Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Buick Encore owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH downhill during inclement weather, the vehicle experienced intermittent brake failure. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle and ran off the roadway to prevent a crash. The vehicle drove over a curb before coming to a stop. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that the Traction Control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven back to the residence where it remained unrepaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,740.
The car had been parked in an unheated garage for more than 24 hours. I started it, put my foot on the brake pedal, and put it in gear (r). The car lunged back at a high rate of speed. My foot was still on the brake. To avoid hitting a vehicle behind it in the driveway, I shifted to drive (d) and the car immediately started forward still at a high rate of speed. The brakes did not slow the car down. I bumped the front wall of the garage and again shifted into r. The car started moving back again and the brakes did not work. I turned the engine off and the car began slowing and came to a stop after bumping the vehicle about 20 feet behind it. My foot was on the brake pedal the whole time. I checked for obstructions around the brake pedal and found none. Afterward, when I started the car again, it drove normally without trouble. …
New Buick 2015 Encore 1. Appying brakes when backing out of garage creates a shrill squeal. 2. When slowing for the stop sign at the end of the street, applying brakes makes a moaning sound and slight vibration. 3. When I apply brakes to slow down at about 5 MPH such as stopping at an intersection, the brakes 'grab' rather than slowing smoothly. All problems happen in the morning after the car has set overnight, and they usually go away after driving enough to use the brakes a number of times. Last week I drove in a hard rain for 20-30 minutes getting home. Parked car overnight. Brake worked without the above problems for the next two days, then started again. Dealer says they (GM) are aware of the problem on some 2015 encores and are "working on it" but it is safe, and might be a few months before a fix.
1. While stopped on an incline, even a small incline, the vehicle rolls backwards 6-12" when moving foot from brake to accelerator (the vehicle has automatic transmission). We have come close to hitting two vehicles behind us when stopped at a stop light and the vehicle slid backwards. 2. Because of design, there are columns reducing visibility through an already small rear window. The provided rear view camera has almost no resolution and under most normal lighting conditions is totally useless,. The result is there is no way to see what is behind you when backing up or backing out of a driveway. 3. We complained to the dealer and then to GM and were told that "all other encores were the same therefore there is nothing they can do."
Squeaking and scraping and reduced performance of rear brakes. Dealer tried a fix with identical parts to the original ones but the problem continues. They tell me that GM has not found a fix but is aware of the problem and that they have tried the same fix on three other vehicles that GM previously attempted as a fix. Gee, it's only brakes. What could go wrong? I bought the vehicle on October 26, 2015. It went in for the service of replacing rear rotors and pads on December 29, 2015 with 2,187 miles. There was absolutely no improvement at all. The service mgr. Said that I would be notified by mail when a fix is available when I called on January 18, 2016.
Almost every day the 1 st & 2 nd time the brakes are applied there is a grinding noise & it feels like the brakes are grabbing. On my car it seems to be coming from the drivers side.my car parks in the garage. 1 st time dealer said there was a bit of rust on the calipers they cleaned them up..next morning same thing..2 nd time back to dealer they said it's probably condensation & it's always going to be that way..my response was that's unacceptable & I will continue to bring my car back till its fixed.they later told me there was a service bulletin for this prob..GM is monitoring & working on the fix.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while stopped on an incline, the transmission slipped out of gear and rolled backwards after releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to love Buick GMC (736 Saturn pkwy, columbia, sc 29212) and the contact was informed that the failure was a known issue however, there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
Brakes. In town I have to let off the gas for half a block and gradually apply the brakes or double brake to make it stiffen up and come to a complete stop. I've had it serviced. The master cylinder was replaced and it seemed fine for a month but then I began to have the same issues again. By that time though it was used it only had 36000 miles and is still giving the same issues. When applying the brakes the pedal goes down with maybe an inch or two inches from touching the floor.
When we purchased this auto we were told the brakes would make a noise but that it was not a problem. We were not told that they would grab strongly enough to throw the driver forward at the slightest touch. The problem initially occurred each time the vehicle was first started but now happens more frequently and is much more severe. Is very dangerous when there is moisture in the air or when the weather is cooler. I feel that it is a definite safety hazard.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. While driving at low speeds, the brakes vibrated severely after the brake pedal was depressed. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake pads were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10.
Brake complaints in other Encore years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2015 Buick Encore?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the brakes of the 2015 Buick Encore, 17% of the model year's 124 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2015 Buick Encore brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2015 Buick Encore, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2015 Buick Encore brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 18,000 miles, and 67% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.