Used Buick Encore GX 1st Gen (2020-2026): Buyer's Guide

A 2020 Buick Encore GX owner drove into a dealership with 66,828 miles on the clock and a transmission that had stopped engaging forward gears entirely. Another, at 59,823 miles, got a $14,000 quote for a full transmission replacement. Neither had a recall to point to. What they had in common was a shifter assembly that GM would eventually cover in a technical service bulletin, and a nine-year-old design pattern of engine and transmission complaints that never rose to the level of a formal recall. If you're looking at a used Encore GX, that's the generation you're buying into.

This Generation at a Glance

The Encore GX is a subcompact crossover Buick launched for the 2020 model year, built on General Motors' VSS-F platform alongside the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Chevrolet Trax, and Buick Envista. It isn't a redesign of the older Buick Encore. GM sold both nameplates side by side from 2020 through 2022, then let the original Encore go, leaving the GX as Buick's only subcompact crossover. This is a single, ongoing generation: no full redesign has happened since 2020, and none is expected before roughly 2029.

That shared-platform history matters when you're researching this car, because most of what's publicly documented about the engines and transmissions comes from all four VSS-F siblings, not the Encore GX in isolation. The 1.2L and 1.3L turbo three-cylinders under the hood are the same engine families GM uses in the Trailblazer, Trax, and Envista, so a complaint, TSB, or lawsuit that names one of those vehicles is describing the same hardware sitting in your Encore GX.

The 2024 model year brought a mid-cycle refresh rather than a new platform. Buick gave the front end the brand's "Wildcat" design language, added LED taillights, and made an 8-inch digital instrument cluster and 11-inch touchscreen standard across every trim. The trim lineup was renamed at the same time: Preferred, Select, and Essence (2020-2023) became Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir (2024-2026), with Avenir marking the first time that top-tier Buick trim has appeared on the Encore GX.

Safety scores improved early and stayed strong. The 2020 model earned a four-star overall NHTSA rating; every year since 2021 has earned five stars, and the 2021 model year picked up an IIHS Top Safety Pick award with top "Good" ratings across every crashworthiness test and a "Superior" rating in front crash prevention. It missed Top Safety Pick+ only because of headlight ratings, not structural safety.

Current pricing and inventory: Buick Encore market data, with per-year pages for 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Powertrain & Trim Breakdown

1.2L Turbo I3 (LIH): The Base Engine Nobody Should Ignore

The 1.2-liter turbo three-cylinder is standard on the Preferred trim and FWD-only; GM never paired it with all-wheel drive. It makes 137 hp and 162 lb-ft, and NHTSA's complaint records for this generation show a recurring pattern: a "reduced engine power" dashboard message, a turbo trouble code described by owners as "under boost," and the car dropping into limp mode with no warning. Several owners report the turbo failing and being replaced under warranty within two to three years of ownership, and at least one reports it happening twice on the same car by year three.

The 1.2L is also the engine at the center of a March 2026 class action lawsuit against GM. The suit, filed by California plaintiffs after a 2024 Chevrolet Trax owner's engine failed at 11,581 miles with a broken connecting rod, covers 1.2L turbo three-cylinder engines in the 2024-and-newer Buick Encore GX, Buick Envista, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Chevrolet Trax. The complaint alleges the engine is prone to sudden connecting-rod failure, fluid leaks, and in some cases fire, and that GM knew about the pattern from dealer and technical bulletin data before disclosing it to buyers. The suit specifically names 2024-and-newer vehicles; it does not cover the 2020-2023 1.2L, which has its own separate history of turbo and limp-mode complaints but isn't part of this litigation. GM has already responded in the market: reporting indicates the 1.2L will be dropped from the Encore GX lineup entirely starting with the 2027 model year, leaving the 1.3L as the sole engine.

If you're looking at a 2024-2026 Encore GX Preferred with the 1.2L, get a pre-purchase inspection focused specifically on this engine, and weigh the lawsuit's existence into your offer. If you're looking at a 2020-2023 1.2L, the connecting-rod suit doesn't apply to your car, but the turbo and limp-mode complaint pattern still does.

What owners consistently like about the 1.2L, lawsuit aside, is that it doesn't feel like a compromise in daily driving. Consumer reviews describe acceptable acceleration "considering the 3 cylinder turbo charged engine," a genuinely quiet cabin at highway speed, and fuel economy that beats most subcompact crossover competitors. The complaint pattern is real, but it shows up as an occasional, expensive surprise rather than a car that feels underpowered or cheap day to day.

