2016 BUICK ENCORE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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5/5

★★★★★

Safety Rating

118

Owner Complaints

8 Crashes 1 Fire

2

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

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.

Most Recent Complaints

#11719555 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
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.
#11719555 | SUSPENSION | | N/A miles
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.
#11715060 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | | N/A miles
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.
#11711624 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
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)
#11711624 | POWER TRAIN | | N/A miles
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)

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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

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Other BUICK Models

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