2016 BUICK ENCORE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
118
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
39
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2016 BUICK ENCORE
The 2016 BUICK ENCORE has received a total of 118 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. 39 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (40 complaints), Fuelpropulsion System (13 complaints), and Power Train (11 complaints).
Recalls for the 2016 BUICK ENCORE
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2016 BUICK ENCORE, potentially affecting up to 11,042,535 vehicles.
Recall 17V437000 — SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
| 40,683 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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....
View full details →Recall 17V437000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
| 40,683 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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....
View full details →Recall 17V437000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 40,683 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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....
View full details →Recall 16V651000 — SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
| 3,640,162 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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....
View full details →Recall 16V651000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
| 3,640,162 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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....
View full details →Recall 16V651000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 3,640,162 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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....
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2016 BUICK ENCORE
118 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 BUICK ENCORE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
power steering failure while driving at highway speeds. In traffic had a warning come on power steering fault. Then wheel was hard to turn. Had to use strength to steer car home approx. 25 miles. Took to dealer they had car for 3 days before repair done. For $1800 repair bill. Said it was a circuit card in the steering system that was the problem. 2015 years had a recall but not 2016 . But the failure from the 2015 is the same with the 2016 year. GM contacted and they deny claim to get repair cost refunded.
power steering failure while driving at highway speeds. In traffic had a warning come on power steering fault. Then wheel was hard to turn. Had to use strength to steer car home approx. 25 miles. Took to dealer they had car for 3 days before repair done. For $1800 repair bill. Said it was a circuit card in the steering system that was the problem. 2015 years had a recall but not 2016 . But the failure from the 2015 is the same with the 2016 year. GM contacted and they deny claim to get repair cost refunded.
Turbo exhibits exact same symptoms of 17-18 encore recall for the turbo. I frequently get the p0299 code the car becomes sluggish and hesitates to take off from a stop when this code comes on making this car dangerous to drive. This issue has almost caused multiple accidents because the car is so under powered that its hard to get the car across traffic without being hit. I have been having this issue for several years and no one has been able to tell me why the car does this.
On my way home in December 2025, my car started to sputter and make noises. All of a sudden the car started going about 10-15 miles. I almost go hit by several vehicles, because they had to put on brakes, I was trying to go up then down a hilly road. I finally was able to get to an Auto Advance Shop, I had to tow the car to Honda then to Buick for a diagnostic test. It had been over a month and I can’t get information in writing what the diagnostic test results are. I’ve had to rent a vehicle for over a month, even though I have a Lifetime Warranty on my power train and motor. I have submitted all my service and repair paperwork to John Miles Buick Conyers Georgia, the GM and Service Department, also I contacted GMC Corporate Office. I have been in a rental car for over a month that I can no longer afford. I don’t know where else to get results for my issue. Thank you, XXX. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On my way home in December 2025, my car started to sputter and make noises. All of a sudden the car started going about 10-15 miles. I almost go hit by several vehicles, because they had to put on brakes, I was trying to go up then down a hilly road. I finally was able to get to an Auto Advance Shop, I had to tow the car to Honda then to Buick for a diagnostic test. It had been over a month and I can’t get information in writing what the diagnostic test results are. I’ve had to rent a vehicle for over a month, even though I have a Lifetime Warranty on my power train and motor. I have submitted all my service and repair paperwork to John Miles Buick Conyers Georgia, the GM and Service Department, also I contacted GMC Corporate Office. I have been in a rental car for over a month that I can no longer afford. I don’t know where else to get results for my issue. Thank you, XXX. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Safety Rating for the 2016 BUICK ENCORE
The 2016 BUICK ENCORE received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2016 BUICK ENCORE
General Motors, LLC has issued 39 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2016 BUICK ENCORE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
PIT5962 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
This Preliminary information communicates a GM part number for reflective high temperature heat or insulating tape when repairing wiring harnesses.
17-NA-221 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
This service bulletin provides repair procedures to correct customer concerns of Poor Engine Performance in Extremely Cold Weather Conditions for LE2 Engines, Charge Air Cooler (CAC) Icing - Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated.
21NA268 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides diagnostic/repair information to correct customer concerns of a Crank No Start or Extended Crank, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated.
19NA080 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
This informational bulletin provides information to the tech to discard the PCV drain tube when working on the lower area of the engine.
17NA221 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the CAC if it freezes in cold weather conditions causing engine power concerns.
PIE0503B — ENGINE
This engineering information PI ends the need for information from the field on reduced engine power, DTC P0299 set.
18NA171 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to repair the mechanical components and then be sure to reprogram the throttle body to prevent the conditions of a rough running engine, MIL On from happening again.
16NA405 — ENGINE
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to install a PCV heater or a charge air cooler to correct the turbo charger system from freezing causing cold weather performance issues.
PIC6214C — EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary information communicates the location of the antenna during the Pre-Delivery Inspection process. Technician will find the antenna on the left hand trim pocket.
PIC6332 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information Communicates a Remote Vehicle Start is inoperative condition. Engineering is aware of the issue and is currently researching the concern. This PI will be updated when a solution is available.
Showing 10 of 39 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2016 BUICK ENCORE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BUICK ENCORE
- 2013 BUICK ENCORE — 70 complaints
- 2014 BUICK ENCORE — 92 complaints
- 2015 BUICK ENCORE — 185 complaints
- 2016 BUICK ENCORE (current)
- 2017 BUICK ENCORE — 120 complaints
- 2018 BUICK ENCORE — 100 complaints
- 2019 BUICK ENCORE — 113 complaints
- 2020 BUICK ENCORE — 28 complaints
- 2021 BUICK ENCORE — 9 complaints
Other BUICK Models
- BUICK LESABRE — 4,864 total complaints
- BUICK REGAL — 4,444 total complaints
- BUICK ENCLAVE — 3,194 total complaints
- BUICK LACROSSE — 2,882 total complaints
- BUICK CENTURY — 2,393 total complaints
- BUICK PARK AVENUE — 1,880 total complaints
- BUICK RENDEZVOUS — 1,795 total complaints
- BUICK LUCERNE — 1,322 total complaints