RoadVitals

2015 Buick Encore Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Jul 31, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 124 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Buick Encore submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 29, 2022

My car started surging when I was sitting at a traffic light and as I was crossing abridge The check engine light came on - 2 codes - transmission module 0700 and module 0073

NHTSA ID
11499335
Incident
Dec 22, 2022
BrakesDriver assistanceSuspension
Filed Jan 3, 2021

I HAD PURCHASED A 2015 BUICK ENCORE VEHICLE ON MARCH 03, 2020, THAT HAD A "NOT FOR SALE" YELLOW STICKER ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A THUMPING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHEN RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO JOHNNY LONDOFF SERVICE DEPT., BUT WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. IN ADDITION, TO NOTICING THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS ON THE SMALLEST OF INCLINE. AS TIME WENT ON THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACK, THEN ROLL FORWARD ON LEVELED GROUNDS WHEN I WOULD TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO JOHNNY LONDOFF SERVICE DEPT., AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO TELLE TIRES AND AUTO CENTER AND FOUND THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS WORN OUT ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE, WITH STRUTS AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED. THIS VEHICLE ROLLS BACK WHEN SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AT, IN LINE AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THROUGH, AND JUST EVERYDAY DRIVING. JOHNNY LONDOFF SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE DAMAGES AND/OR REPAIRS NEEDED BEFORE SELLING ME THE VEHICLE. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND BUYING A VEHICLE OR DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM. *JS

NHTSA ID
11386321
Incident
Apr 7, 2020
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 3, 2020

THERE WAS A PIPE OR LINE THAT PART OF THE AIR CONDITIONING. THE MANIFOLD HAS BURNED THAT PIPE AND NOW AC ISN'T WORKING. THE FIX WILL BE $900. THE SYSTEM THAT IS IN CONTROL OF THE SEAT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE SEAT WHEN YOU GET INTO CAR DOES NOT WORK. WIRELESS DOESN'T REMEMBER THE PHONE CONNECTIONS FROM ONE DRIVE TO THE NEXT. *TR

NHTSA ID
11337370
Incident
Jun 19, 2020
Mileage
70,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 11, 2020

WHILE DRIVING MOSTLY ON HIGHWAY AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MINUTES THE STABILITRAK LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH ON AND OFF, THEN IT GOES SOLID, THEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON, THEN THE SERVICE POWER STEERING DISPLAY LIGHTS UP AND THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY GOES OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS REVERSE NO LONGER WORKS. ON 12/10/19 I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO WILKINS BUICK, THEY KEPT IT FOR 2 DAYS, NOTED THAT THEY DID SEE MULTIPLE DETECTS FOR LOSS OF COMMUNICATION W/POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND SAID THE BATTERY CABLE WAS LOOSE, CHARGED ME $440.60. ON 1/10/20 LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN, WE UNHOOKED THE BATTERY, REHOOKED IT WHICH CLEARED THE LIGHTS AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME, PARKED CAR FOR THE WEEKEND. ON 1/13/20 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TO WORK, AFTER APPROX 30 MINUTES OF CONTINUOUS HWY DRIVING, THE STABILITRAK LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I DROPPED IT OFF AT HERITAGE BUICK THAT NIGHT. THEY KEPT THE CAR FROM 1/14/20-1/20/20, TOLD ME THEY DID SEE MULTIPLE PREVIOUS CODES ABOUT LOSS OF COMMUNICATION WITH POWER STEERING THE PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN THEY DROVE IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I PICKED CAR UP ON 1/21/20. THEY DID NOT CHARGE ME, GAVE ME NO PAPERWORK. ON 1/13/20 I DID OPEN A COMPLAINT WITH GM, CASE [XXX] BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN A CLOSED RECALL 15168, #15V14600 FOR SAME PROBLEM WITH 2015 ENCORES WITH BUILD DATES BEGINNING 1 MONTH AFTER MINE. ON 1/31/20 AFTER DRIVING APPROX 1.5HRS ON HIGHWAY I LOST THE POWER STEERING AGAIN, UNHOOKED BATTERY, RESET ,DROVE HOME, PARKED CAR FOR WEEKEND. 2/3/20 AFTER DRIVING 30 MINUTES ON HWY STABILITRAK LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, DROPPED CAR AT HERITAGE BUICK. THEY HAVE HAD CAR SINCE THEN, ON 2/6/20 I ESCALATED COMPLAINT WITH GM, ON 2/7/20 [XXX] @ GM CALLED W/NEW CASE [XXX], HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONTACT FROM EITHER HERITAGE BUICK OR GM SINCE. I LEFT A MESSAGE FOR HERITAGE EARLIER TODAY REQUESTED UPDATE, NO RESPONSE YET. *DL PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6

