2017 Buick Encore Safety Report
2017 Buick Encore Safety and Reliability Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Buick Encore
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Buick Encore. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (83) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 16 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Buick Encore with 8 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Buick Encore before buying across this generation. |
Buick Encore Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Buick Encore years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Buick Encore | 69 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Buick Encore | 77 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Buick Encore | 74 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Buick Encore | 120 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Buick Encore | 17 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Buick Encore | 8 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2017 Buick Encore Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Buick Encore, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
18 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Buick onlyAir Bags
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Buick onlyVisibility/Wiper
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Buick onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Buick onlyUnknown Or Other
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Buick onlyService Brakes
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Buick onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Buick Encore
Reliability Score
The 2017 Buick Encore receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2017 Buick Encore
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2017 Buick Encore
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Buick Encore:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Recall General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark, and 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine And Engine Cooling Issues Engine coolant water outlet, turbo boost, and engine fan replacements are needed within the 30k-60k mileage range. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Rear Passenger Door Lock Failure Rear passenger doors fail to engage internal lock when Child-Lock feature is on, and doors can still be opened from the interior. |
Low | Occasional | N/A miles |
| Air Conditioning System Issues No codes are detected by the dealership when the air conditioner is not functioning properly. |
Medium | Common | N/A miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Buick Encore:
Engine performance issues, including rough idling and sudden loss of power, are common.
Air conditioning system issues, such as no codes being detected, are frequent.
Airbag recalls are a known issue, affecting a significant number of vehicles.
Rear passenger doors may fail to lock properly when the child lock is engaged.
Recall Details for the 2017 Buick Encore
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2017 Buick Encore by NHTSA:
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 ...
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 custom...
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...
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 cust...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Buick Encore
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Buick Encore with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power and went into "LIMP Mode". Additionally, there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the issue but declined to service the vehicle because the vehicle had a salvage title. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufactur...
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the engine was running rough, and the vehicle experienced reduced power. The stabili-trak and the check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where a diagnostic trouble code for a cylinder misfire was retrieved. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the cyl...
Rear passenger doors fail to engage internal lock when Child-Lock feature is on, door can still be opened from interior. Rear door locks fail to properly engage when locking and unlocking vehicle
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact smelled smoke and became aware that the smoke was coming from under the hood. The failure reoccurred while driving the following day. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle wa...
Wipers will not shut off.
4/2025-Engine coolant water outlet needed to be replaced 5/2025- Turbo boost replaced (under recall) 6/2025- Engine fan needed to be replaced 12/2025- There was active leaking in the engine oil cooler and lines- needed to be replaced Engine ventilation , engine oil weep along valve cover seals- needed to be replaced
I have went to the dealership for the past two years with this problem and they keep saying they are not getting any codes: when the air conditioner is on it’s pulling the power from the motor and makes it hard to go up hill. Hard To accelerate when going on to the freeway as well. The problem is only getting worse and worse.
The turbo charge is not providing adequate power. I was on the highway and the car began to chugging then accelerated on its own and all the lights on the dash came on then all went off like it was going to shut down. I put my hazards on and started to pull to the side of the highway. I gave it a moment for the car and for me because I was terrified, my kids were in the car and traffic was going s...
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine overheated, and there was smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was hot. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that th...
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat belt failed to work as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The front driver’s side seat belt also failed to work as intended. The contact had to push the front seat all the way back to release the seat belt. The contact stated that the seat belt was too tight and pressed into her stomach. No war...
While traveling at approximately 77 mph on the interstate, I was forced off the road by another vehicle, causing my car to collide with a cable barrier. The initial impact was to the front driver’s side corner, and the vehicle then scraped along the driver’s side against the barrier. Despite the high-speed impact, no airbags deployed. •Component or System That Failed: The frontal airbag system fai...
Steering wheel locked up, had to replace rack and pinion, locking up when turning, therefore needing a wheel alignment.
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle hesitated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and then suddenly jerked forward. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbo...
First the car started to act odd, jumpy or you could tell there was issues with the turbo. On [XXX] car overheated??? Out of nowhere. Mileage 82049. No warnings, no lights. We had it towed to shop where we were told we need new turbo, new engine, power steering service, ac service. The total Cost was $6813.54. We had to take out 2 loans - 90 days same as cash then 145% interest as well as pay $243...
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,...
This car is not mine but someone somehow fraudulently registered it in my name. I got the VIN # from truth finder when I did a search on myself. Please help.
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed on the instrument panel. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the vehicle was taken back to the same local d...
Passenger airbag light on dash is lit. Has ben lit for about a month.
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. In addition, the contact stated while the vehicle was at a stop light, the vehicle was idling roughly. The ve...
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable the determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the fa...
Showing 20 of 83 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Buick Encore
Has the 2017 BUICK ENCORE been recalled?
Yes, the 2017 BUICK ENCORE has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2017 BUICK ENCORE have?
The 2017 BUICK ENCORE has 83 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 12 involved crashes. 28 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 BUICK ENCORE?
The 2017 BUICK ENCORE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 BUICK ENCORE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 BUICK ENCORE involve engine (18 complaints), air bags (6 complaints), visibility/wiper (5 complaints). Other affected components include engine and engine cooling, unknown or other, service brakes.
How many crash reports does the 2017 BUICK ENCORE have?
There are 12 crash reports associated with the 2017 BUICK ENCORE out of 83 total complaints (14.5% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2017 BUICK ENCORE have?
There are 4 fire reports for the 2017 BUICK ENCORE out of 83 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 BUICK ENCORE?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 BUICK ENCORE.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 BUICK ENCORE?
28 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 BUICK ENCORE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2017 BUICK ENCORE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 BUICK ENCORE is acceptable with caveats. It has 83 complaints, 2 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 BUICK ENCORE?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 BUICK ENCORE are: 1. ENGINE (18 complaints), 2. AIR BAGS (6 complaints), 3. VISIBILITY/WIPER (5 complaints), 4. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (4 complaints), 5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 18 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 BUICK ENCORE?
Be aware of potential airbag recalls and engine issues. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid problems with the air conditioning and child lock features. The 2017 BUICK ENCORE has 83 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2017 BUICK ENCORE?
The 2017 BUICK ENCORE receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 83 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 16 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Airbag Recall and Engine and Engine Cooling Issues.
What are the known issues with the 2017 BUICK ENCORE?
Known issues with the 2017 BUICK ENCORE include: Airbag Recall, Engine and Engine Cooling Issues, Rear Passenger Door Lock Failure, Air Conditioning System Issues. These are based on patterns found across 83 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2017 Buick Encore?
Yes, there are recalls for airbags, particularly for the front airbags.
What are the common engine issues with the 2017 Buick Encore?
Common issues include rough idling and sudden loss of power.
Are there any issues with the air conditioning system?
Yes, there have been reports of the air conditioning system not functioning properly without any codes being detected.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential airbag recalls and engine issues. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid problems with the air conditioning and child lock features.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Buick Encore
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Buick Encore. The data includes 83 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 12 reported crashes, 4 fire incidents, 28 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2017 Buick Encore an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13