KnownCarProblems2015 Buick Encore Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Buick Encore, most often about the engine (26% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Encore model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2015 Buick Encore problems
Engine
32 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Tried to stop before a red sign on a city street, the car accelerated on its own, passed the red light and run at about 60 MPH on a 35 MPH street for about half a mile and then stopped by itself. Pressing the brakes and even putting it on park did not help. I am lucky to be alive with my two passengers, and lucky not…
I purchased this vehicle in 2017 with only 45,000 miles, 1 year warranty was purchased. I have had constant issues with tires, but more seriously I have had over $2000 in repairs for intake manifold, air conditioning, various issues with tires, repaired thermostat. I had an ignition problem repaired in 2019 and now…
Electrical
30 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles.
This has happened 5 times. 5 times to a gm dealer. 5 time not fixed. After traveling on the highway at 70-75mph for 3 hours, traction control light comes on. Followed by service power steering, then dials go to zero, transmission stop shifting. Towed of the highway 3 times, managed to limp to a dealer twice. Ecm…
Takata recall? The eletrical control display turns off and sometimes back on randomly creating a definited driver distraction. The one connection I have made is it does happen at times when I turn slightly (not full hard turn needed)on the steering wheel. This concerns me as a safety issue; I ask is this related to…
Steering
27 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 54,500 miles.
Driving on the freeway and the power steering suddenly quit, and all the warning lights came on. Car wont get out of low gear and reverse doesn't work
The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while his daughter was pulling out of a parking space, the power steering failed. The vehicle was restarted and regained normal power steering functionality. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle independently shifted in reverse. The…
Brakes
21 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles.
On 5/25/18, ABS failed when brakes applied at around 30 MPH leading to a rear end crash on wet rainy road at a roundabout at jacaranda boulevard and east venice avenue, venice, fl.
When first starting out, the brakes stop short. I have to brake 3 times somewhere safe in order to not stop short in front of another vehicle by accident. I had them inspected and the service center said they were fine, that's just the way they are. I feel this is a safety hazard because it stops short, whether I want…
Air bags
16 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles.
My front passenger air bag will not turn on with an average size person weighing 135lbs sitting in the front passenger seat. It seems to only work with someone sitting in it at a weight of over 200lbs. I just bought this car and my local gmc Buick dealership tells me there is nothing wrong with the sensor because the…
Air bag sensor defective. When passenger sits in seat the sensor indicator reads off. Took it to dealer today 3/15/2018 and they said it needs a new sensor. When they tested it with a 280 lb. Mechanic in passenger seat sensor said a child was in seat and it was on the off position. The air bag sensor had a recall…
Other or unspecified
15 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles.
There is a constant coolant leak appears to be coming from the turbo area. Coolant smell is constant as the coolant is being burned off by exhaust manifold. Loss of cooland can lead to overheating and engine failure.
Driving on freeway, approx 74 MPH in a 75 zone. About 1.5 hours in to a 2.5 hour trip. All systems were functioning and no warning lights were on. Car suddenly lost power on gas pedal , power steering light came on, check engine light came on , all gauges are functioning erratically and then all gauges stopped or went…
Transmission
11 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles.
Driving car locks up check engine light comes on says check power steering, we aimed to side of the shoulder car dies wouldn't start.we had to wait on side of a interstate for 3 hours to get a tow truck, very dangerous
The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while stopped on an incline, the transmission slipped out of gear and rolled backwards after releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to love Buick gmc (736 saturn pkwy, columbia, sc 29212) and the contact was…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 6%After driving the Encore for 30 minutes then making stops at different places a few minutes apart, when the car is started there is a smell of gas inside the car. Does not happen when starting the Encore for the first time of the day. I was inside the store from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, has happened several days now.
I purchased this vehicle in 2017 with only 45,000 miles, 1 year warranty was purchased. I have had constant issues with tires, but more seriously I have had over $2000 in repairs for intake manifold, air conditioning, various issues with tires, repaired thermostat. I had an ignition problem repaired in 2019 and now…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Buick Encore recalls
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: labels
Risk: If the label is missing front and rear rim size information, the owner may replace the rims with ones that are an incorrect size, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and will send owners a corrected label, free of charge. The recall april 29, 2015. Owners may contact buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 15166.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2015 buick encore vehicles manufactured august 26, 2014, to february 9, 2015, and 2015 chevrolet trax vehicles manufactured october 13, 2014, to february 3, 2015. The affected vehicles have tire placards that do not provide the rim size information for the front or rear wheels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 110, "tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles with a gvwr of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: The circuit board wear may cause a sudden loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering column assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began april 24, 2015. Owners may contact buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 15168.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2015 buick encore vehicles manufactured november 27, 2014, to february 24, 2015, and 2015 chevrolet trax vehicles manufactured november 18, 2014, to february 17, 2015. The steering column assembly housing may contact the power steering printed circuit board causing the circuit board to wear.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2015 Buick Encore
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Buick Encore?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (32 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); electrical (30 complaints, typically around 38,000 miles); steering (27 complaints, typically around 54,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Buick Encore have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 10, 2017 (seat belts). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Buick Encore?
- It is the most complained-about Encore model year since 2000, with 124 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.