KnownCarProblems2016 Buick Encore Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Buick Encore, most often about the engine (54% of complaints, typically around 52,000 miles). It is 4th of 10 Encore model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2016 Buick Encore problems
Engine
43 complaints · 54%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles.
When stopped, the vehicle feels like its missing, sometimes feels like it wants to stall. When accelerating, sometimes hesitates or not quite getting spark. Scary when merging and don't have full power right away. Brought to dealer 3 times, and now warranty has passed. Happens everyday.
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.
Fuel system
13 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 6,500 miles.
I went to start my car in the morning after it sat at night, it was in driveway (I had driven the evening prior) and it smelled of fuel when I started it. Nothing noted leaking from under the car anywhere.
I submitted a prior report. My car was in driveway and I went to start it in the morning. I had been out in evening prior. I started my car and it smelled like fuel. I had to take it in after I test drove it on way to the dealer for service (lucky I was off that day. It had a fuel leak and needed a hose replaced. To…
Transmission
12 complaints · 15%Heavy vibration in lower gear while shifting seems to come from engine or transmission cant tell but strong vibration can be felt in shift handle when you attain higher gear seems to stop on city street or highway same experience worse in lower gears.
While traveling at higher speeds (60+ MPH), the check engine light will come on and the car will lose significant power in 4th and higher gear. This will present as speed can still be gained although very slowly in 4th gear, speed can be maintained but not gained while in 5th gear, and speed will only be lost while in…
Electrical
9 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Encore. The contact stated that the vehicle would crank unexpectedly while driving at extremely low speeds. The vehicle was equipped with the auto start feature when coming to a complete stop, which could not be disengaged. The contact described the failure as if the ignition were being…
Side detection system stop working do to rear sensor bracket under rear bumper,should be under warranty but dealer will not cover. Wife is blind in one eye should have working
Other or unspecified
8 complaints · 10%The wheel well liner and the plastic bumper attachment are attached to each other or near each other. In my opinion this type of material and design is faulty. This design does not support heavy snow. Last march when the rochester, ny. Received heavy snow, the weight of the snow caused the wheel liner and the bumper…
When I my car stops at lights stop signs and auto stop kicks on and I take my foot off brake to go my air bag lights flashes and stays on for a second and then goes out while I'm driving all the time . Then recently when I was driving and ended up stopping and auto stop kicked on my car made a grinding noise and I…
Air bags
7 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 29,500 miles.
I was sitting at a red light on a city street when a car going over 60 MPH hit the car behind me that was waiting for the same light, with such force it took out my drivers side rear end and was then pushed onto the medium and into oncoming traffic. The 2nd impact to my vehicle was the speeding car who then hit me and…
Had accident, where I was hit from the front driver side, after that impact I was struck in the rear, which totaled the car. Me and a passage was tossed around like rag dolls. The seat belt on the passage side did not hold in place causing her head to strike the windshield twice, no airbags deployed from side front…
Steering
5 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles.
While driving 25 MPH, stabilizer and engine light came on. While in drive, accelerating, tach and speed dropped to nothing. Stabilizer light flashed. Parked vehicle on the side of the road, service power steering message appeared. Attempted to drive vehicle to near by parking lot, no power steering, transmission…
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.
Body and structure
4 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 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.
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 2016 Buick Encore
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Buick Encore?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (43 complaints, typically around 52,000 miles); fuel system (13 complaints, typically around 6,500 miles); transmission (12 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Buick Encore have?
- 2 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 2016 a bad year for the Buick Encore?
- It is 4th of 10 Encore model years by number of complaints, with 80 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.