"How reliable is the 2016 Buick Encore?"

"Based on 118 NHTSA complaints, the 2016 Buick Encore has a median complaint mileage of 35000 miles. The most common issue is ENGINE."

"What are common problems with the 2016 Buick Encore?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Buick Encore is ENGINE, accounting for a significant portion of the 118 total complaints filed."

2016 Buick Encore: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 118 complaints

118

Total Complaints

35,000mi

Median Mileage

ENGINE

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

19,500 25th Percentile

35,000 Median Mileage

56,080 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

POWER TRAIN

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AIR BAGS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STEERING

SEAT BELTS

STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I PURCHASED 2016 ENCORE ON 5/7/16. WHILE ON A 300 MILE ROAD TRIP ON 7/2 /16 NOTICE THE EXHAUSTED PIPE WAS MELTED TO THE BUMPER TOOK PICTURES. CALLED THE NUMBER TO EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO HELP ME DUE TO HOLIDAY WEEKEND. DROVE IT BACK HOME STOP EVERY HOUR TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T GO..."

"THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35 - 40 MPH. THERE WAS A GLANCING SIDE IMPACT TO THE DRIVERS DOOR, AND ALL AIRBAG CURTAINS DEPLOYED. CAUSING BRUISING, BURNS, SPRAIN, AND A CONCUSSION. THE IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MINIMAL. THE AIRBAG MODULE HAD BEEN FLASHED ALREADY. THE N..."

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THE DEALER REPLACED..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28