RoadVitals

2015 Buick Encore Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
124
+1 complaint in 30 days
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
8
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
5
Reports on file since Jun 4, 2015

What this page shows

Our database holds 124 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 Buick Encore. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 124 · page 1 of 5

Engine
Filed Jul 29, 2026

Weber road auto service replaced the engine using county PRC and out-of-pocket funds, and the newly installed used engine has an active engine oil cooler leak, creating an immediate vehicle fire and sudden engine stalling hazard. Also there’s a leak at the ac compressor, condenser and coupler valves. This was discovered by Buckeye Auto Service. No repairs have been made as first shop keeps brushing me off.

NHTSA ID
11753438
Incident
Jun 26, 2026
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 26, 2026

The turbo in my vehicle has a check engine light come on and than the engine does no act right. The repair shop that looked at car stated that the manufacture knows this is a known issue and they have not made a recall as several cars my year range has this going on. If this is a known issue why is there no recall. I worked had for my car and I can not afford the repair of a know issues with the turbo as it cost a lot and I should not have to cover this as it is apparent this is a manufacture defect that is known. It puts me as risk as the car is not preforming properly and it jumps and does not go properly when it has the issue arise. I will get hit for not going after I come to a stop and will not accelerate properly. This issue appeared 2 months after I purchased the car and I took it to a shop who told me he has tried to contact Buick to cover the repairs for others and gets no where. I think that the manufacture knows and will not repair something that is not the owners fault but there shafty part and they know this as it was a recall in other years of my vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11746663
Incident
May 12, 2025
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jun 9, 2026

Transmission wouldn't shift out of 2nd gear and wouldnt shift into reverse. Has no power steering or power brakes

NHTSA ID
11742919
Incident
May 30, 2026
Airbags
Filed May 11, 2026

The seatbelt systems light has come on in my 2015 Buick Encore.

NHTSA ID
11737000
Incident
Mar 31, 2026
Engine
Filed Sep 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator, the vehicle hesitated before accelerating. The contact became aware of oil underneath the vehicle on the driveway, resulting in a complete loss of power. The vehicle leaked oil and lost the vehicle lost power twice. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and determined that the mass air flow sensor had failed. The MAF sensor was replaced twice, the Oxygen sensors were replaced three times, and the turbocharger was replaced once. The failures persisted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11687354
Incident
Sep 15, 2024
Engine
Filed Aug 10, 2025

check engine light came onforP0299 code and heard that there's a lot of vehicles with turbos having this problem

NHTSA ID
11679703
Incident
Aug 10, 2025
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 31, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the steering wheel seized. The traction control warning light and the power steering warning light was illuminated, and the message to “Contact Dealer for Service” was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that one of the wiring harnesses connected with the CPU had failed. The wiring harness in the CPU was replaced. After the repair, while driving 60 MPH, the failure reoccurred and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V146000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

NHTSA ID
11677619
Incident
Jun 30, 2025
Mileage
138,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 28, 2025

Leaking oil from oil coolant pipe under car and timing chain or belt gasket blowing oil.i have seen on Google in 2016 a stop update on 2015 had issue with the s02ame problem.

NHTSA ID
11639035
Incident
Jan 27, 2025
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle, before the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11627505
Incident
Nov 26, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Nov 20, 2024

The painting on my 2015 Buick Encore started peeling about 2 years ago and has continued to worsen, and I am concerned about the longevity and overall appearance of my vehicle. As a loyal customer, I expect the paint job to last for a reasonable amount of time, and I believe this issue should be addressed by the manufacturer. I would like to request that Buick fixes this issue free of charge. I understand that my vehicle is no longer under warranty. This is particularly concerning as the peeling paint is affecting the resale value of my car, and I would like to maintain its value as much as possible. I understand that paint issues can occur, and I appreciate that this is not necessarily a reflection on the overall quality of the vehicle. However, I am requesting that Buick take responsibility for this issue and repair the paint free of charge. I believe that the paint peeling issue is covered under the vehicle's warranty, and I hope that I am hopeful that Buick will make every effort to keep this cost to a minimum and to ensure that I am not left out of pocket for a problem that is beyond my control.

NHTSA ID
11626505
Incident
Nov 1, 2022
Steering
Filed Nov 2, 2024

While driving the dash signal came on stating that the power steering unit had gone off. The car was being driven without power steering. The message state to get serviced immediately. There was a recall for this problem but research states that my vin number did not show my car was part of this recall. WELL, IT IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS OTHERS. Please advise as to how I can get this fixed by the dealership under a recall #15168/15U14600. There is only 18,000 miles on this car, YES eighteen thousand. This recall needs to include my vehicle. Please respond immediately.

NHTSA ID
11623230
Incident
Nov 1, 2024
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 29, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering and jerking while attempting to accelerate while driving at various speeds, and while the vehicle was idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was informed about the failure and confirmed there were no recalls on the VIN. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 86,600.

NHTSA ID
11611564
Incident
Jul 29, 2024
Mileage
86,600 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 6, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The contact stopped the vehicle and added coolant and drove to the residence. The contact stated that the next day while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became abnormally stiff, making it difficult to maneuver the vehicle. Additionally, the radio and instrument panel became inoperable. The message "Check Power Steering Unit" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V146000 (Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 108,172.

NHTSA ID
11606836
Incident
Aug 5, 2024
Mileage
108,172 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 21, 2024

My check engine light came on so I took it to a repair shop. They put it on their Diagnostic System Check Computer and the code #PO299 came up. After further inspection and investigation, the failed part is the Turbocharger- A1140104N. This vehicle's, vin number, model year and mileage qualifies it for warranty replacement and labor for the faulty part. However, because it is a Buick and not a Chevy the dealership is not authorizing the repair, even though it is the exact same system and part that is being replaced in the Chevy models. Without this part functioning properly, it affects performance and the car's ability to accelerate when needed which makes it a hazard to drive if you should need to accelerate quickly.

