Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

124 reports

30,000 miles · Mar 30, 2017

Steering

Read full complaint

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 THERE WAS A LOOSE GROUND CABLE AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REWIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES: THREE WHEN THEIR DAUGHTER OPERATED THE VEHICLE AND ONCE WHILE THE CONTACT OPERATED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHSTA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V146000 (STEERING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI #10969481

200 miles · Mar 22, 2017

Exterior Lighting

COMPLAINT REGISTERED YESTERDAY, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE PHOTOS WHICH I NOW WILL INCLUDE. 2015 BUICK ENCORE HAS A DIMMING ISSUE WITH THE SCREEN WHEN UNDER A CLOUD OR PERHAPS A TREE, WHILE MOVING OR STATIONARY. CANNOT SEE SCREEN FOR DIRECTIONS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MUST TURN LIGHT SWITCH TO OFF IN ORDER TO HAVE SCREEN RETURN TO BRIGHTNE…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10967705

200 miles · Mar 21, 2017

Exterior Lighting

Read full complaint

INFOTAINMENT SCREEN DIMS AUTOMATICALLY WHILE UNDER A TREE OR DRIVING UNDER SOME CLOUDS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO MANUALLY TURN THE LIGHT DIAL TO THE LEFT TO REGAIN THE BRIGHTNESS ON THE SCREEN. THIS WILL AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF THE DAYLIGHT DRIVING LIGHTS. THIS OCCURS EITHER STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN FOR ANOTHER MODEL OF THE BUICK LINE BUT NOTHING FOR THE ENCORE. THE TECH PERSONNEL INDICATED THE SENSORS ARE TOO SENSITIVE AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI #10967624

21,200 miles · Mar 5, 2017

Air Bags

Read full complaint

MY FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT TURN ON WITH AN AVERAGE SIZE PERSON WEIGHING 135LBS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IT SEEMS TO ONLY WORK WITH SOMEONE SITTING IN IT AT A WEIGHT OF OVER 200LBS. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND MY LOCAL GMC BUICK DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SENSOR BECAUSE THE MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON IT SAT IN IT AT 220LBS AND IT TURNED ON FOR HIM JUST FINE. PLUS THEY SAID THEY ARE RECEIVING NO ERROR CODES ON IT. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLES AIR BAG WHEN AN AVERAGE SIZE PERSON WEIGHING OVER 130LBS CANNOT RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT WITHOUT AIRBAG PROTECTION. THERE HAS TO BE A FIX TO THIS AS IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR A PASSENGER UNDER 200LBS TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHILE THE AIR BAG IS OFF! I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A TOYOTA AND IT WOULD TURN ON THE PASSENGER AIR BAG EVEN IF MY 13YR OLD SAT IN IT AT 100LBS.

NHTSA ODI #10958688

10 miles · Jan 13, 2017

Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKES VIBRATED SEVERELY AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE …

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10945021

17,700 miles · Jan 8, 2017

Power TrainSuspension

Read full complaint

MY VEHICLE'S AWD DISABLED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK APPROXIMATELY 5PM DURING A SNOWSTORM (I WAS ABOUT 9 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY HOME AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES). I WAS DRIVING UP AN INCLINE WHEN THE AWD SUDDENLY DISABLED, RESULTING IN VIOLENT LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I DROVE SIDEWAYS UP AND THEN CONSEQUENTLY DOWN THE HILL AND CURVY ROAD, VEERING INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE MANY TIMES DURING THE DURATION OF MY DRIVE HOME. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I TRIED TO STAY IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD UNTIL I REACHED FLAT ROAD WITHOUT INCLINES, DIPS AND CURVES, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO SLIDE BACK INTO MY LANE. MY VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY PULLING ITSELF OFF THE ROAD AND HEADING TOWARDS THE GUARDRAILS. THE AWD DID NOT RECOVER AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE. I JUST BARELY MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE UP THE LAST INCLINE AND INTO MY STREET/DRIVEWAY. THE NEXT MORNING, THE AWD WAS RESTORED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT MY AWD DISABLED. THE FIRST TIME IT DISABLED WAS EARLIER THAT YEAR, APPROXIMATELY JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016, DURING A SNOWSTORM ON MY MORNING COMMUTE UP THE SAME ROAD. DURING THIS FIRST TIME, I HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MINUTES WHEN THE AWD DISABLED. I SLID SIDEWAYS UP THE INCLINE BUT MANAGED TO KEEP THE CAR IN MY LANE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS SLIDING FREQUENTLY..EVENTUALLY I REACHED A FLAT STRETCH OF ROAD WHEN THE AWD RESTORED ITSELF APPROXIMATELY WITHIN 15 MINUTES. BOTH DRIVING EXPERIENCES WHEN THE AWD DISABLED WERE INCREDIBLY FRIGHTENING. I SIMPLY THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I REPORTED THE SECOND AND MOST RECENT INSTANCE TO MY CAR DEALERSHIP, WHO STATED THAT THERE IS NO FIX AND NO RECALL. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ALL-SEASON TIRES WHICH ARE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT AND ADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH WINTER WEATHER DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10940448

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2016

Air Bags

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS AS BEING UNSAFE. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND ASKED FOR THEM TO RETURN MY CALL SO I COULD DETERMINE A SOLUTION TO THE UNSAFE SITUATION. THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME BACK IN ANY FASHION.

