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2015 Buick Encore: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
41%
42 of 103 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2015 Buick Encore are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Better than 52% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 21 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 34%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
42
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
124
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
6 crashes · 7 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30 · 24%
ENGINE29 · 23%
STEERING27 · 22%
SERVICE BRAKES21 · 17%
AIR BAGS16 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER15 · 12%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
62%
28 of 52
2014
60%
32 of 60
2015
41%
42 of 124
2016
74%
51 of 79
2017
64%
46 of 89
2018
68%
42 of 74
2019
64%
47 of 84
2020
48%
39 of 87
2021
62%
36 of 61
2022
66%
25 of 40
2023
48%
10 of 25

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Other subcompact SUVs with no elevated signal

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ENGINE07/29/2026
Weber road auto service replaced the engine using county PRC and out-of-pocket funds, and the newly installed used engine has an active engine oil cooler leak, creating an immediate vehicle fire and sudden engine stalling hazard. Also there’s a leak at the ac compressor, condenser and coupler valves. This was discovere…
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM06/26/2026
The turbo in my vehicle has a check engine light come on and than the engine does no act right. The repair shop that looked at car stated that the manufacture knows this is a known issue and they have not made a recall as several cars my year range has this going on. If this is a known issue why is there no recall. I w…
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES06/09/2026
Transmission wouldn't shift out of 2nd gear and wouldnt shift into reverse. Has no power steering or power brakes

Three of 42 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (4)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 Y…
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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 man…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2015 Buick Encore

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.