NHTSA ID
11308490
Incident
Dec 10, 2019
Mileage
103,888 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 12, 2019

TRIED TO STOP BEFORE A RED SIGN ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, PASSED THE RED LIGHT AND RUN AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON A 35 MPH STREET FOR ABOUT HALF A MILE AND THEN STOPPED BY ITSELF. PRESSING THE BRAKES AND EVEN PUTTING IT ON PARK DID NOT HELP. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE WITH MY TWO PASSENGERS, AND LUCKY NOT TO KILL ANYBODY OR CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
11243404
Incident
Aug 12, 2019
Mileage
50,150 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 5, 2019

HAD TROUBLE GETTING INTO THE CAR THE ENGINE LIGHT AND POWER STEERING WARNING CAME ON. THE RADIO FACE WAS NOT WORKING BUT THE RADIO WAS ON WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT WILL NOT TURN OVER. TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES TO GET IN/OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE I EXITED THE CAR I WENT BACK TO GET THE VIN AND AGAIN THE RADIO WAS ON NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS JUST TRYING TO START MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND IT'S LIKE IT'S POSSESSED

NHTSA ID
11184265
Incident
Mar 5, 2019
Mileage
36,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 17, 2018

"TAKARA RECALL" MY 2015 BUICK AS BEEN DOING DIFFRENT THINGS. FIRST THE BLINKERS AND RADIO WENT OUT AND THEN IT CAME BACK AND NOW NONE OF THE DOORS LOCK WORKED. I WAS STUCK INSIDE MY CAR FOR 30 MIN. NOW THE IGNITION GETS REALLY HOT. AND THE DOORS WON'T UNLOCK IN THE BACK. IM CONCERN ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. WHILE DRIVING THE SIGNAL WASN'T WORKING NEITHER THE RADIO BUT OUT OF NOWHERE IT STARTS WORKING. IT'S BEEN DOING IT ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST FOUR OR SO DAYS. THE KEY IS GETTING VERY HOT TO WHERE IT ALMOST BURN ME. VERY WEIRD... IM TRULY CONCERN ABOUT THAT. AND I WAS IN THE CAR WHEN THE DOOR WOULDN'T UNLOCK.

NHTSA ID
11130029
Incident
Sep 14, 2018
Mileage
74,733 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 5, 2018
Crash reported

THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN AN UNHEATED GARAGE FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. I STARTED IT, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND PUT IT IN GEAR (R). THE CAR LUNGED BACK AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE BEHIND IT IN THE DRIVEWAY, I SHIFTED TO DRIVE (D) AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED FORWARD STILL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE BRAKES DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I BUMPED THE FRONT WALL OF THE GARAGE AND AGAIN SHIFTED INTO R. THE CAR STARTED MOVING BACK AGAIN AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR BEGAN SLOWING AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER BUMPING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 20 FEET BEHIND IT. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE WHOLE TIME. I CHECKED FOR OBSTRUCTIONS AROUND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND FOUND NONE. AFTERWARD, WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, IT DROVE NORMALLY WITHOUT TROUBLE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE CAR AS A RESULT OF EITHER COLLISION BUT THE GARAGE WALL SUFFERED SOME MINOR DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
11083404
Incident
Mar 6, 2018
Mileage
12,500 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .