Last updated: 2026-10-10
Buick Encore GX vs Hyundai Kona: Reliability Compared
Buick Encore GX
Hyundai Kona
Buick Encore GX beats the Hyundai Kona on reliability by a large margin. Owners file far fewer complaints about the Buick, and it has fewer recalls. The Kona's engine, transmission, and braking faults are the deciding gap.
How Do the Buick Encore GX and Hyundai Kona Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Buick Encore GX is more reliable than the Hyundai Kona, scoring 76/100 vs 65/100.
Reliability favors the Buick Encore GX by a wide margin. Both cars sit in the good range, but the Kona collects far more owner complaints for its sales and has more than double the recalls. Its problems also reach into engine power loss, transmission failures, and braking. The Encore GX has one dominant, annoying fault, a false "Shift to Park" warning, plus a smaller set of brake and engine complaints. Fewer complaints and fewer recalls make it the safer pick.
Key Differences
- 1Buick Encore GX scores 11 points higher in reliability
- 2Buick Encore GX has 10 fewer total recalls
- 3Buick Encore GX has 7.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Buick Encore GX vs Hyundai Kona: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Buick Encore GX | Hyundai Kona |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 76/100 | 65/100 |
| Years Tracked | 7 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 6 | 16 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 6.4 | 13.4 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 7 | 0 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Encore GX and Hyundai Kona?
Serious failures spread across several Kona systems. Engines cut power at highway speed, and some cars will not restart. Transmissions fail outright, and adaptive cruise control sags 10 to 15 mph before it holds. Automatic emergency braking has fired on the highway for no visible reason. Crash-linked reports appear in its engine, electrical, speed control, and brake complaints. The Encore GX is led by a false "Shift to Park" warning, which keeps the car on and honks the horn. Its only crash-linked area is brakes, with stiff pedals and delayed stops.
| Component | Buick Encore GX | Hyundai Kona |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 0.7Very Low | 4.5Average |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.2Low | 3.3Average |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.4Low | 1.6Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.9Very Low | 1.8Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.6Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| EQUIPMENT | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| WHEELS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Buick Encore GX vs Hyundai Kona Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Buick Encore GX | Hyundai Kona | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 82/1000R / 1C | 67/1002R / 4C | Buick Encore GX |
| 2025 | 79/1000R / 14C | 74/1000R / 21C | Buick Encore GX |
| 2024 | 77/1001R / 27C | 68/1003R / 50C | Buick Encore GX |
| 2023 | 79/1000R / 23C | 66/1002R / 68C | Buick Encore GX |
| 2022 | 74/1001R / 29C | 64/1002R / 115C | Buick Encore GX |
| 2021 | 74/1002R / 50C | 63/1001R / 102C | Buick Encore GX |
| 2020 | 70/1002R / 66C | 57/1002R / 140C | Buick Encore GX |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Buick Encore GX scored 79/100 and the 2024 Hyundai Kona scored 68/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Buick Encore GX vs the Hyundai Kona?
Buick Encore GX vs Hyundai Kona: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Kona more reliable than the Buick Encore GX?
- No. The Encore GX leads by a large margin. It draws 6.4 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 13.4 for the Kona. The Kona's problems also reach engine power loss, transmission failure, and braking, while the Buick's most common fault is a false shifter warning.
- Which has more recalls, the Kona or the Encore GX?
- The Kona. Federal recall records show 16 recalls across 9 model years for the Kona. The Encore GX has 6 across 7 model years. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy, whichever model you choose.
- What is the most common Buick Encore GX problem?
- A false "Shift to Park" warning, in the power train complaints. The engine or accessory mode stays on, chimes sound, and the horn honks when the driver walks away. Reports cluster between 24,000 and 34,200 miles. Dealers blame the shifter and connector, and parts have been backordered.
- Do the Kona's engine problems cause crashes?
- Some are crash-linked. Owners report power cutting out while driving, sometimes at highway speed, and two engine complaints are tied to crashes. Dealers often could not reproduce the fault. Owners also describe coolant leaks and, in two cases, an oil drain plug that fell out on the highway.
- Which Kona and Encore GX years should I avoid?
- Avoid the 2019 and 2020 Kona and the 2020 and 2021 Encore GX, which are each model's weakest years. The strongest Kona years are 2025 and 2018. Newer years of either car have had less time to collect complaints, so treat their clean records with caution.
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Decided between Buick Encore GX and Hyundai Kona? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Buick Encore GX and Hyundai Kona
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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