AI Damage2017 Buick Encore: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Buick Encore filed 90 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. The maker issued 766 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 90
- involving a crash
- 12
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 766
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 39% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 9% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- Engine: 35 complaints (39% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 82.
- Air bags: 13 complaints (14% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Powertrain: 9 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 51.
- Service brakes: 8 complaints (9% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 19.
- Visibility: 8 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 18.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 90 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 35 | 2 | 82 |
| Air bags | 13 | 9 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 9 | 0 | 51 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 4 | 19 |
| Visibility | 8 | 1 | 18 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 3 | 3 |
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 0 | 118 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 150 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 25 |
| Steering | 4 | 1 | 15 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 28 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 41 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
•Warning Lamps, Messages, or Symptoms Before the Incident: No warning lights or messages were active before the crash. There were no known symptoms or alerts indicating a problem with the airbag system.
Upon impact, the driver seat belt did not engage and she hit her chest on the steering wheel; she also hit her left knee on the dashboard. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A police report was filed at the scene.
The 4 way flashers came on the seatbelts locked up yet no airbags. Also this is the first and only time the 4 way flashers worked. The car has been fixed and no 4 way flashers again.
I have an automatic transmission. When I am stopped at a traffic light on an incline, the car will sometimes roll backwards with my foot on the brake or when changing my foot to the gas pedal to move forward once the light changes. The more the incline; the worse the problem.
5 month after I had bought the car I was going 35 mph down a regular street when the car stop then when I want to move again the accelerator but then the car came to a complete stop where the engine had smoke coming out of it. The dealer said that there was a big hole in the engine.
Car rolled away and ended up rolling down a small hill, jumping a ditch and resting on another hill. Car moved approximately 300 feet prior to coming to a stop. Wheels were noted to be turning and rolling normally and car had minimal resistance to moving. Car was in park with secure break when we arrived at car.
The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the lug nuts required replacement. The contact expressed safety concerns because a lug wrench would fail to engage the fractured lug nuts during a tire replacement. The contact was informed that the failure was a known issue with the vehicle.
The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unattended in the driveway in front of the residence, the front passenger’s side tire suddenly blew out. The tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 619 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Encore has 34 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 90, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000…
This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
NHTSA lists 766 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Buick Encore?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, air bags, powertrain. Total complaints: 90. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (27%), smoke, burning smell, fire (11%), seat belts (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Buick Encore?
NHTSA lists 766 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Buick Encore from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.