combined MPG
325CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$2,500EPA yearly fuel cost
7/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
6/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III SULEV30 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 30Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2021: Encore FWD · Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo — 27 MPG · 325 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
250300350400450201520202013 · Gas: 3202014 · Gas: 3202015 · Gas: 3202016 · Gas: 2972017 · Gas: 2982018 · Gas: 2982019 · Gas: 3122020 · Gas: 3292021 · Gas: 3252022 · Gas: 329
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Encore vs Chevrolet Trax vs Honda HR-V

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2013–2022. NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the Encore, while the Chevrolet Trax and Honda HR-V have 9 each. Pick a range to compare.

Buick Encore

Model years 2013–2022

NHTSA recall campaigns
13
NHTSA owner complaints
601
EPA combined mpg
25–30
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.4 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2022)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 248
  2. Electrical system 84
  3. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 77

Chevrolet Trax

Model years 2013–2022

NHTSA recall campaigns
9
NHTSA owner complaints
693
EPA combined mpg
26–29
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.4 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2022)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 213
  2. Electrical system 155
  3. Suspension 87

Honda HR-V

Model years 2013–2022

NHTSA recall campaigns
9
NHTSA owner complaints
989
EPA combined mpg
28–31
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.8 L
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2022)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Electrical system 260
  2. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 172
  3. Fuel system 147

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Buick Encore VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on an Encore

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Silver Buick Encore (first generation) SUV, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

Locate the Encore's VIN on the plate at the lower driver's side windshield. Door jamb sticker and B-pillar label are secondary locations.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Buick Encore VIN questions

Which Buick Encore model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2015 leads with 124, ahead of the 2017 (89) and 2019 (86). Those first two alone make up 35% of the 601 Encore complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Buick Encore had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 13 vehicle campaigns for model years 2013–2022, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Buick Encore recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 20V-668. It should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Buick Encore get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2013–2022 Encore at 25–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Buick Encore compare with the Chevrolet Trax and Honda HR-V on recalls?

For 2013–2022 models the Encore has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Chevrolet Trax has 9, the Honda HR-V 9. Complaints run 601, 693 and 989 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Buick Encore have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2022 Encore 5 stars overall. Both rated versions, FWD and AWD, get that score.

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