2016 Buick Encore problems and recalls

51% of owner complaints on the 2016 Buick Encore related to the Engine (40 of 79).

79
Complaints
2
Recalls
6
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
14
Injuries
113.4
Severity index

Severity index 113.4 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 113.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 7 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 95% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 40 complaints (50.6%)40 51%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 13 complaints (16.5%)13 16%Power TrainPower Train: 11 complaints (13.9%)11 14%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 9 complaints (11.4%)9 11%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 8 complaints (10.1%)8 10%Air BagsAir Bags: 7 complaints (8.9%)7 9%SteeringSteering: 5 complaints (6.3%)5 6%StructureStructure: 4 complaints (5.1%)4 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE4050.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1316.5%
POWER TRAIN1113.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM911.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER810.1%
AIR BAGS78.9%
STEERING56.3%
STRUCTURE45.1%

Complaints filed per year

06122016: 32017: 72018: 62019: 122020: 92021: 82022: 32023: 62024: 112025: 82026: 6 (partial year)161718191220212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20163
20177
20186
201912
20209
20218
20223
20236
202411
20258
2026 (year to date)6
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (25 against 20).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V65100008/09/2016AIR BAGS:FRONTALGeneral 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
17V43700010/07/2017AIR BAGS:FRONTALGeneral 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, Chevrole

Other Buick Encore model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.