NHTSA ID
11603657
Incident
Jun 6, 2024
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Jul 13, 2024

tilt steering wheel usage is causing wires in steering culumb to break

NHTSA ID
11601793
Incident
Jun 20, 2024
Electrical
Filed Apr 10, 2024

MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE EGNITION, MY MACHANIC SAID IT IS SPECIFIC TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR.

NHTSA ID
11582072
Incident
Apr 3, 2023
Steering
Filed Feb 23, 2024

I was driving at 65 when the power assist on my steering stopped and i was forced off the road. The check engine light was on and the word STEERING appeared on the dash It duplicates the description in recall 15168 but there is no recall listed for my VIN number The dealer also stated the same issue regarding the VIN

NHTSA ID
11573532
Incident
Feb 21, 2024
Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2024

Massive coolant leak. Been happening on and off since I bought the car in nov2019. Taken to several shops and have had replacement done and it goes right back to leaking. This time the shop believes it's leaking into the engine itself.

NHTSA ID
11571192
Incident
Feb 10, 2024
Steering
Filed Jan 30, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized with the electronic power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a gas station temporarily. The dealer was contacted and suggested the contact call the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V146000 (Steering) as a possible solution; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,326.

NHTSA ID
11568862
Incident
Jan 29, 2024
Mileage
88,326 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 8, 2024

While at a stoplight, my buick encore's power steering just stopped working. I was only able to turn the steering wheel with great effort. The car would not go in reverse, although when pressing on the accelerator in reverse, the engine would rev. Shifting from drive to reverse also caused the car to jolt. The car is available for inspection. This has happened previously in fall of 2021, and the same exact thing happened, but this time while I was driving through an intersection. I was unable to steer and ran into a curb. My safety and safety of others was put at risk because I could have hit another driver or pedestrian The car has been inspected by a Triple A approved mechanic twice (once in 2021 and once now), and they have not found any problems with the car. The power steering and traction lights came on on my dashboard.

NHTSA ID
11564285
Incident
Jan 5, 2024
Steering
Filed Nov 28, 2023

Power steering failed when driving. I had another passenger with me and when avoiding a pothole in the road, the car went crazy and it took all I could to control the vehicle and NOT crash into anyone or another car! I am having nightmares of what could have happened to me and my passenger. On the next day, I tried to start my vehicle and the steeling wheel was locked. I had it towed to VIP near me. They did a diagnosis on my vehicle and claim that I need a new steeling column and the circuit board. They did further research and found that the 2015 Buick Encores have had a recall on the steering. They then mentioned that there was nothing more they could do and they advised me NOT to drive the vehicle as it was UNSAFE. I then had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer (Jacks Chevrolet) claims that my car's VIN isn't included in the recall. My question is if my vehicle demonstrates the same characteristics, WHY isn't it part of the recall? My car is UNSAFE to drive! Jack’s Chevrolet in Saco performed a diagnosis, and the issue was with the battery. From what the contact was told, the power steering is electric, and the battery had tested bad (bad cell). And they stated the power steering is working properly. The contact stated after one event of driving the vehicle after the repair, the vehicle is again demonstrating an unreasonable risk to safety. The steering wheel is locked, and the steering is uncontrolled.

NHTSA ID
11557260
Incident
Nov 20, 2023
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Nov 28, 2023

1. Both rear springs have broken within 1 year of each other. There were no accidents or any kind or off road driving. These are Expensive to fix. 2. Driver side airbag light is on. No idea why. Afraid to drive this vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11557217
Incident
Oct 4, 2023
EngineFuel systemSuspension
Filed Nov 11, 2023

It’s it’s firing and shaking, and I have kept up on the oil changes. It’s a lot of money

NHTSA ID
11554626
Incident
Nov 8, 2023
Engine
Filed Oct 13, 2023

It seems like the 2015 Buick Encores are having a lot of the same issues. I do not see a recall for any of these issues. 1. loss of power when trying to accelerate. This has almost caused an accident for me. I had plenty of time to pull out, but my car wouldn't speed up. Thankfully the car coming up noticed I was having issues and slowed down. This also may affect the performance and fuel efficiency of the vehicle. No warning lights came on. It eventually corrected itself and I was able to accelerate. This has been an ongoing issue. Nobody seems to know what is causing this or how to fix it. 2. I start my car and put it into gear, and it shakes like it wants to stall. I quickly put it back into park and wait a few minutes before putting it back into gear. It also does this while I am waiting at lights at intersections. That is very concerning because if i stall mid intersection this could cause and accident and or injury to me or other motorists. No lights appear when this happens. Again, nobody knows why it does this or how to correct it. 3. Back of my car stared chipping paint for no reason. There was no trauma to cause this to occur. Apparently, this is another common issue with this car. I've read that there have been lawsuits against the company for using paint similar to what this is doing. 3. I had to replace my engine under two years of having it. It was still under warranty at the time, but I hadn't had the car very long at all.

NHTSA ID
11549826
Incident
Oct 13, 2023
Steering
Filed Aug 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and pulling into the driveway, the vehicle decelerated independently with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the "Power Steering Fault" message was displayed, and the steering wheel became firm. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence and the vehicle shutoff and failed to restart. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle. The contact replaced the battery but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the failure had persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V146000 (Steering) and advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID
11539112
Incident
Jun 14, 2023
Mileage
60,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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