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2016 Buick Encore

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Buick Encore do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 67.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

41 reports with mileage · 38 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine complaints

40 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2022
Engine

I was driving down the road and the car started cutting back, then it got real bad, has No power at all right in the middle of work hour traffic! The check engine light comes on then the traction light comes on, OnStar diagnostics sent email stating emissions system, stabil trac system and anti lock system My daughter was in th…

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I was driving down the road and the car started cutting back, then it got real bad, has No power at all right in the middle of work hour traffic! The check engine light comes on then the traction light comes on, OnStar diagnostics sent email stating emissions system, stabil trac system and anti lock system My daughter was in the car we was in danger!!! I pay way too much for this car, I am on disability, fixed income! I have to have a way to go and get my daughter to school!!!

NHTSA ODI #11484110

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2022
Engine

The turbo malfunctioned and made it not possible for the car to accelerate on the freeway. My safety was put at risk because the car would no longer accelerate at the speed limit which meant I was going slower than traffic. It sounds like this is a common problem for these cars in this year and 2017. The vehicle has been check…

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The turbo malfunctioned and made it not possible for the car to accelerate on the freeway. My safety was put at risk because the car would no longer accelerate at the speed limit which meant I was going slower than traffic. It sounds like this is a common problem for these cars in this year and 2017. The vehicle has been checked out by a mechanic. Nothing appeared until after it happened then the check engine light was on. sources that this is a common problem for this vehicle https://www.carcomplaints.com/Buick/Encore/2016/engine/engine.shtml https://www.driveandreview.com/buick-encore-problems/ https://buickforums.com/forums/threads/2017-buick-encore-turbo-failure.52583/

NHTSA ODI #11472613

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine

In reference to this vehicle, I purchased this car from Burns Honda in February 2020. I replaced the battery less than a year of having this car. I then had my engine light come on and my car was skipping, it completely stopped while driving. Several times, it jumped when I would go over 65 MPH. I took it to the dealership that …

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In reference to this vehicle, I purchased this car from Burns Honda in February 2020. I replaced the battery less than a year of having this car. I then had my engine light come on and my car was skipping, it completely stopped while driving. Several times, it jumped when I would go over 65 MPH. I took it to the dealership that same night and they continued to tell me nothing was wrong with it. I have had electrical issues along with that. After back and forth for several days with Buick, they finally replaced the transmission. Fast forward to October of 2021, my engine light continues to go off and on and my car has been jumping on me.

NHTSA ODI #11438060

56,080 miles · Apr 24, 2021
EnginePower Train

BUZZING HEARD WHEN I PRESSED ON ACCELERATING PEDAL. HEARD A POP, THEN IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SMOKED OUT TAIL PIPE. ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHTS BOTH TURNED ON. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT OCCURRED . I PARKED SHORTLY AFTER INCIDENT AND HAD CAR TOWED TO FIRESTONE NEXT MORNING. JEFF SAID ENGINE BLEW AND RECOMMENDED DEAL…

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BUZZING HEARD WHEN I PRESSED ON ACCELERATING PEDAL. HEARD A POP, THEN IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SMOKED OUT TAIL PIPE. ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHTS BOTH TURNED ON. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT OCCURRED . I PARKED SHORTLY AFTER INCIDENT AND HAD CAR TOWED TO FIRESTONE NEXT MORNING. JEFF SAID ENGINE BLEW AND RECOMMENDED DEALER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY TO FIX. TURBO BLEW WHICH BLEW ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #11413691

38,000 miles · Apr 2, 2021
EngineSteeringWheels

I GOT ONTO THE 91 FREEWAY HEADING EAST FROM THE LONG BEACH BLVD ENTRANCE. WHEN DOING THE TURN ONTO THE FREEWAY (U) THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED/CAR SHIFTED AND BOTH THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURNED ON. CAR WAS SHAKEY WHOLE TIME UNTIL I PULLED OVER.

NHTSA ODI #11406152

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2021
EngineService Brakes

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE MY CAR JUMPS AND STALLS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS 3 THIRD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN NOT EVEN A YEAR

NHTSA ODI #11395306

55,500 miles · Nov 6, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemStructure

SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER BEING ON THE HIGHWAY CAR STARTED PULSING AND NOW MY CAR IS IDLING ROUGH.

NHTSA ODI #11373519

47,989 miles · Jun 29, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

MULTIPLE LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE AND NEEDED AN INTAKE MANIFOLD, PVC TUBE, VALVE COVER, ALL WHICH WERE REPAIRED AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO JERK FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY ON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11331533

87,064 miles · Jan 31, 2020
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE OR AT START UP THE ENGINE SMOKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ODOR OF BURNING ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF OIL ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHEN THE HOOD WAS RAISED. HALEY GMC 9831 MIDLOTHIAN HYPERLINK,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE OR AT START UP THE ENGINE SMOKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ODOR OF BURNING ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF OIL ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHEN THE HOOD WAS RAISED. HALEY GMC 9831 MIDLOTHIAN HYPERLINK, RICHMOND VA 23235: 804-250-1322, WAS CONTACTED AND A VALVE COVER REPLACEMENT WAS SUGGESTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONSTAR SYSTEM ALERTED OF AN EMISSION FAILURE. A PLUG PART WAS REPLACED WHILE STILL COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY IN AN EARLIER VISIT TO THE SAME DEALER. THE BURNING ODOR STILL PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,064.

NHTSA ODI #11306290

85,000 miles · Dec 24, 2019
Engine

MY AWD WENT OUT ON 3 OCCASIONS, EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THEY FOUND NOTHING. ONE DAY I LOST ACCELERATION POWER AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY PISTONS WERE NOT FIRING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH THE TURBO. ALL WAS COVERED, HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LATER MY RED OIL ALARM CAME ON, I WAS OUT OF OIL. THE CAR WENT BACK…

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MY AWD WENT OUT ON 3 OCCASIONS, EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THEY FOUND NOTHING. ONE DAY I LOST ACCELERATION POWER AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY PISTONS WERE NOT FIRING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH THE TURBO. ALL WAS COVERED, HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LATER MY RED OIL ALARM CAME ON, I WAS OUT OF OIL. THE CAR WENT BACK TO DEALER, ALL OIL WAS BURNED UP AND SO WAS MY TURBO. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN PREVIOUSLY FOR LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK-END. I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG?

NHTSA ODI #11291064

Official recalls

2

17V437000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seat Belts:pretensioner

Jul 10, 2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Seat Belts:pretensioner

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

Air Bags:frontal

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

16V651000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seat Belts:pretensioner

Sep 8, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Seat Belts:pretensioner

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Air Bags:frontal

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.