Is the Jeep Renegade more reliable than the Buick Encore?

No. The Buick Encore has a clear edge. Owners filed 6.9 complaints per 10,000 sold for the Encore and 20.4 for the Renegade. The Encore also has fewer recalls and fewer unscheduled shop visits. The Renegade's only advantage is a lower chance that a repair is major.

Which has more recalls, the Renegade or the Encore?

The Renegade has far more. Federal recall records show 15 recalls across its 2018 to 2023 model years, while the Encore has 4 across 2018 to 2022. Owners also report airbag recall repairs on the Renegade stalled for months because parts were unavailable.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Encore or the Renegade?

The Encore is cheaper, but the gap is small. Independent repair-cost data estimates $466 a year for the Encore and $498 for the Renegade. Over five years that adds up to roughly $160. The Encore also averages half as many unscheduled shop visits each year.

What is the biggest problem with the Buick Encore?

Turbocharger failure and airbag faults stand out. Owners describe sudden power loss on hills and while passing, sometimes with code P0299. Airbag reports include front airbags that did not deploy in crashes, and a passenger sensor that switches the airbag off with an adult seated.

What goes wrong most often on the Jeep Renegade?

Electrical problems draw the most complaints. Owners report several warning lights flickering together, false brake light messages, and false automatic braking. Engine oil loss and MultiAir actuator failures come next, followed by rough or delayed shifting. Some electrical faults returned after dealer repairs.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Buick Encore vs Jeep Renegade: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Buick Encore

Good

Jeep Renegade

Good

On reliability, the Buick Encore beats the Jeep Renegade by a clear margin, with far fewer owner complaints per car sold and far fewer recalls. Each rates good, but the Encore also costs a bit less to run and visits the shop less often.

How Do the Buick Encore and Jeep Renegade Generations Compare?

All the Renegade years covered here, 2018 to 2023, belong to its single first generation, which ran in the US from 2015 to 2023. It was updated in 2019, 2022, and 2023, so 2022 and 2023 are the freshest versions and also its strongest years. The Encore's first generation ran from 2013 to 2022, with a refresh in 2017 that came before every year compared here. A 2018 to 2022 Encore is therefore a late example of a mature design, and the final years, 2021 and 2022, rate best.

Verdict

The Buick Encore is more reliable than the Jeep Renegade, scoring 79/100 vs 74/100.

A clear edge goes to the Buick Encore, and complaint volume decides it. Owners filed 6.9 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 20.4 for the Jeep Renegade. Federal recall records show 4 recalls for the Encore and 15 for the Renegade. The Encore also costs slightly less per year to repair and needs fewer unscheduled shop visits. Both land in the good range, so neither is a bad buy. The Renegade's one advantage is a lower chance that a given repair turns out to be major.

Key Differences

1Buick Encore costs $32 less per year to repair
2Buick Encore has 13.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Buick Encore has 11 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

6Buick Encore

—

1Jeep Renegade

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Buick Encore vs Jeep Renegade: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Encore vs Jeep Renegade at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Encore	Jeep Renegade
Reliability Score	79/100	74/100
Years Tracked	5	6
Total Recalls	4	15
Complaints per 10k Sold	6.9	20.4
Annual Repair Cost	$466/yr	$498/yr
Repair Frequency	0.1/yr	0.2/yr
Major Repair Risk	12%	9%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2022 NHTSA	2023 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Encore and Jeep Renegade?

Breadth separates the two problem lists. Jeep complaints spread across many systems. Electrical faults lead, with warning lights flickering together, false automatic braking at 45 mph, and engine shutoff at idle. Engine reports center on oil loss and MultiAir actuator failures. Many airbag complaints involve a recall repair waiting on parts. Buick complaints are fewer and narrower. Turbocharger failure that cuts power without warning is the main powertrain pattern. Its airbag reports are more serious: front airbags that did not deploy in crashes. Service brake complaints appear only for the Encore, including unintended acceleration that ended in a crash.

Buick Encore vs Jeep Renegade common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Encore	Jeep Renegade
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.7Very Low	5.5Average
ENGINE	1.5Low	3.8Average
POWER TRAIN	1Very Low	2.5Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.7Very Low	2.8Low
AIR BAGS	0.7Very Low	0.9Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.9Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	0.4Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.3Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.3Very Low
TIRES	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.2Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick Encore or Jeep Renegade?

Repair costs run a little lower on the Buick, but only by a small margin. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $466 a year against $498 for the Jeep, a gap of about $160 over five years. It also averages 0.1 unscheduled shop visits a year, half the Renegade's 0.2. The Renegade has the lower chance that a repair is major, at 9% against 12%. That matters if a single large bill worries you more than frequent small ones.

How Does Buick Encore vs Jeep Renegade Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Encore vs Jeep Renegade year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Encore	Jeep Renegade	Edge
2022	80/1000R / 8C	76/1002R / 24C	Buick Encore
2021	80/1000R / 9C	75/1002R / 64C	Buick Encore
2020	77/1002R / 19C	75/1003R / 62C	Buick Encore
2019	76/1002R / 82C	75/1004R / 77C	Buick Encore
2018	80/1000R / 72C	65/1002R / 440C	Buick Encore

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Buick Encore scored 80/100 and the 2022 Jeep Renegade scored 76/100 — 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 Jeep Renegade?

Pick the Encore if you want the lower-risk used car overall. It has far fewer complaints and recalls, and it runs a little cheaper. Target 2021 or 2022, its strongest years, and avoid 2019 and 2020. Before buying, ask whether the turbocharger has ever been replaced, and have a shop check the airbag warning light and passenger seat sensor. Watch for a radiator fan that keeps running after shutdown. Pick the Renegade if a lower chance of a major repair matters most to you, or if you want the Jeep's style and are willing to accept more electrical quirks. Target 2022 or 2023, its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2021. Check that every open recall has been completed, since owners reported airbag repairs held up for months by missing parts. Test drive for rough shifts, warning light flicker, and any sign of oil loss between changes.

Buick Encore vs Jeep Renegade: Common Questions

Is the Jeep Renegade more reliable than the Buick Encore?: No. The Buick Encore has a clear edge. Owners filed 6.9 complaints per 10,000 sold for the Encore and 20.4 for the Renegade. The Encore also has fewer recalls and fewer unscheduled shop visits. The Renegade's only advantage is a lower chance that a repair is major.
Which has more recalls, the Renegade or the Encore?: The Renegade has far more. Federal recall records show 15 recalls across its 2018 to 2023 model years, while the Encore has 4 across 2018 to 2022. Owners also report airbag recall repairs on the Renegade stalled for months because parts were unavailable.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Encore or the Renegade?: The Encore is cheaper, but the gap is small. Independent repair-cost data estimates $466 a year for the Encore and $498 for the Renegade. Over five years that adds up to roughly $160. The Encore also averages half as many unscheduled shop visits each year.
What is the biggest problem with the Buick Encore?: Turbocharger failure and airbag faults stand out. Owners describe sudden power loss on hills and while passing, sometimes with code P0299. Airbag reports include front airbags that did not deploy in crashes, and a passenger sensor that switches the airbag off with an adult seated.
What goes wrong most often on the Jeep Renegade?: Electrical problems draw the most complaints. Owners report several warning lights flickering together, false brake light messages, and false automatic braking. Engine oil loss and MultiAir actuator failures come next, followed by rough or delayed shifting. Some electrical faults returned after dealer repairs.

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More Jeep Renegade comparisons

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How we score the Buick Encore and Jeep Renegade

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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