RoadVitals

2020 Buick Encore GX Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest May 13, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
32%
of 66 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2020 Buick Encore GX submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed May 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse on several occasions, the brake was depressed and there was an abnormal foghorn sound coming from the driver’s side rear wheel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was taken to the residence where the rear driver’s side wheel was removed. The caliper was removed, and the contact became aware that piston inside the caliper had fractured in half. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

NHTSA ID
11660619
Incident
Dec 30, 2024
Mileage
101,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 25, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported

I was traveling to school when my breaks didn’t work I tried them twice and I crashed into another vehicle. And the month or march I took it into to Buick for break issues and they said everything was fine.

NHTSA ID
11656817
Incident
Apr 5, 2025
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 26, 2025

I was at a stop light and the light turned green, I preceded to press the accelerator, I was just starting to move forward and the, peddle seemed to take over with my assistance went all the way down and began speeding up. I tried breaking and the car just kept going and not wanting to slow down and kept gaining speed, I had to put car in neutral and turn engine off. Same day, same trip about 4 miles down the road, I began to slow down (35mph) due to a turning vehicle and when I was clear to accelerate once again, it happened again, again, I tried the breaks, and the car kept fighting the break and kept gaining speed, once again I had to put the car in neutral and turn off the engine, the speeds reached 65 mph. before I was able to place in neutral and turn off the engine. No warning lights, car ran normally until those terrifying moments, no check engine lights on before or after the above experiences. My husband and I's safety was put at risk due to the road's travelers and Deadmans curves and cross sections, it put us at risk with a higher chance of crashing into a vehicle or accelerating before being able to make a turn safely. As soon as I made it home, I called the Buick service center and delivered the car the following morning to the service technician. It is at the Ross Downing Service Station today.

NHTSA ID
11645021
Incident
Feb 25, 2025
BrakesEngine
Filed Jan 19, 2025

This is a new issue. Upon exiting my car last night. My car would not shift into park. Everytime I cycled the engine and shift to different gears then park. The car stated it need to be shifted into park still. Without it being in park The car could possibly roll down the hill. Also without it being able to be shifted into park. It continued to flash and keep lights and warning sign on. If not being able to shift into park. I could not leave my car until it recognized the car was in park. The car battery would have drained.

NHTSA ID
11636882
Incident
Jan 18, 2025
BrakesElectrical
Filed Dec 29, 2024

When I park the vehicle doesn’t recognize that I switched my gear to park and it won’t let me turn my vehicle off and when I have my foot on the brake it feels like sponginess

NHTSA ID
11632919
Incident
Sep 11, 2024
Brakes
Filed Jan 29, 2024

Spongy breaks. Gets harder to break as time goes.

NHTSA ID
11568664
Incident
Jan 10, 2023
Brakes
Filed Jul 7, 2022

The contact’s fiancé owns a 2020 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated while driving approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle was unable to stop while the brake pedal was depressed and the parking brake was activated. Additionally, the vehicle made grinding sounds while the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the dealer reprogrammed the brake system; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,600.

NHTSA ID
11472783
Incident
Jul 7, 2022
Mileage
8,600 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 7, 2022
Crash reported

The contact owns a 2020 Buick Encore GX. The contact stated that while attempting to stop, the brake pedal was depressed and it traveled to the floorboard causing the brakes to fail to stop the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact residence however, the brakes failed again. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was unaware if a diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

NHTSA ID
11455501
Incident
Mar 4, 2022
Mileage
45,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 29, 2021

Dealership, fixed brakes due to previous recall. Brakes continue to squeal and grind with every stop. Was informed by dealership that they can do no further repair because it is considered a noise and not a safety issue. Grinding brakes are a safety issue!!!

NHTSA ID
11441901
Incident
Jun 7, 2021
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Feb 3, 2021
Crash reported

2/3/2021 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER TODAY. SHE WAS DRIVING AND WE WERE APPROACHING A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. WE HAD A GREEN LIGHT AND I COULD SEE THAT HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. SHE STARTED THE TURN WITH HER FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE STEERING WASN'T RESPONDING. WE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AGO AND HAS LESS THAN 115 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11394553
Incident
Feb 3, 2021
Mileage
113 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 25, 2021

THE BRAKE ASSIST CONTINUES TO FAIL AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IT FAILS UNEXPECTED SO OFTEN THAT IT IS DANGEROUS AND WE ARE SOMEWHAT AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE BEGAN A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASED. REQUEST AN URGENT FIX OR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN THIS VEHICLE FOR A DIFFERENT SAFER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11389719
Incident
Sep 21, 2020
Mileage
500 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 23, 2021

I WAS DRIVING HOME APPROX 6:00 PM AS I WAS STARTING ON L75 MY BUICK 2020GX WITH LESS THAN 300 MILES STARTED TO SPEED UP TO A VERY FAST MY BRAKES DID NOT SLOW ME DOWN THE CAR KEPT SPEEDING UP I WAS VERY SCARED WHEN THE CAR KEPT GOING FASTER NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT THERE WAS ALMOST A CRASH TRYING TO SLOW DOWN

NHTSA ID
11389607
Incident
Jan 23, 2021
Mileage
14 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jan 18, 2021

WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED SQUEAKING OF BRAKES AND PROBLEMS ECCENTRICALLY WITH WIPERS AND BACK GATE LIGHT OPEN CLOSE LIGHT, REPORTED TO TEXIAN DEALER AND NOTHING WAS DONE, CAR OF COURSE IN MOTION AND MOVING. LATER AFTER COMPLAIN OF PROBLEMS TEXAN DEALER RESPONDED TO DEAF EARS, I TOLD THEM I DID NOT WANT THIS VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING AND NEVER DID. I WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER(DEMONTROND BUICK) AND BK CUSTOMER SERVICE LISTENED TO THE ISSUES AND PUT NEW BRAKES IN CAR, IT STILLS SQUEAKS BUT NOT AS MUCH AS BEFORE. CAR WAS WORKED ON BUT AT LEAST THEY TRIED TO FIND AND FIX PROBLEMS. THE WIPERS INTERMITTENT NEVER WORKED AND THEY GOT THEM TO WORK BUT ONLY WIPE AFTER ABOUT 35 TO 55 SECONDS AFTER TURNED ON AND EVEN IN DRIVING, THE LIFT GATE STILL AT TIMES DOES NOT WORK, THE CAR IS A LEMON, VERY DISAPPONTED AND SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO THIS VEHICHLE AND WARN PEOPLE ESP ABOUT THE BRAKES, COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO HAVE A CRASH AND BE KILLED.

NHTSA ID
11388744
Incident
Apr 1, 2020
Mileage
100 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Dec 25, 2020

WHILE DRIVING UP TO AN INTERSECTION I APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. UPON DOING SO THE PEDAL DID NOT MOVE AS IF IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE AS I WAS COMING UP TO THE INTERSECTION AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE AS IF THE CAR WAS OFF. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKES BEING APPLIED. I QUICKLY BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES WHICH STARTED TO SLOW ME DOWN BUT NOT BEFORE DRIVING RIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I PULLED OVER AFTER I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO A STOP, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME BUT IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID
11384896
Incident
Dec 22, 2020
Mileage
973 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 23, 2020

BRAKES ARE NOISY MORE GOING IN REVERSE. DEALER ORDERED UPDATED FRONT BRAKES ON 12/8/2020 AND AS OF 12/23/2020 THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND DO NOT HAVE A DATE WHEN THEY WILL BE IN. TRIED TO CALL GM CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY DO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE. ALSO WHEN THE CAR WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP THEY COMPLETED RECALLS #'S A202310450, A202295530 & A202301230. ALSO I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICES ON ANY RECALLS FROM BUICK.

NHTSA ID
11384669
Incident
Dec 8, 2020
Mileage
1,476 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Nov 25, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BUICK ENCORE GX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V588000 (SERVICE BRAKES) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL HOWEVER, FAILED TO ENGAGE AS DESIGNED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. THERE WERE SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JOYCE BUICK-GMC, INC. (38039 CHESTER RD, AVON, OH 44011, (440) 934-6600) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER, PROGRAM MODULE, BRAKING SYSTEM, AND ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 752.

NHTSA ID
11376326
Incident
Sep 1, 2020
Mileage
752 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 23, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH SHE RECEIVED AN ALERT THAT THE STABIL TRAK SYSTEM AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE LIGHTS SAID DO NOT TRAVEL OVER 62 MPH. THE CONTACT FELT THE BRAKES GOING ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND NOT BRAKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND SHUTOFF THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT REAPPEAR SO THE CONTACT CONTINUED ON THE ROAD. WHEN CONTACT GOT ON THE ROAD, THE INDICATORS WENT OFF AGAIN AND SHE PULLED OVER OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT DID SAME PROCESS OF SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING AND WAS ABLE TO FINALLY ARRIVE AT HER HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER SOUTHTOWNE MOTORS 695 BULLSBORO DR, NEWNAN, GA 30265 (678) 619-4902. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT SET AN APPOINTMENT RIGHT AWAY AND HAD NO LOANERS FOR THE CONTACT. THERE WAS A CURRENT NHTSA RECALL 20V588000 (SERVICE BRAKES) ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED UNREPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1.487.

NHTSA ID
11375906
Incident
Nov 22, 2020
Mileage
1,487 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Nov 21, 2020

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 9/25/2020. RECALL NHTSA# 20V588 ISSUED 9/24/2020. I WAS NOT CONTACTED BY DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD VEHICLE UNTIL 9/29/2020. THERE WAS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON VEHICLE. RECALL STATUS: INCOMPLETE REMEDY NOT YET AVALABLE.

NHTSA ID
11375689
Incident
Sep 25, 2020
Mileage
227 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 28, 2020

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN CERTAIN 2020 MODEL YEAR CADILLAC CT4, CT5 AND XT4 VEHICLES, 2020MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET CORVETTE VEHICLES, 2020 ' 2021 MODEL YEAR BUICK ENCORE GX VEHICLES, AND 2021 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER VEHICLES. MATERIAL USED IN A SENSOR CONNECTION IN THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE BOOST SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED DURING THE MATERIAL SUPPLIER'S PRODUCTION PROCESS. CONTAMINATION OF THIS MATERIAL MAY CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SENSOR AND THE BRAKE BOOST SYSTEM UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. SAFETY RISK: IF COMMUNICATION WITH THE SENSOR IS INTERRUPTED, ELECTRONIC BRAKE BOOST ASSIST COULD BE LOST. EXTRA PEDAL FORCE WILL BE REQUIRED TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE BOOST MODULE. RECALL STATUS: RECALL INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE

NHTSA ID
11366809
Incident
Sep 24, 2020
Brakes
Filed Oct 27, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BUICK ENCORE GX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SCHUMACHER BUICK GMC (3031 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409, (561) 935-4239) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V588000 (SERVICE BRAKES) HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.*DT *TR

NHTSA ID
11366653
Incident
Oct 8, 2020
Mileage
3,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 7, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BUICK ENCORE GX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A U-TURN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED AT A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION TEXT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V588000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN THE PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER ED MORSE SAWGRASS BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 14351 W SUNRISE BLVD, SUNRISE, FL 33323, (888) 377-2660, WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,251.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11363178
Incident
Sep 30, 2020
Mileage
1,251 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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