NHTSA ODI #10929873

24,800 miles · Nov 8, 2016

Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

Read full complaint

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 GAUGES STOPPED OR WENT TO ZERO. LIGHT INDICTATING THE TRANSMISSION GEAR KEPT CHANGING. BUT THE CARS TRANNY DIDN'T SHIFT OR CHANGE JUST THE LIGHT FOR THE GEAR INDICATOR WASFLASHING. CAR SLOWED TO APPROX. 40 MPH, WITH THE RPM'S RACING TO APPROX. 4500/6000. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND NOT OVER HEATING OR ANY OTHER LIGHTS EXCEPT CHECK ENGINE AND POWER STEERING LIGHT. STOPPED CAR ON SHOULDER TO TAKE INVENTORY OF SITUATION, CAR RUNNING AND IDILE RPM'S SEEMED NORMAL CHK. ENGINE AND POWER STEERING LIGHT STILL ON, PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AGAIN . NO LEAKS OR OVERHEATING . ALL GAUGES CAME BACK UP/ ON. PROCEED TO DRIVE ... CAR HAD NO ACCELERATION , VERY LITTLE , LIKE THE CAR WAS STILL IN A HIGHER GEAR . SPEED UP VERY SLOWLY UNTIL IT REACHED APPROX 55-60 MPH. BUT THE RPM'S WERE AT 5500/6000 , FELT LIKE THE TRANNY NEEDED TO SHIFT BUT WOULDN'T. SLOWED DOWN TO APPROX. 35-40 .. TO GET RPM'S IN LINE OR MORE IN LINE. DROVE HOME LAST HOUR ON SIDE ROADS AND FRONTAGE ROADS WITH FLASHERS ON. CAN'T DRIVE THAT SLOW ON A FREEWAY. ALL OF CAR FUNCTIONAL WERE NORMALS , AC , RADIO ,WINDOWS , LIGHTS . JUST THE POWER STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON WITH NO ACCELERATION POWER OR POWER STEERING ....CALLED DEALER MONDAY MORNING FOR A TOW INTO THE SHOP .

NHTSA ODI #10925072

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2016

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2015 BUICK ENCORE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKES MAKES GRINDING NOISES, DEALERSHIP MADE TEMPORARY REPAIRS AND REFUSES ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. *SMD

NHTSA ODI #10924717

12,575 miles · Oct 20, 2016

Air Bags

Read full complaint

GENERAL MOTORS NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF A RECALL ON MY 2015 BUICK ENCORE IN SEPT 2016. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL BY READING IT IN THE NEWSPAPER. IT INVOLVED THE AIR BAG. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. I CALLED GM AND ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T NOTIFY ME. THEY HAD NO GOOD ANSWER AS TO WHY. ONE OF THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO SAID THE REASON WAS BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR ( I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEB 2015) THIS MAKES NO SENSE. MY LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS MADE ON 9SEP 2016. THE BUICK WEB SITE HAD ANOTHER PERSON ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT THIS RECALL AND STATED THEY NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE.THE ANSWER GIVEN WAS CALL YOUR BUICK DEALER. AIR BAG RECALLS ARE VERY SERIOUS AND I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE THE ONE TO NOTIFY EVER ONE.

NHTSA ODI #10917553

Official recalls

17V437000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seat Belts:pretensioner

Jul 10, 2017

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 HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Seat Belts:pretensioner

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

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.

Air Bags:frontal

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.

16V651000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seat Belts:pretensioner

Sep 8, 2016

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 and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Seat Belts:pretensioner

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Air Bags:frontal

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

15V162000 · Equipment:other:labels

Mar 20, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 26, 2014, to February 9, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Trax vehicles manufactured October 13, 2014, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles have tire placards that do not provide the rim size information for the front or rear wheels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the label is missing front and rear rim size information, the owner may replace the rims with ones that are an incorrect size, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and will send owners a corrected label, free of charge. The recall April 29, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15166.

15V146000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Mar 13, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured November 27, 2014, to February 24, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Trax vehicles manufactured November 18, 2014, to February 17, 2015. The steering column assembly housing may contact the power steering printed circuit board causing the circuit board to wear.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The circuit board wear may cause a sudden loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering column assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15168.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.