2016 BUICK ENCORE Power Train Problems
11 NHTSA complaints on file
Power Train Issues in the 2016 BUICK ENCORE
11 power train complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 BUICK ENCORE. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Power Train Complaints
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...
I was stopped at a traffic light and began moving forward to make a turn into traffic. As I activated my turn signal and started to proceed through the intersection, the vehicle suddenly stalled and shut off without warning, causing an immediate loss of power while the vehicle was in motion. Another vehicle was entering the intersection at the same time, creating a near-collision situation. I was forced to restart the vehicle in traffic. The incident occurred within less than 250 miles of purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle had recently received an oil change and inspection. No warning lights or messages were observed prior to the stall. This event created a serious safety risk.
My wife is [XXX] and I am [XXX] old. We purchased the 2016 Buick Encore with 29,000 miles from Buick GMC of Beaverton, Oregon on [XXX], expecting that it would out last both of us, since we are retired and only drive to the store and doctor's appointments; my wife has miraculously survived Stage IV cancer since February 1, 2019. The Encore is our only car and we depend on it for all transportation. We love the vehicle, changed the oil about every 3,000 miles, and have had no complaints for almost six years. On [XXX], my wife and I were driving home from shopping, in rain at night on [XXX] north bound, left lane, uphill at 55MPH in moderate traffic on a six-lane divided freeway. Suddenly the car lost half power, began missing and shaking badly, speed dropped to about 30 MPH with cars serving behind us, flying past...
This is an addendum to Complaint # 11644925 Before taking the car back to the dealership, Buick GMC of Beaverton, for repairs, I called the owner of Bassitt Auto Repair in Beaverton Oregon, 503-616-2007. He told me that they've had 3 other Buick Encores come to his repair shop in just the last 6 months, all with the identical problem. He said, without seeing our vehicle, that it is low compression due to a blown piston. He said to take the car to a Buick dealership, that this repair should be a recall, that the engine is most likely blown, and that no one with rebuild that engine.
I purchased my 2016 Buick encore from the car dealer name [XXX] in Rochester Michigan. I purchased it in December 20 23 beginning in January when I would change gears the car sounded like the gears were clunking like they were gonna fall out or something. also, the engine hesitates and then excels really fast like I’m racing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Two different issues occurred. While driving the check engine light came on and then went off about 10 minutes later. While driving the vehicle to get check engine light code checked temperature suddenly jumped from normal operating temp just below mid to the top with instrument panel dinging saying engine overheating idle engine. As trying to make way to side of road the blind spot warning on passenger mirror began flashing constantly with no traffic within 1/4 mile from vehicle and instrument panel stating blind spot not available. Once able to get to have code checked showed same code that had been addressed with the replaced turbo 0299. Thermostat replaced less than 19k miles prior. When engine overheat came on power diminished rapidly.
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle accelerated independently before returning to normal functionality. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
BUZZING HEARD WHEN I PRESSED ON ACCELERATING PEDAL. HEARD A POP, THEN IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SMOKED OUT TAIL PIPE. ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHTS BOTH TURNED ON. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT OCCURRED . I PARKED SHORTLY AFTER INCIDENT AND HAD CAR TOWED TO FIRESTONE NEXT MORNING. JEFF SAID ENGINE BLEW AND RECOMMENDED DEALER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY TO FIX. TURBO BLEW WHICH BLEW ENGINE
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, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO DRIVE BUT SHIFT GEARS WHEN ACCELERATED. SPEEDOMETER AND TACH DIDN'T WORK. NOTICED HEATER STAYED ON WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED. STARTED CAR, SAME MESSAGE, SAME LIGHTS. TURNED HEATER OFF, REMOVED KEY. HEARTER LIGHTS STAYED ON, AND FAN KEPT RUNNING. CAR SITTING AT A DEALERSHIP, WITH A DEAD BATTERY.
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 ONLY BE LOST WHILE IN 6TH GEAR. 3RD GEAR AND BELOW ALL WORK FINE. THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR A WHILE AND THEN IT CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS IT SHOULD THEREAFTER, HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL REMAIN LIT FOR A FEW DAYS. THE MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR LOSES THE CAPABILITY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER WHILE IN THIS STATE.
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.
Other 2016 BUICK ENCORE Problem Areas
Engine
40 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
13 complaints
Unknown Or Other
8 complaints
Air Bags
7 complaints
Electrical System
7 complaints
Steering
5 complaints
Seat Belts
4 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
3 complaints
Structurebody
3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
3 complaints
Wheels
3 complaints
Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection
2 complaints
Service Brakes
2 complaints
Suspension
2 complaints
Visibilitywiper
2 complaints
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
1 complaint
Exterior Lighting
1 complaint
Seats
1 complaint