If you are shopping a used Buick Encore in mid October 2026, the first job is to confirm which Encore the seller actually has. The original 2013-2022 Encore is a tall, narrow 1.4-liter turbo four with a six-speed automatic, and the Encore GX that arrived for 2020 is a separate, roomier model with a turbo three-cylinder. Both have recall histories worth checking on the VIN, and the older one shares a lot of hardware and campaigns with the first-gen Chevy Trax.
MotorTrend's Encore review describes the original as a South Korean-built crossover sold as the Mokka in other markets, introduced here for 2013 and refreshed for 2017, and it says the GX is "not a trim but a different model entirely." Dealers and private sellers still write "Encore" on GX listings and the reverse, so the model name on the title and the decoded VIN matter more than the ad headline. NHTSA's model list for 2023 Buick recalls shows only the Encore GX, Envision, and Enclave, which fits the original Encore ending after 2022.
Original Encore: what you are buying
Most used Encores have the 1.4-liter turbo four. Car and Driver's 2022 Encore review says the engine went to 155 hp for 2022, a 17-hp jump, which puts earlier cars at 138 hp. MotorTrend adds that the 2022 engine gained direct injection and 177 lb-ft. A six-speed automatic and front-drive are standard, and AWD cost extra (Car and Driver lists $620 on the 2022). Car and Driver also notes the 2022 base trim was dropped, leaving only the Preferred.
The honest negatives are space and safety tech. MotorTrend calls the rear seat a tight fit for adults and says active safety features were optional even on the Preferred, through Safety Package and Safety Package II. Car and Driver says the Encore leans more in corners than lower-set rivals, though the ride is comfortable. So if you are looking at a 2019 Encore and assume it has automatic emergency braking because it is a Buick, check the window sticker or decode the options. Plenty of them do not.
Encore GX: engines and drivetrains
The GX is the more modern car. Car and Driver's Encore GX review lists a 137-hp turbo 1.2-liter three-cylinder and a 155-hp turbo 1.3-liter three-cylinder. Front-drive versions use a CVT, and AWD versions get a nine-speed automatic. Their AWD Avenir with the 1.3 needed 8.8 seconds to reach 60 mph. MotorTrend's GX review praises the seats and cargo room (23.5 cubic feet seats up) but calls the bigger engine buzzy and the nine-speed clunky, and points out that AWD on these cars is engaged with a button. If you need traction in snow, make sure the seller or the test drive confirms that button actually works.
The GX got a refresh for 2024, per MotorTrend, and Car and Driver notes a new look and logo that year. Trim names and features shifted across 2020-2026, so we would decode the VIN and pull the options before agreeing that a car is a "Sport Touring" or "Avenir."
Encore vs Chevy Trax
The first-gen Trax and the original Encore are related, and NHTSA's recall records show it: campaigns 15V146000 and 15V162000 both cover 2015 Encore and 2015 Trax vehicles, and 18V774000 lists 2019 Encore and Trax together. The Buick is the dressier of the pair, with active noise cancellation per MotorTrend, so price a Trax of the same year before you pay the Buick premium. Our used Chevy Trax buying guide covers that side, including the very different 2024-on Trax.
Recalls to clear by VIN
We pulled NHTSA data for 2013-2022 Encores and 2020-2026 Encore GXs on October 15, 2026, and 2013 is the busiest year by far. On those early cars, look for 14V298000 (passenger front air bag inflator weld), 14V446000 (2013-2014 front seat hook bracket weld), 14V488000 (lap belt pretensioner cables), 13V105000 (heated steering wheel fastener on some December 2012 builds), and 14V417000, which covers 2013-2014 AWD cars with a block heater cord whose insulation can crack in the cold. Air bag software is the theme for 2014-2017: 16V651000 and then 17V437000, which exists because some cars treated under the first campaign did not get the complete update. Campaign 18V774000 covers 2019 cars whose air bag module may have been left in manufacturing mode, and 20V668000 covers 2019-2020 Encores with possible missing bolts on the start/stop accumulator endcap, which can leak transmission fluid.
For the GX, the brake item is the one we would chase first: 20V588000 covers 2020-2021 cars where sensor contamination in the electronic brake boost system can cut boost assist. Others include 20V537000 (2020 front seat bolts may be missing), 21V440000 (2020-2022 spare jack can fracture), 23V744000 (2024 instrument display can go blank), and 26V539000 (2024-2026 rear camera image may be blank or distorted). Start with the NHTSA recalls feed for the 2013 Encore and change the model or year, then run our Buick recall check by VIN steps to see whether each one was completed.
Title and history before you pay
Honestly, age is the bigger risk on the original. A 2013 Encore can be 13 years old now, which means more owners, more chances for a branded title, and more gaps in service history. Match the VIN on the dash, door, and title, then decode it with NHTSA's vPIC decoder or our Buick VIN decoder. A CARFAX report shows title brands, odometer readings, and reported accidents when those reach its sources. Through us it is about $5.50 guest or $4.50 member, or about $6.75 for a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle, against retail near $39.99 to $44.99 as of mid October 2026; confirm at checkout. We are a licensed reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. A seller's printed report from "a few months ago" is not good enough, since title brands can be added at any time.
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