The 2015 Buick Encore is a decent compact SUV sporting a peppy turbocharged engine. However, the model suffers from severe brake problems, in addition to having troublesome in-car electronics and a handful of engine issues.
Key Points
- The 2015 Buick Encore has four recalls, zero investigations, and 90 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Two recalls cover the same front airbag issue, while the other two resolve an electric power steering problem and a missing label.
- Severe brake problems are the most significant issue with the 2015 Buick Encore. Symptoms include vibrations, grinding sounds, and even outright failure.
- 2015 Encore owners also report issues with the radio losing audio or the screen going black, among others.
- Ultimately, the 2015 Encore is decent little SUV with a few not-too-serious problems. Just be on the lookout for signs that suggest the brakes are having issues.
2015 Buick Encore Recalls Cover Issues That Include Loss of Electric Power Steering and Two Front Airbag Recalls
The 2015 Encore has four recalls on file with the NHTSA. Three are concerning, and the fourth is relatively harmless recall for a missing rim-size label for the front and rear wheels.
The most serious recall involves the front airbags not deploying. GM’s affected units didn’t receive an important software update that could have prevented the problem.
Consequently, this same issue caused another recall a year later. The affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update, and in certain driving conditions, it may cause the software to activate a diagnostic test.
During this test, front airbags and the seat belt pretensioners would not activate in a crash.
Another recall for the 2015 Buick Encore involves an electric power steering problem making the steering wheel difficult to turn. It required inspection and potential replacement of the steering column assembly.
2015 Buick Encore’s Highly Problematic Brakes Produce Symptoms Like Abnormal Noises, Excessive Vibrations, and Outright Failure
Of the 90 NHTSA complaints registered against the 2015 Buick Encore, nearly 30% are brake-related. While that ratio doesn’t seem like much on paper, a closer look reveals some nasty brake issues.
According to reports, 2015 Encore owners have experienced abnormal noises like grinding and squeaking. Other owners have reported reduced braking performance, which led to increased stopping distance.
Additionally, multiple owners on the NHTSA and Consumer Reports revealed these issues are emphasized in wet weather conditions. Many of these owners also mention having these problems fixed, only for them to happen again shortly.
The worst brake problem overall for the 2015 Buick Encore is that there are no recalls issued for any of the aforementioned issues. A lot of these reported incidents happened on a case-by-case basis and weren’t prevalent enough to warrant a recall.
2015 Encore’s Questionable Electrical Work Causes Several in-car Problems, Ranging from Freezing Display Screens to GPS Failures
In the same vein as the brake issues, there are also numerous reports of in-car electronics issues.
Owners have reported the display screen freezing or going black, radio audio problems, and the GPS system not working. In some cases, these issues caused more problems with the rest of the car.
“When the Navigation froze it also knocked out the passenger airbag display to off, the radio wouldn’t work” reported an Encore owner on Consumer Reports.
Furthermore, several technical service bulletins were released in response to the 2015 Encore’s various electronics issues.
Miscellaneous Engine Troubles and Turbocharger Failures Cover the Remaining Problems with the 2015 Buick Enclave
While the brake and electronics problems take priority, the 2015 Buick Encore has also had some engine issues.
These include loss of power, failing turbochargers, involuntary acceleration, and misfiring. Multiple Vehicle History owners reported turbocharger failures. Even though all were primarily isolated incidents, faulty turbochargers were the most commonly reported.
“At 88,079 miles on August 29 of 2019, the car experienced ‘internal engine failure, turbocharger failure, and complete exhaust system contamination.” said one owner in their review on Vehicle History.
Unfortunately, replacing the turbocharger and its respective components is very expensive. According to Repair Pal, a new turbocharger assembly can cost up to $1,500 pre-labor.
Ranked 14th Out of 21 Compact SUVs by Vehicle History Owners, the 2015 Buick Encore is an Okay SUV
The 2015 Buick Encore has good qualities, and owners seem to love it, landing the SUV in 14th place vs. 21 rivals on Vehicle History. The SUV’s small size and turbocharged engine make for a fun and unique driving experience overall.
While brake problems are rare, they are serious when they occur. Add the radio, electronics, engine, and turbocharger issues on top of that, and you might break the bank trying to keep your 2015 Buick Encore running.
Photos: Buick
