Is the Subaru Crosstrek more reliable than the Buick Encore GX?

No, the Buick Encore GX has a slight edge. It has 210 owner complaints against 794 for the Crosstrek, and fewer recalls. Both models stand as good, so the gap is small. The Crosstrek's total is inflated by windshield cracking, though it also has more crash-linked power train reports.

Which has more recalls, the Crosstrek or the Encore GX?

The Crosstrek has more. Federal recall records show 19 recalls across its 9 model years. The Encore GX has 6 recalls across 7 model years. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before buying, since recall work may not have been done on a used example.

Which costs less to repair?

Only the Crosstrek has repair-cost data here, so a direct comparison is not possible. Independent data puts its annual repair cost at $492, with 0.1 unscheduled shop visits a year. Seven percent of its repairs are major. Windshield replacement can add to that.

Do Subaru Crosstrek windshields really crack easily?

Owner complaints say yes. Windshields crack far too easily, often from a tiny chip that spreads into a long crack. Some cracked while parked. Most cracks appear early, within about 19,000 miles. Dealers often call it rock damage and refuse coverage, and EyeSight cameras raise the replacement cost.

What is the "Shift to Park" problem on the Buick Encore GX?

It is a false warning after the shifter is put in Park. The engine or accessory mode stays on, chimes sound, and the horn honks when the driver walks away. Doors may not lock. Reports cluster between 24,000 and 34,200 miles, and owners say dealers blame the shifter and connector.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Buick Encore GX vs Subaru Crosstrek: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Buick Encore GX

Good

Subaru Crosstrek

Good

Reliability favors the Buick Encore GX by a slight margin over the Subaru Crosstrek. Owners file far fewer complaints and it has fewer recalls. Crosstrek complaints center on cracking windshields, dead batteries and power loss. Encore GX complaints center on a false "Shift to Park" warning and brake faults.

How Do the Buick Encore GX and Subaru Crosstrek Generations Compare?

Most used shoppers will land in the Crosstrek's second generation (GT), which ran from 2018 through 2023 with a facelift in 2021. That generation holds the model's two weakest years, 2018 and 2019. The third generation (GU) began in 2024. The Encore GX has one generation so far, which started in 2020. Its US model years 2020 through 2023 came before a refresh in 2024. The early cars, 2020 and 2021, were the weakest. Refreshed cars from 2024 on have had less time on the road, so their short complaint history should not be read as proof of quality.

Verdict

The Buick Encore GX is more reliable than the Subaru Crosstrek, scoring 76/100 vs 73/100.

Reliability tips slightly toward the Buick Encore GX. Its owners filed 210 complaints against 794 for the Crosstrek, and federal recall records show 6 recalls against 19. Both models still stand as good, so the gap is small in practice. Much of the Crosstrek's total comes from cracking windshields, which is costly but rarely stops the car. The more worrying Crosstrek reports involve power loss and CVT failures. The Encore GX's complaints center on a false shifter warning and some brake faults.

Key Differences

1Buick Encore GX has 66.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Buick Encore GX has 13 fewer total recalls
3Buick Encore GX scores 3 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

3Buick Encore GX

—

0Subaru Crosstrek

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Buick Encore GX vs Subaru Crosstrek: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Encore GX vs Subaru Crosstrek at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Encore GX	Subaru Crosstrek
Reliability Score	76/100	73/100
Years Tracked	7	9
Total Recalls	6	19
Complaints per 10k Sold	6.4	72.5
Year Wins	2	5

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Encore GX and Subaru Crosstrek?

Windshields lead the Crosstrek's list. A small chip spreads into a long crack, sometimes on a parked car, and one owner was quoted $2500 because of the EyeSight cameras. Batteries also drain overnight. Power train reports describe stuttering power and CVT replacements, and one car rolled back on a hill. Power train carries 8 crash-linked complaints, with engine and electrical at 2 each. The Encore GX is led by a false "Shift to Park" warning that leaves the engine on and the horn honking. Its only crash-linked area is service brakes, where owners describe a stiff pedal or abrupt stops.

