2016 Buick ENCORE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
79 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
32,251 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 79 complaints (50.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 10 | 12.7% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 8.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 8.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 40 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
Engine: 40; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Power Train: 11; Electrical System: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags: 7; Steering: 5; Seat Belts: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 38 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2016: 3; 2017: 7; 2018: 6; 2019: 12; 2020: 9; 2021: 8; 2022: 3; 2023: 6; 2024: 11; 2025: 8; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11185805 · 2019-03-11 (March 11, 2019)
TL* 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 STARTED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS ALREADY RUNNING. DURING THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND RESTART THE ENGINE. GEORGE NAHAS CHEVROLET (4135 FL-44, WILDWOOD, FL 34785, [pho…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11185805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11204334 · 2019-04-29 (April 29, 2019)
ANTI THEFT LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT MIGHT STALL WHEN IDLING.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11204334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015266 · 2017-08-14 (August 14, 2017)
CAR PLOWED INTO BROTHERS CARPORT AND TRAILER DOING $9,000 DAMAGE TO HIS PROPERTY, DID $16,000 DAMAGE TO CAR. INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD NOT TOTAL CAR, HAD IT REPAIRED TOOK OVER THREE MONTHS. GOT CAR BACK AND THE SAME DAY, WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND BRAKES GOT HARD AND WOULD NOT STOP. I KEPT HITTING BRAKES AND FINALLY STOPPED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP, ADAMS BUICK, RICHMOND. THEY REPAIRED IT AFTER FEW DAYS THEY CALLED AND I PICKED IT UP. WAS DRIVING HOME GOT ABOUT HALF A MILE BRAKES DID SAME THING. THEY WORKED ON IT AGAIN AND FOUND $…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11091448 · 2018-05-02 (May 2, 2018)
YESTERDAY I STARTED THE VEHICLE UP AND IT QUIT. SO I STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT RAN. THEN TODAY, I WAS BACKING OUT AND IT DIED OUT. I STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND DROVE TOWARDS HOME. THEN I WAS TRAVELING 40 PLUS MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF. I HIT THE BRAKES AND IT STARTED ROCKING. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE BUICK DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11018776 · 2017-08-22 (August 22, 2017)
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 TO TEAR. THE TEARING OF BOTH THE BUMPER AND THE WHEEL LINER CREATED A STEERING HAZARD WHICH PROHIBITS SHARP STEERING AND MANEUVERABILITY IN DRIVING CONDITIONS, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11018776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11042674 · 2017-11-02 (November 2, 2017)
DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 60 MPH. ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FROM RIGHT LANE TO LEFT LANE. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE IN THE STEERING. I IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED A "SERVICE POWER STEERING" WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ALL OTHER CAR FUNCTIONS WERE WORKING AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND MANEUVER TO A COMPLETE STOP. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. INVOICE STATES POWER STEERING-GEAR INTERNAL FAILURE OF P/S MODULE C056D. THE POWER STEERING COLUMN, WITH MODULE WAS REPLACED AND PROGRAMMED. THIS WAS GM PART # 94544335. THERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 11042674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11058612 · 2018-01-04 (January 4, 2018)
THIS PROBLEM IS WITH THE STOP START FEATURE ON MY CAR WHICH IF I KNEW ABOUT IT I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT. MY HUSBAND HAS HATED THIS CAR SINCE DAY ONE AND ONLY BOUGHT IT AS I HAVE STAGE 4 CANCER AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CAR. HE WANTED A SUBARU WHICH HE CAN GET ONCE I LEAVE THE EARTH.I NOW LONGER AM PLEASED WITH THIS CAR AS IT WILL LEAD TO MY DEATH SOONER THAN THE CANCER. WHEN THIS CAR STOPS TO SAVE GAS HA HA USES MORE THE MOTOR SHUTS OFF SO THE HEADLIGHTS DIM. THEN WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS THEY BRIGHTEN. WELL DRIVERS AROUND HERE THINK WE ARE TELLIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,489 miles reported. Look up ODI 11058612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11072630 · 2018-02-20 (February 20, 2018)
2016 BUICK ENCORE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD, SIDE WARNING LIGHT WIRING UNITS AND AUTO FRONT WARNING DEVICES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ON A RAINY DAY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLANK AND DID NOT RETURN UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11072630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11073423 · 2018-02-17 (February 17, 2018)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291268 · 2019-12-26 (December 26, 2019)
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 SHIFTED INTO DRIVE BUT SHIFT GEARS WHEN ACCELERATED. SPEEDOMETER AND TACH DIDN'T WORK. NOTICED HEATER STAYED ON WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED. STARTED CAR, SAME MESSAGE, SAME LIGHTS. TURNED HEATER OFF, REMOVED KEY. HEARTER LIGHTS STAYED ON, AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11010776 · 2017-07-26 (July 26, 2017)
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 ME THIS IS A SERIOUS FAILURE OF A PART WITH ONLY APPROX. 6500 MILES ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11010776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11616340 · 2024-09-25 (September 25, 2024)
In 2021, My ex husband received a notice from Buick extending the warranty to 120,000 on the Turbo Charger fuel injector due to failure in many vehicles. It was not included as a recall. In the State of Texas, vehicles must have an annual inspection to remain legal to drive. Each vehicle receives an annual Sticker. My sticker and inspection were due in July. In May of 2024, my check engine light came on. I took it to Autozone to diagnose, and they said it was the turbo charger. Since I had no idea my ex-spouse had a letter, I purchased …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11616340 at NHTSA ↗