1.3L Turbo I3 (L3T): The Engine to Actually Buy

The 1.3-liter turbo three-cylinder makes 155 hp and 174 lb-ft. It's standard on the Essence trim (2020-2023) and Avenir trim (2024-2026), optional on Select/Sport Touring, and it's the only engine GM offers with all-wheel drive, where it's paired exclusively with a 9-speed automatic instead of the CVT used on FWD models. Owners on BuickForums and in NHTSA filings report fewer turbo complaints on the 1.3L than the 1.2L, but it isn't immune: reduced-power and turbo-under-boost complaints show up on 1.3L cars too, and a 9-speed AWD car reported a sudden, complete transmission failure at 66,828 miles with no warning beyond a slipping sensation right before it quit.

Because it's a direct-injection engine, the 1.3L is prone to carbon buildup on the intake valves; oil vapor recirculated through the PCV system bakes onto hot valves over time, and the problem accelerates if most of your driving is short trips under 15 minutes. Plan on a walnut-blasting or intake cleaning service around 60,000-75,000 miles. Expect to pay $300-$600 for it, and don't rely on the oil life monitor alone to tell you when it's due.

The upside is real: J.D. Power's quality and reliability score for the Encore GX climbed from 83 out of 100 for the 2021 model year to 90 out of 100 for 2025, and owners on Essence and Avenir trims consistently cite the 1.3L's stronger low-end torque as the difference that makes the Encore GX feel like a proper small SUV rather than an economy car with a crossover body.

The Shift-to-Park Problem: The Generation's Signature Annoyance

Across every model year NHTSA has data for, the single most repeated complaint on the Encore GX isn't the engine. It's a false "Shift to Park" warning that appears on the dash even when the car is already in park, sometimes refusing to let the vehicle shut off, lock, or restart until the driver cycles the shifter or restarts the car. Owners describe it as intermittent, unpredictable, and, per several complaints, "a known issue across multiple GM brands including Chevy and Buick." GM's fix is documented in technical service bulletin 23-NA-119, which traces the cause to a faulty electronic switch inside the shifter assembly, not the mechanical linkage, and calls for replacing the entire assembly. It isn't a safety recall, and GM hasn't treated it as one, but it's frequent enough in complaint data spanning 2020 through 2023 model years that you should specifically test the shifter, at both startup and shutdown, on any used Encore GX before buying.

AWD: Worth the Premium, With a Caveat

All-wheel drive adds roughly $1,400-$1,700 to the price of a comparable FWD Encore GX and drops combined fuel economy by 2-3 mpg. GM's Intelligent AWD system actively shifts power between axles and genuinely helps on wet pavement, light snow, and loose gravel, but it doesn't shorten stopping distances and it doesn't substitute for winter tires if you're driving in real snow regularly. If you live somewhere with plowed-but-slick side streets or steep driveways in winter, it's a reasonable upgrade. If you're mostly driving dry pavement, the FWD model with either engine will save you money without giving up much.

Trim Levels

Before 2024, "Sport Touring" was an appearance package layered onto any trim rather than its own trim level. That changed with the refresh, when Buick restructured the whole lineup around Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir. If you're cross-shopping a 2023 Essence against a 2024 Sport Touring, know you're comparing two different naming systems, not just a model-year bump.

The Encore GX competes directly with the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, and Mazda CX-30, and it wins on interior hush and material quality more than on outright value. Consumer feedback collected by Kelley Blue Book across model years puts recommendation rates around 85%, with owners consistently naming styling and cabin quality, not price, as the reasons they'd buy again. That's worth factoring in if you're deciding between a loaded Preferred and a base Select: the step up buys you the parts of the ownership experience owners actually talk about.

Which Model Years to Target Within This Gen

Recall counts are pulled from NHTSA's campaign database for vehicles specifically listed as "Buick Encore GX." NHTSA complaint filings show a clear downward trend across the generation: 67 complaints for 2020, 52 for 2021, 31 for 2022, 24 for 2023, 31 for 2024, and 15 for 2025. Consumer Reports rates 2020 through 2023 as below-average reliability and the 2025 model year as much more reliable, consistent with that complaint trend. The 2024 uptick lines up with the refresh introducing new digital-cluster and infotainment hardware in its first year on the road.

2025 is the sweet spot. The refresh's early bugs are worked out, complaint volume is the lowest of the generation, and you're not paying a same-year-as-new premium the way you would on a 2026. If you want the outgoing trim structure and a lower price, a 2022 or 2023 Essence with the 1.3L is the better-value alternative, since the jack recall is behind you and the 1.3L sidesteps most of the 1.2L's turbo complaint history.

Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

• Test the shifter cold and warm. Start the car, shift through Reverse and Drive, and return to Park. Turn the car off. If a "Shift to Park" warning appears while the shifter is already in Park, or the car won't shut off or lock, that's the known electronic switch fault covered by TSB 23-NA-119. Ask the seller or a dealer whether the shifter assembly has already been replaced.
• Watch for reduced-power symptoms on a test drive. Accelerate hard from a stop and hold speed on a highway on-ramp if you can. A hesitation, a "reduced engine power" message, or the car falling into limp mode is a turbo warning sign on both the 1.2L and 1.3L.
• Check the transmission for hard or delayed shifts. On a CVT (FWD models), listen for a droning or shuddering sensation under load. On the 9-speed (AWD models), feel for any slipping or hesitation between gears, especially from a stop. Both transmissions have documented complete-failure complaints in this generation.
• Ask for maintenance records on carbon buildup service. If the car is a 1.3L with more than 60,000 miles and mostly short-trip driving history, ask if an intake or walnut-blasting service has been done. If not, budget $300-$600 for it soon.
• Confirm recall completion on VIN-eligible campaigns. Run the VIN through CarScout's recall lookup tool and confirm any applicable campaign, the emergency jack fix (2020-2022), the electronic brake boost module replacement (2020-2021), the seat attachment bolt inspection (2020), or the VCU software update (2024), shows as completed for that specific VIN and model year.
• Look for backordered-parts red flags. Owners have reported national backorders on both the coolant control valve and replacement 1.2L turbo engines. If a seller mentions a car has been sitting at a dealer waiting on a part, ask exactly which part and how long.
• Check the EVAP system on 2020-2021 cars specifically. Some owners report EVAP leak detection pump failures around 78,000-79,000 miles; GM's extended coverage on this component applies to 2022-and-newer models, meaning an older Encore GX owner could be paying out of pocket for it.
• Inspect for prior AWD or infotainment glitches on 2024-and-newer cars. The refresh's new digital cluster and touchscreen hardware are the newest components in the generation, and 2024 saw a complaint uptick alongside the VCU display recall. Cycle through every screen and gauge during your test drive.

Running Costs

Both engines run on regular gasoline; the 1.2L on FFV-capable trims can run E85, though fuel economy drops to roughly 22-23 mpg on the blend. Neither engine is expensive to service under normal conditions, but the generation's documented turbo and transmission failure pattern means budgeting for the possibility of a bigger repair, particularly past 60,000 miles, is more realistic here than on a naturally aspirated competitor.

Resale value is a real consideration too: the Encore GX holds its value below the subcompact crossover average, which is bad news if you're buying new but works in your favor shopping used. That softer depreciation curve is a large part of why 2020-2022 examples show up priced from roughly $9,000 to $25,000 with meaningfully higher mileage than you'd expect on a comparable Honda HR-V or Toyota Corolla Cross of the same age; sellers are pricing in the reliability history, and you should shop accordingly rather than paying Kelley Blue Book average.

FAQ

Is the Buick Encore GX 1.2L reliable? It's adequate but not trouble-free. NHTSA complaint data shows recurring turbo and reduced-power issues on the 1.2L across the generation, and 2024-and-newer 1.2L engines are named in an active March 2026 class action lawsuit over connecting rod failures. GM is dropping the 1.2L for 2027, which tells you where the company's own confidence in it landed.

What year Buick Encore GX should I avoid? 2020 has the highest NHTSA complaint count in the generation (67) and three recall campaigns, including two that carried into 2021 and 2022. If you can wait, 2023 or 2025 give you a cleaner recall and complaint history for meaningfully less risk, without paying a near-new premium.

Does the Buick Encore GX have transmission problems? Yes, on both transmissions. NHTSA complaints document full transmission failures on the CVT (FWD models) as early as 59,823 miles and on the 9-speed automatic (AWD models) at 66,828 miles, in both cases requiring full replacement. Ask any seller directly whether the transmission has ever been serviced or replaced.

Is AWD worth it on a used Encore GX? If you regularly drive in snow, ice, or steep terrain, yes. It costs $1,400-$1,700 more than FWD and only comes with the 1.3L engine and 9-speed automatic, which is the stronger drivetrain combination in this generation anyway. If you drive mostly dry pavement, FWD saves money without giving up much.

What is the "Shift to Park" warning on a Buick Encore GX? It's a false dashboard warning caused by a faulty electronic switch in the shifter assembly, documented in GM technical service bulletin 23-NA-119. It can prevent the car from shutting off or locking. It isn't a safety recall, but it's the most frequently reported issue in this generation's NHTSA complaint data, spanning 2020 through 2023 model years.

Bottom Line

The Encore GX earns its keep on comfort, quiet, and looking more expensive than it is. What it doesn't earn is a clean bill of health: a shifter fault GM never recalled, turbo complaints on both engines, and documented full transmission failures make a pre-purchase inspection non-negotiable regardless of model year. If you're buying one, target a 2023 or 2025 Essence or Avenir with the 1.3L engine, run the VIN through a recall check, and specifically test the shifter before you sign anything. CarScout members can track price drops on specific Encore GX trims and years at usecarscout.com.

Data sourced from NHTSA's recall and complaint databases, EPA fuel economy records, Consumer Reports and J.D. Power reliability ratings, GM technical service bulletins, and owner discussions on BuickForums, RepairPal, and JustAnswer. See the full Buick Encore market data for pricing and inventory.