2016 Buick ENCORE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Buick ENCORE has 118 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: 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. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 7 crash reports 18 injuries

118

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

43 complaints

36%

• 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 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
• 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.

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

13 complaints

11%

• 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
• 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

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

11 complaints

• 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 ON
• 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,

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

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• 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 LIN
• AIR CONDITIONER ON MUST OF THIS CAR FAIL IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH IT.
• 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 GRIN

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

“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 LIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

• 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
• 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 TH
• ANTI THEFT LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT MIGHT STALL WHEN IDLING.

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 118 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 LIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)