Last updated: 2026-10-10
Buick Encore vs Nissan Kicks: Reliability Compared
Buick Encore
Nissan Kicks
Nissan Kicks and Buick Encore are effectively tied on reliability. The difference is the failures: Encore air bags that did not deploy, Kicks power loss and stalling. Both rate good, so the right pick depends on which risks you can accept.
How Do the Buick Encore and Nissan Kicks Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Buick Encore is more reliable than the Nissan Kicks, scoring 79/100 vs 78/100.
Neither car pulls ahead. Both stand as good on reliability, so the choice comes down to the kind of fault you can live with. The Kicks draws more owner complaints per vehicle sold and has more recalls. The Encore has fewer complaints, but its worst pattern is front air bags that did not deploy in crashes. A slight Encore edge on volume does not outweigh that, which is why the call is a tie.
Key Differences
- 1Buick Encore has 6 fewer total recalls
- 2Buick Encore has 1.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Buick Encore scores 1 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Buick Encore vs Nissan Kicks: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Buick Encore | Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 79/100 | 78/100 |
| Years Tracked | 5 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 4 | 10 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 6.9 | 8.3 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2022 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 3 | 2 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Encore and Nissan Kicks?
Crash-linked reports spread across three Kicks areas: electrical, power train and brakes. Typical symptoms are rear hatch glass shattering in a parked car, sudden power loss with a "System Malfunction" message, and rear automatic braking that stops the car with nothing behind it. The Encore centers on turbocharger failure that cuts power without warning, a cooling fan that runs after shutdown and drains the battery, and check engine lights. Only the Encore has an air bag pattern, with front bags failing to deploy and eight people injured. The Kicks lists no such category.
| Component | Buick Encore | Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.7Very Low | 1.8Low |
| ENGINE | 1.5Low | 0.5Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.7Very Low | 1.2Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1Very Low | 0.8Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.4Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.7Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.4Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.3Very Low | —None |
| SUSPENSION | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| TIRES | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| WHEELS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Buick Encore vs Nissan Kicks Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Buick Encore | Nissan Kicks | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 80/1000R / 8C | 82/1000R / 19C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2021 | 80/1000R / 9C | 78/1002R / 66C | Buick Encore |
| 2020 | 77/1002R / 19C | 78/1000R / 85C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2019 | 76/1002R / 82C | 73/1001R / 123C | Buick Encore |
| 2018 | 80/1000R / 72C | 71/1001R / 78C | Buick Encore |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Buick Encore scored 80/100 and the 2022 Nissan Kicks scored 82/100 — 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 Nissan Kicks?
Buick Encore vs Nissan Kicks: Common Questions
- Is the Nissan Kicks more reliable than the Buick Encore?
- No, they are effectively tied, and both stand as good. The Kicks has 8.3 complaints per 10,000 sold against 6.9 for the Encore, and more recalls. The Encore's worst pattern, air bags not deploying, offsets that small edge. Neither car clearly wins.
- Which has more recalls, the Kicks or the Encore?
- The Kicks has more. Federal recall records show 10 recalls across 9 Kicks model years and 4 across 5 Encore model years. Recall counts grow with years on the road, so the Kicks has had a longer span, but it still leads. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls.
- Which model years of the Buick Encore should I avoid?
- Avoid 2019 and 2020, the weakest Encore years in owner complaints. The strongest are 2021 and 2018. Whatever year you choose, have a shop check the air bag warning light and passenger seat sensor, since owners reported both faulting without a lasting dealer fix.
- What are the most common Nissan Kicks problems?
- Electrical faults lead, with 96 complaints. Owners describe rear hatch glass shattering after the car is parked, and a fuel gauge that stopped working. Power train reports follow: sudden power loss with a "System Malfunction" message that dealers often cannot reproduce. Rear automatic braking that stops the car for no reason is also reported.
- Does the Buick Encore have turbo problems?
- Owners report them often. Turbocharger failure shows up in most power train complaints and cuts power without warning, including on hills and while passing a semi. The check engine light may show code P0299, and one failure gave no warning. Ask for service records and test drive on a grade.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Buick Encore and Nissan Kicks? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Buick Encore and Nissan Kicks
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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