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2015
Used 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

Buick Encore

EPA MPG: 26 mpg
RECALL ALERT:
There are 4 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.
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Reliability

Overall Reliability

The 2015 Encore is much less reliable than other cars from the same model year.

The 2015 Buick Encore has been recalled 4 times by NHTSA. View Recalls
Most Common Trouble Spots
Common Trouble Spot
Common Trouble Spot
See all 2015 Potential Trouble Spots

Owner Reported Trouble Spots

The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2015 Buick Encore owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

Climate System

AC compressor, blower (fan) motor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate system, electrical failure, refrigerant leakage.

What Owners Say

A/C compressor

"Leaking"

Anonymous, (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Condenser

"The air conditioner failed completely. One visit to the dealer replaced/fixed it"

Anonymous, MA (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Refrigerant leaks

"refrigerant leak which has not been able to fix"

Anonymous, PA (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

"Hose leak"

Anonymous, MA (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

"Has a coolant leak and had to replenish refrigerant 3x"

Anonymous A., AZ (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Load more

Engine Cooling

Radiator, cooling fan, water pump, thermostat, antifreeze leaks, overheating.

What Owners Say

Antifreeze leaks

"Water pump and coolant housing water outlet were leaking and required replacement."

Anonymous, MO (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

"An o-ring in a fitting has leaked several times and it looks like the part must be replaced."

Anonymous, AZ (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

"Anti-freeze was leaking out of engine"

Anonymous A., TX (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Thermostat

"Housing broke, probably because of rough roads. Needed to replace housing/thermostat combination"

Anonymous, VT (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Load more

Exhaust

Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, heat shields, leaks.

What Owners Say

Catalytic converter

"Replaced under warranty"

Anonymous, CA (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

""The check engine light on the dash is on. My mechanic had a difficult time diagnosing the issue. Finally, after replacing the O2 sensor, diagnosis was the front catalytic converter. (I guess my car has to catalytic converters.) Because my county does not have emissions inspections, I questioned if a replacement catalytic converter was necessary. My mechanic said it was not necessary, I would just have to see the light on my dash lit all the time.""

Anonymous A., PA (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Other/unsure

"Ignition coil replacement diagnosed after replacing the water pump and some other coil by a license mechanic."

Anonymous, CT (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Engine Major

Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbocharger or supercharger, timing chain or belt.

What Owners Say

Other major engine problem

"Car stalled outside of Kansas City. Son (works for Buick) told me get out of car. Dont mess with turning it on. Got it to a dealership, got car back in 7 days. Only experienced it the one time."

Anonymous, MO (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Turbo or supercharger

"Multiple error codes indicating engine is running too lean. Turbo charge gate is not opening and closing correctly. Turbo charge assembly replacement required for the second time since owing this vehicle."

Anonymous, MO (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Engine Minor

Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, fuel leaks, oil leaks.

What Owners Say

Oil leaks

"Oil was leaking out of Top of engine."

Anonymous A., TX (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

"Actually I want to complain that the paint is falling off of the car."

Anonymous, CA (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Drive System

Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, four-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive components, driveline vibration, electrical failure, traction control, electronic stability control.

What Owners Say

Driveline vibration

"The tailpipe vibration"

Anonymous A., AZ (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

"bad u-joints in driveline, kept driving, fixed itself"

Anonymous, VT (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Noises/Leaks

Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, seals and/or weather stripping, air and water leaks.

What Owners Say

Air or water leaks

"Water hose leak"

Anonymous A., (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Squeaks or rattles

"Keeps squeaking inside and cant find the source"

Anonymous A., (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Electrical Accessories

Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, USB ports, alarm or security system, remote engine start, heated or cooled seats, heated steering wheel, headlights, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, wireless charging pad.

What Owners Say

12V battery

"Car wouldnt start. Old battery needed to be replaced. Only has happened the one time."

Anonymous, MO (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Other electrical system problem

""rear door electric locks stopped working past warranty, but repair cost is too expensive to justify. Only solenoids need replacement, but they only sell whole mechanism for thousands of dollars. Also, heater core leaked because of cheap plastic parts and engine leaked oil because of valve cover gasket.""

Anonymous, CA (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Engine Electrical

Alternator, starter, hybrid battery replacement, hybrid battery related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, spark plugs and wires failure, auto stop/start.

What Owners Say

Spark plugs or wires failure

"Engine was skipping and serious loss of power, my major issue was a dealership that charged me $1500 to replace a spark plug and wire!!"

Anonymous, RI (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Fuel System/Emissions

Sensors (O₂, or oxygen, sensor), emission-control devices (includes EGR), fuel-injection system, fuel gauge/sender, fuel pump, problems filling up the tank.

What Owners Say

Sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor)

"The car struggled going up hills. It wasn't getting enough oxygen and seemed to gasp for air. It was most apparent whenever going up hills from a stop at the bottom of the hill."

Anonymous A., PA (2015 Buick Encore None 1.4-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Brakes

Premature pad/rotor wear, pulsation or vibration, antilock system, parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, squeaking, brake failure, regenerative braking.

Transmission Minor

Gear selector and linkage, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission, leaks.

Suspension/Steering

Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

Transmission Major

Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, premature clutch replacement.

Body Hardware

Windows, locks and latches, doors or sliding doors, tailgate, trunk or hatch, mirrors, seat controls (power or manual), seat belts, sunroof, convertible top, glass defect.

In-car Electronics

Infotainment system (audio, GPS, phone), rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display.

Paint/Trim

Paint (fading, chalking, peeling, or cracking), loose interior or exterior trim or moldings, rust.

2015 SUVs Reliability

This Car
vs. Similar Cars

Buick vs. Other New Car Brands Reliability

See How Other Brands Stack up
Reliability History
* Redesign year
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Overall Reliability Verdict
POTENTIAL TROUBLE SPOTS
Powertrain
Engine Major
Engine Minor
Engine Cooling
Engine Electrical
Transmission Major
Transmission Minor
Drive System
Fuel System/Emissions
Exhaust
Suspension/Steering
Brakes
Climate System
Build Quality
Electrical Accessories
Body Hardware
Paint/Trim
Noises/Leaks
In-car Electronics
Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. These charts provide the most comprehensive reliability information available to consumers. Based on information received from our latest subscriber survey for about 380,000 vehicles, our reliability history charts give you a rundown on how 2000 through 2025 vehicles are holding up in 20 potential trouble spots, ranging from the engine, transmission, electric motor, EV charging, and brakes, to power equipment and the electrical accessories.

Learn more about car Reliability.

Recalls
PROVIDED BY
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
Jul 10, 2017
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.
Read Recall Details
Summary:
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.
What should you do:
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.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 17V437000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 40683
Hide Recall Details
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
Sep 08, 2016
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.
Read Recall Details
Summary:
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.
What should you do:
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.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 16V651000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 3640162
Hide Recall Details
EQUIPMENT
Mar 20, 2015
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.
Read Recall Details
Summary:
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."
What should you do:
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.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 15V162000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 19831
Hide Recall Details
STEERING
Mar 13, 2015
The circuit board wear may cause a sudden loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Read Recall Details
Summary:
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.
What should you do:
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.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 15V146000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 2295
Hide Recall Details
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