2015 Buick Encore Powertrain (other) Problems

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

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

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

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

The turbocharger on my car is failing and had a verified check engine light code PO299. The car is a 2015 with low miles, only 53k. This is an obvious manufacturer defect/defective product with an estimated cost of $1500.00 to replace, according to an ASE independent auto shop I use for all my vehicles. The car is unfortunately not under any warranty anymore, to my knowledge. There is no recall on this part but online on Buick forums and other credible sites, you will find owners of the same exact car reporting independently, the same failing part issues. I am the second owner of this car and bought it used in 2021 from Carmax. Since then, I have spent $$$ to fix random necessary repairs that are defects of the car but not on recall. Recently, the ac went out and that was over $500 alone. Prior to that an 02 sensor and sparkplug went out, etc. I want GM to reimburse me for the repair cost of the failing turbocharger on this low mileage vehicle as it is without a doubt, a manufacturer defect needing repair to prevent the engine from failure and a total loss! I contacted a GM/Buick agent and formal complaint and request for reimbursement. I am now waiting for up to two days for a "senior agent," to contact me back and discuss further options, if any. Until then, I am without a car with two kids at home and this defect is unsafe and a financial burden to me and my family. This is a known issue on this vehicle model and should be covered under a recall from GM!

NHTSA ID

11532768

Incident

Jul 9, 2023

I've had my car for 3 years. I've always kept up with it's maintenance. My engine/head gasket are blown and I found out this is a common issue with this car. The airbags also dont recognize when there are passengers in the car. I started my car up one morning in September and all of my lights started flashing. I immediately turned it off and towed it to my mechanic to find out that it pretty much has everything wrong with it. My car is barely above 80k

NHTSA ID

11496601

Incident

Sep 19, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED BACKWARDS AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOVE BUICK GMC (736 SATURN PKWY, COLUMBIA, SC 29212) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VIN FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11415263

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

20,000 mi

I'VE HAD MY ENCORE FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. IT IS A 2015 AND JUST UNDER 50000 MILES. FOR THE LAST MONTH ITS BEEN SAYING AWD OFF. THIS IS AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTS. IT ALSO DIBGS AND COMES UP AGAIN EVERY 10 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING. I'VE.CONSULTED THE MANUAL AND IT SAYS OVERHEATING AND TO TURN BACK ON. THIS DOES NOTHING. IT'S BEEN ICY HERE AND I'M STARTING TO FEEL UNSAFE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT.TO DO. I CANT SHELL OUT HUNDREDS TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT.AND HAVE SOMEONE NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ID

11302091

Incident

Dec 10, 2019

Mileage

49,550 mi

DRIVING CAR LOCKS UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SAYS CHECK POWER STEERING, WE AIMED TO SIDE OF THE SHOULDER CAR DIES WOULDN'T START.WE HAD TO WAIT ON SIDE OF A INTERSTATE FOR 3 HOURS TO GET A TOW TRUCK, VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ID

11235058

Incident

Jul 26, 2019

Mileage

30,000 mi

1. THE VEHICLE ROLL BACKWARDS IN UNPREDICTABLE WAYS EVEN ON SMALL INCLINES WHEN FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKES. AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL GO FORWARD AND AT OTHER TIMES IT WILL ROLL BACK ON THE EXACT SLOPE. WE WERE TOLD BY BUICK DEALERS THAT THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN STARTLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN WAYS THAT WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. WE CONSIDER OURSELVES TO BE VERY SAFE DRIVERS AN HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 20 YEARS IN THE US WITH NO ACCIDENT CLAIMS. NONE OF THE VEHICLES WE HAVE OWNED OR DRIVEN HAD BEEN THIS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WE HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING STOPPED VEHICLES BEHIND US AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS. 2. IN ADDITION, REAR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE SMALL WINDOWS IS CHALLENGING WHICH IS FURTHER OBSTRUCTED BY COLUMNS. 3. ALSO, REAR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE REAR VIEW CAMERA IS POOR UNDER NORMAL DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS DUE TO THE POOR RESOLUTION. AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE POINTS, IT'S VERY UNNERVING WHEN ONE IS CAUGHT ON THE DRIVER SEAT WITH THE VEHICLE MOVING BACKWARDS UNEXPECTEDLY. FINALLY, THE INEVITABLE HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE MET WITH AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS. THE VEHICLE WHICH USUALLY GOES FORWARD WITH FEET OFF ACCELERATOR ON A MILD SLOPED DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE, ROLLED BACKWARDS IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE. THE STARTLED DRIVER ERRED ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY BY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD SINCE THERE WERE CHILDREN PLAYING AROUND. HOWEVER, WITH LIMITED ROOM TO MANEUVER, THE VEHICLE ENDED UP HITTING OUR GARAGE DOOR. THE REPAIR HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT $6000 +. $1500 FOR THE GARAGE DOOR. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE VEHICLE OPERATIONAL DESIGN. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR DRIVING. WE HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE INCIDENT IN 20 YEARS OF DRIVING WITH ANY OF THE CARS WE OWNED OR RENTED.

NHTSA ID

10993344

Incident

May 22, 2017

Mileage

12,000 mi

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 ID

10940448

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

Mileage

17,700 mi