Buick Encore GX vs Subaru Crosstrek common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Encore GX	Subaru Crosstrek
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	21.8High
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.9Very Low	12.8Above Avg
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.2Low	8.8Above Avg
POWER TRAIN	1.4Low	4.6Average
ENGINE	0.7Very Low	3.3Average
VISIBILITY	—None	3.6Average
STEERING	0.2Very Low	3Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	1.7Low
STRUCTURE	—None	1.7Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.6Very Low	0.8Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	1.2Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	1.3Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.5Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.4Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.3Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.2Very Low
SEAT BELTS	—None	0.2Very Low
EQUIPMENT	0.1Very Low	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Buick Encore GX vs Subaru Crosstrek Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Encore GX vs Subaru Crosstrek year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Encore GX	Subaru Crosstrek	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 1C	94/1000R / 1C	Subaru Crosstrek
2025	79/1000R / 14C	83/1000R / 25C	Subaru Crosstrek
2024	77/1001R / 27C	69/1002R / 95C	Buick Encore GX
2023	79/1000R / 23C	81/1000R / 28C	Subaru Crosstrek
2022	74/1001R / 29C	78/1001R / 28C	Subaru Crosstrek
2021	74/1002R / 50C	67/1002R / 97C	Buick Encore GX
2020	70/1002R / 66C	72/1001R / 62C	Subaru Crosstrek

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Buick Encore GX scored 79/100 and the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek scored 81/100 — 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 Subaru Crosstrek?

Choose the Encore GX if you want the lower chance of trouble overall. Expect to check the shifter, since the false "Shift to Park" warning clusters between 24,000 and 34,200 miles. Also ask about brake warning lights and any turbocharger or check engine history. Aim for 2023, one of its stronger years, and be cautious with 2020 and 2021, its weakest. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so a clean record there proves less. Choose the Crosstrek if low running cost matters most and you can live with windshield risk. Its repair costs are modest, and major repairs are uncommon. Budget for glass, because dealers often refuse coverage for cracks. Avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. The 2019 model also faced battery drain complaints and was reportedly left out of a settlement. Test for stuttering acceleration on the drive. The 2025 and 2026 years rate well, but they are recent and still collecting complaints.

Buick Encore GX vs Subaru Crosstrek: Common Questions

Is the Subaru Crosstrek more reliable than the Buick Encore GX?: No, the Buick Encore GX has a slight edge. It has 210 owner complaints against 794 for the Crosstrek, and fewer recalls. Both models stand as good, so the gap is small. The Crosstrek's total is inflated by windshield cracking, though it also has more crash-linked power train reports.
Which has more recalls, the Crosstrek or the Encore GX?: The Crosstrek has more. Federal recall records show 19 recalls across its 9 model years. The Encore GX has 6 recalls across 7 model years. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before buying, since recall work may not have been done on a used example.
Which costs less to repair?: Only the Crosstrek has repair-cost data here, so a direct comparison is not possible. Independent data puts its annual repair cost at $492, with 0.1 unscheduled shop visits a year. Seven percent of its repairs are major. Windshield replacement can add to that.
Do Subaru Crosstrek windshields really crack easily?: Owner complaints say yes. Windshields crack far too easily, often from a tiny chip that spreads into a long crack. Some cracked while parked. Most cracks appear early, within about 19,000 miles. Dealers often call it rock damage and refuse coverage, and EyeSight cameras raise the replacement cost.
What is the "Shift to Park" problem on the Buick Encore GX?: It is a false warning after the shifter is put in Park. The engine or accessory mode stays on, chimes sound, and the horn honks when the driver walks away. Doors may not lock. Reports cluster between 24,000 and 34,200 miles, and owners say dealers blame the shifter and connector.

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How we score the Buick Encore GX and Subaru Crosstrek

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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