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U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Buick ENCORE: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 79 complaints (50.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation1012.7%
Braking behavior78.9%
Steering behavior78.9%
Electrical and battery issues56.3%
Transmission and shifting33.8%
Fuel system concerns22.5%

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.

Engine
40
Fuel/Propulsion System
13
Power Train
11
Electrical System
8
Unknown Or Other
8
Air Bags
7
Steering
5
Seat Belts
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine40
Fuel/Propulsion System13
Power Train11
Electrical System8
Unknown Or Other8
Air Bags7
Steering5
Seat Belts4

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00016
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above0

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.

2016
3
2017
7
2018
6
2019
12
2020
9
2021
8
2022
3
2023
6
2024
11
2025
8
2026
6
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20163
20177
20186
201912
20209
20218
20223
20236
202411
20258
20266

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10886277 · 2016-07-20 (July 20, 2016)

I PURCHASED 2016 ENCORE ON 5/7/16. WHILE ON A 300 MILE ROAD TRIP ON 7/2 /16 NOTICE THE EXHAUSTED PIPE WAS MELTED TO THE BUMPER TOOK PICTURES. CALLED THE NUMBER TO EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO HELP ME DUE TO HOLIDAY WEEKEND. DROVE IT BACK HOME STOP EVERY HOUR TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T GOING TO START MY CAR ON FIRE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY 7/ 5 I TOLD THEM I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID WHY WOULD LOOK INTO WHAT CAUSE IT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS THERE OWN PICTURE THIS INCIDENT IN NOT IN DISPUTE. THEY SAID GMC BE…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10886277 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10925516 · 2016-11-11 (November 11, 2016)

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35 - 40 MPH. THERE WAS A GLANCING SIDE IMPACT TO THE DRIVERS DOOR, AND ALL AIRBAG CURTAINS DEPLOYED. CAUSING BRUISING, BURNS, SPRAIN, AND A CONCUSSION. THE IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MINIMAL. THE AIRBAG MODULE HAD BEEN FLASHED ALREADY. THE NEW MODULES ARE ON BACK-ORDER AND MAY BE SEVERAL MONTHS/INDEFINITE BEFORE IT CAN BE REPAIRED.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,557 miles reported. Look up ODI 10925516 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10933679 · 2016-12-07 (December 7, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE MAP SENSOR THE CONTACT STILL NOTICED AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 02/09/17*LJ *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10933679 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10949570 · 2017-02-04 (February 4, 2017)

THE VEHICLE IS NEW, HAS 250 MILES, WAS PURCHASED FROM PENSKE BUICK IN CERRITOS, CA. SEVERAL MORNINGS IT HAS EITHER FAILED TO START, OR STARTED AND PROMPTLY FAILED, WHEN PUT IN GEAR AND THE ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED DURING A TURN ONTO A CITY STREET, CAUSING A NEAR COLLISION WITH PARKED CARS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO PENSKE CERRITOS, CA ON 2-4-17 ALONG WITH A LETTER DETAILING THE SAFETY ISSUES AND NEAR COLLISION.

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10949570 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11010773 · 2017-07-26 (July 26, 2017)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11010773 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 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 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 ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

16V651000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2016-09-08 (September 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V437000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2017-07-10 (July 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