Last updated: 2026-10-10
Buick Encore vs Hyundai Kona: Reliability Compared
Buick Encore
Hyundai Kona
The Buick Encore comes out well ahead of the Hyundai Kona on reliability. Owners filed about half as many complaints per car sold. The Kona also has far more recalls, and its problems spread across engine, transmission, electrical and braking systems.
How Do the Buick Encore and Hyundai Kona Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Buick Encore is more reliable than the Hyundai Kona, scoring 79/100 vs 65/100.
The more reliable used car is the Buick Encore, and the gap is large. Owners filed about half as many complaints per car sold, and federal recall records show far fewer recalls. Problems on the Kona spread across engine power cuts, transmission failures, and braking and cruise faults that reach into crash reports. Problems on the Encore are narrower, mainly turbo failure and an air bag pattern that is serious but sits in one area. That narrower profile, plus fewer recalls, decides it.
Key Differences
- 1Buick Encore scores 14 points higher in reliability
- 2Buick Encore has 12 fewer total recalls
- 3Buick Encore has 6.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Buick Encore vs Hyundai Kona: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Buick Encore | Hyundai Kona |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 79/100 | 65/100 |
| Years Tracked | 5 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 4 | 16 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 6.9 | 13.4 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2022 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 5 | 0 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Encore and Hyundai Kona?
Spread is the main difference. Kona complaints run across many systems: engines cut power at highway speed and sometimes will not restart, coolant leaks from the thermal management module, transmissions fail outright, and automatic emergency braking fires for no visible reason. Crash-linked reports there cover cruise control, electrical, brake and engine areas. Encore problems cluster tighter: turbo failure that cuts power on hills, a cooling fan that drains the battery, and front air bags that did not deploy in crashes. That air bag pattern is the Encore's most serious issue, with 11 crash-linked reports, and the Kona has no matching area.
| Component | Buick Encore | Hyundai Kona |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1.5Low | 4.5Average |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.7Very Low | 3.3Average |
| POWER TRAIN | 1Very Low | 1.6Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.7Very Low | 1.8Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.7Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.4Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.3Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| TIRES | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| 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 vs Hyundai Kona Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Buick Encore | Hyundai Kona | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 80/1000R / 8C | 64/1002R / 115C | Buick Encore |
| 2021 | 80/1000R / 9C | 63/1001R / 102C | Buick Encore |
| 2020 | 77/1002R / 19C | 57/1002R / 140C | Buick Encore |
| 2019 | 76/1002R / 82C | 55/1004R / 224C | Buick Encore |
| 2018 | 80/1000R / 72C | 69/1000R / 66C | Buick Encore |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Buick Encore scored 80/100 and the 2018 Hyundai Kona scored 69/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Buick Encore vs the Hyundai Kona?
Buick Encore vs Hyundai Kona: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Kona more reliable than the Buick Encore?
- No. The Buick Encore leads by a large gap. Owners filed 6.9 complaints per 10,000 Encores sold, against 13.4 for the Kona. The Kona's complaints also cover more systems, including engine power loss, transmission failure and sudden automatic braking.
- Which has more recalls, the Kona or the Encore?
- The Kona has more. Federal recall records show 16 recalls across 9 Kona model years, against 4 across 5 Encore model years. The Kona has been sold for more model years, but it still carries the heavier recall load.
- Which costs less to repair, the Kona or the Encore?
- A direct comparison is not possible, because only the Encore has repair-cost data here. Independent data puts the Encore at about $466 a year, with 0.1 unscheduled shop visits a year and a 12% chance that a repair is major.
- What is the biggest problem with the Buick Encore?
- Front air bags that did not deploy in crashes are the most serious pattern. Owners reported six crashes and eight injuries, including front-corner and head-on impacts. Turbo failure that cuts power without warning is the other main concern, so check both before buying.
- Which Hyundai Kona years should I avoid?
- Avoid 2019 and 2020, the weakest years in the data. The 2018 model year ranks among the strongest. The 2025 year also ranks high, but newer cars have had less time to collect complaints, so it is not proven.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Buick Encore comparisons
Decided between Buick Encore and Hyundai Kona? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Buick Encore 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.
See incorrect data? Report an issue