KnownCarProblems2017 Buick Encore Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Buick Encore, most often about the engine (45% of complaints, typically around 47,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Encore model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2017 Buick Encore problems
Engine
40 complaints · 45%Half of these problems showed up before 47,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owned a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that the vehicle was at a standstill in a traffic light, she saw smoke exiting from the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated a bystander informed the vehicle was on fire. The contact was able to exit the…
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact smelled smoke and became aware that the smoke was coming from under the hood. The failure reoccurred while driving the following day. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed…
Other or unspecified
13 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles.
I was dropping my kids to school. I was in line of drop off. I stopped my car put my car in park and removed my foot from brake. Suddenly I noticed that my car was moving just like in the speed of neutal. I pushed the brakes hard because my car was about to hit the car infront of me. I checked the the shift was still…
We hit 2 deers at 70 MPH it damaged the whole front part of our car . None of the air bags deployed. The 4 way flashers came on the seatbelts locked up yet no airbags. Also this is the first and only time the 4 way flashers worked. The car has been fixed and no 4 way flashers again.
Air bags
13 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while distracted by an insect on the windshield, the vehicle rear ended a 2019 gmc arcadia. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belts failed to restrain the contact and his head struck the steering wheel. The contact sustained injuries to his head and…
We hit 2 deers at 70 MPH it damaged the whole front part of our car . None of the air bags deployed. The 4 way flashers came on the seatbelts locked up yet no airbags. Also this is the first and only time the 4 way flashers worked. The car has been fixed and no 4 way flashers again.
Transmission
9 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
I was dropping my kids to school. I was in line of drop off. I stopped my car put my car in park and removed my foot from brake. Suddenly I noticed that my car was moving just like in the speed of neutal. I pushed the brakes hard because my car was about to hit the car infront of me. I checked the the shift was still…
Poor acceleration causing increase in force on gas pedal. Happens at random times while on flat surfaces, going up hill, around curves with AC on or off. Once acceleration kicks in, speed increases causing the need for applying the breaks. Requires additional space when pulling out on the road to ensure enough time to…
Brakes
8 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 5,000 miles.
Rear brakes groan for first few applications in wet and damp weather. Dealer applied a gm tsb but problem still remains. Gm says nothing more can be done.
Car was parked on level ground outside home. Atv accidentally ran into rear bumper of car (had moved approximately 10 feet). Car rolled away and ended up rolling down a small hill, jumping a ditch and resting on another hill. Car moved approximately 300 feet prior to coming to a stop. Wheels were noted to be turning…
Visibility and wipers
8 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles.
5 month after I had bought the car I was going 35 MPH down a regular street when the car stop then when I want to move again the accelerator but then the car came to a complete stop where the engine had smoke coming out of it. The dealer said that there was a big hole in the engine. After they repair it no more than…
The wiper blades failed to work during a wet heavy snow fall. The wipers removed the snow very well on the up stroke but on the down stroke the wipers packed the snow on the cowling until it got to a point that the wipers could not complete the cycle and they would stop working. I have a video using a bath towel to…
Seat belts
8 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while distracted by an insect on the windshield, the vehicle rear ended a 2019 gmc arcadia. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belts failed to restrain the contact and his head struck the steering wheel. The contact sustained injuries to his head and…
The contact owned a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 28 MPH, she crashed into the back of another vehicle. Upon impact, the driver seat belt did not engage and she hit her chest on the steering wheel; she also hit her left knee on the dashboard. The air bags did not deploy upon…
Fuel system
8 complaints · 9%The 2017 Buick Encore would blow out a large amount of white smoke and die in colder weather anytime you step off the gas pedal. It did re-start, however would die several time immediately until it stop smoking. Once it hesitated at highway speed when I let off the gas due to traffic and almost died. The dealership…
Poor acceleration causing increase in force on gas pedal. Happens at random times while on flat surfaces, going up hill, around curves with AC on or off. Once acceleration kicks in, speed increases causing the need for applying the breaks. Requires additional space when pulling out on the road to ensure enough time to…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2017 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 2017 Buick Encore
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Buick Encore?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (40 complaints, typically around 47,500 miles); other or unspecified (13 complaints, typically around 18,000 miles); air bags (13 complaints, typically around 38,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2017 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 2017 a bad year for the Buick Encore?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Encore model year since 2000, with 89 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.