2015 Buick ENCORE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Buick ENCORE has 189 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: while braking to stop for a traffic light on a busy 45 mph speed limit road, the engine stopped running. i shifted into park to restart it. entire electrical system was dead except power seats and door locks. engine would not start and no other electrical related equipment worked including engine. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 6 crash reports 5 injuries

189

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

30 complaints

16%

• WHILE BRAKING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A BUSY 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT ROAD, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I SHIFTED INTO PARK TO RESTART IT. ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEAD EXCEPT POWER SEATS AND DOOR LOCKS. ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND NO OTHER ELECTRICAL RELATED EQUIPMENT WORKED INCLUDING ENGINE
• DRIVING ABOUT 45-50 MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER TURNED OFF, AND THE DASH BOARD SCREEN WAS BLACK. I THEN TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAIN DRIVING ROAD.
• DRIVING ALONG AT APPROX. 55 MPH ON A MAIN HIWAY SLOWED TO APPROX. 40 MPH TO MAKE A TURN, WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STOPPED OPERATING. EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. ON STAR DID NOT RESPOND, CAR WAS DISABLED ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES, TRIED TO START SEVERAL TIME WITH THE KEY. SERIOUS ISSUE, HAD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WHILE BRAKING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A BUSY 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT ROAD, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I SHIFTED INTO PARK TO RESTART IT. ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEAD EXCEPT POWER SEATS AND DOOR LOCKS. ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND NO OTHER ELECTRICAL RELATED EQUIPMENT WORKED INCLUDING ENGINE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

30 complaints

16%

• DRIVING ALONG AT APPROX. 55 MPH ON A MAIN HIWAY SLOWED TO APPROX. 40 MPH TO MAKE A TURN, WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STOPPED OPERATING. EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. ON STAR DID NOT RESPOND, CAR WAS DISABLED ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES, TRIED TO START SEVERAL TIME WITH THE KEY. SERIOUS ISSUE, HAD
• HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT DEALER (TYPICAL 15,000 MILE CHECK). ON THE RETURN TRIP TO HOME, ENGINE STARTED TO MISS, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BACK OF CAR LIKE OIL WAS BEING BURNED AND THE ENGINE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS STOPPED. CALLED DEALER WHO HAD CAR TOWED TO THEIR LOCATION. WHILE WAITI
• I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF THE ROAD THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO OVER 4000 RPM, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP, AND MANY OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR. I WAS FORCED T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVING ALONG AT APPROX. 55 MPH ON A MAIN HIWAY SLOWED TO APPROX. 40 MPH TO MAKE A TURN, WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STOPPED OPERATING. EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. ON STAR DID NOT RESPOND, CAR WAS DISABLED ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES, TRIED TO START SEVERAL TIME WITH THE KEY. SERIOUS ISSUE, HAD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

27 complaints

14%

• DRIVING ABOUT 45-50 MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER TURNED OFF, AND THE DASH BOARD SCREEN WAS BLACK. I THEN TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAIN DRIVING ROAD.
• 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 G
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE GAUGES FLUCTUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“DRIVING ABOUT 45-50 MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER TURNED OFF, AND THE DASH BOARD SCREEN WAS BLACK. I THEN TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAIN DRIVING ROAD.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

21 complaints

11%

• NEW BUICK 2015 ENCORE 1. APPYING BRAKES WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE CREATES A SHRILL SQUEAL. 2. WHEN SLOWING FOR THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF THE STREET, APPLYING BRAKES MAKES A MOANING SOUND AND SLIGHT VIBRATION. 3. WHEN I APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AT ABOUT 5 MPH SUCH AS STOPPING AT AN I
• ALMOST EVERY DAY THE 1 ST & 2 ND TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE & IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE GRABBING. ON MY CAR IT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE.MY CAR PARKS IN THE GARAGE. 1 ST TIME DEALER SAID THERE WAS A BIT OF RUST ON THE CALIPERS THEY CLEANED THEM UP..NEXT M
• 1. WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE, EVEN A SMALL INCLINE, THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS 6-12" WHEN MOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE TO ACCELERATOR (THE VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). WE HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING TWO VEHICLES BEHIND US WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SLID BACKWARDS. 2. BECAUSE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“NEW BUICK 2015 ENCORE 1. APPYING BRAKES WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE CREATES A SHRILL SQUEAL. 2. WHEN SLOWING FOR THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF THE STREET, APPLYING BRAKES MAKES A MOANING SOUND AND SLIGHT VIBRATION. 3. WHEN I APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AT ABOUT 5 MPH SUCH AS STOPPING AT AN I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

16 complaints

• DRIVING ALONG AT APPROX. 55 MPH ON A MAIN HIWAY SLOWED TO APPROX. 40 MPH TO MAKE A TURN, WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STOPPED OPERATING. EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. ON STAR DID NOT RESPOND, CAR WAS DISABLED ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES, TRIED TO START SEVERAL TIME WITH THE KEY. SERIOUS ISSUE, HAD
• THE C0LLISION WARNING SYSTEM NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE OUTSIDE DETECTION SYSTEM SHUTS ITSELF OFF NOW AND THEN SOMETIMES GIVING A MESSAGE "OUTSIDE DETECTION SYSTEM NOT AVAILABLE." ALL THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHICH FOR ME IS A SAFETY C0NCERN. IT HAS HAPPENED OFF AND ON SINCE PURCHASI
• MY 2015 BUICK ENCORE CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY WIFE RETURNED HOME FROM TOWN. IT WAS PARKED AND SHE HAD JUST EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WALKED TO THE BACK TO ATTEMPT TO GET GROCERIES OUT. SHE SMELLED SMOKE AND LOOKED THROUGH THE CAR TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD AND COULD SEE FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING F

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 189 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: WHILE BRAKING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A BUSY 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT ROAD, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I SHIFTED INTO PARK TO RESTART IT. ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEAD EXCEPT POWER SEATS AND DOOR LOCKS. ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND NO OTHER ELECTRICAL RELATED EQUIPMENT WORKED INCLUDING ENGINE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: DRIVING ALONG AT APPROX. 55 MPH ON A MAIN HIWAY SLOWED TO APPROX. 40 MPH TO MAKE A TURN, WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STOPPED OPERATING. EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES. ON STAR DID NOT RESPOND, CAR WAS DISABLED ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES, TRIED TO START SEVERAL TIME WITH THE KEY. SERIOUS ISSUE, HAD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: DRIVING ABOUT 45-50 MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER TURNED OFF, AND THE DASH BOARD SCREEN WAS BLACK. I THEN TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAIN DRIVING ROAD.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: NEW BUICK 2015 ENCORE 1. APPYING BRAKES WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE CREATES A SHRILL SQUEAL. 2. WHEN SLOWING FOR THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF THE STREET, APPLYING BRAKES MAKES A MOANING SOUND AND SLIGHT VIBRATION. 3. WHEN I APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AT ABOUT 5 MPH SUCH AS STOPPING AT AN I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)