Most common 2017 Buick Encore problems
Share of the 90 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Encore complaints by model year
Best Encore years: 2021, 2022, 2020. Years to avoid: 2015, 2019, 2017. Compare all years →
2017 Buick Encore recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
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…
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.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
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…
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.
What 2017 Buick Encore owners say
Engine & cooling all 40 →
The contact owned a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that the vehicle was at a standstill in a traffic light, she saw smoke exiting from the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated a bystander informed the vehicle was on fire. The contact was able to exit the vehicle safely before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The insurance company deemed the vehicle was a total loss. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
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 cylinder #1 ignition coil and spark plug were replaced, but the failure persisted. The mechanic determined that the engine might need to be replaced; however, the mechanic did not specialize in engine diagnostic tests. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. …
Air bags
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 failed to deploy. Safety Risk: The non-deployment of the airbags at this speed and impact angle posed a serious risk to my safety. The lack of airbag activation during a high-speed frontal crash greatly increased the likelihood of injury. Has the Problem Been Reproduced or Confirmed by a Dealer or Independent Shop? No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealership or repair facility, and the issue has not been confirmed or diagnosed by a professional. …
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while the front passenger's side seat was occupied, the seat belt chime reminder failed to engage while the front passenger's side seat belt was not buckled, and the message "Air Bag Off" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side seat presence module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 17V437000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts) and 16V651000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Back in July 2022 I started receiving error messages of the stabilitrak system to get checked by OnStar. I took to Ed Martin Buick in Carmel, In they thought that it was from possibly pressing brake and pedal at same time and fixed code. Then about two weeks later I got the same error code, I took to Ray Skillman Northeast Buick they said it was a transmission manufacturing defect and had to do with Manifold which they fixed under power train warranty. Now February 2023 I have same issue Stabilitrak error message. I have to take back again to Ray Skillman Northeast Buick. This is an ongoing issue and should not be receiving same codes car only has 67,000 miles and should not be having transmission issues either.
Vehicle has been in and out of shop since Feb 2022 for 'limp mode' disabled due to faulty booster or something. Vehicles leave driver stranded unable to accelerate or maneuver vehicle to avoid a collision. I'm told this is a well known problem for both this vehicle and the chevy cruze although no recalls are out for this huge safety issue. Somebody is seriously going to get injured if driver is unable to move car to safety when it just dies on the highway or road. All documentation is available for the excessive repairs that don't resolve the issue the correction only last from 24 hours to 2 weeks before the light comes on again and car dies.
2017 Buick Encore engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 27 / 33 / 30 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 26 / 31 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Buick Encore a good car?
Based on 90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Encore rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Encore at the same age. It is one of the Encore years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Buick Encore?
The engine & cooling — 40 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline › turbo/supercharger. Next are the air bags (13) and transmission & drivetrain (9).
How many recalls does the 2017 Buick Encore have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2017 Buick Encore, the most recent from July 10, 2017 (sensor/control module-inactive). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Encore?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021, 2022 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2019 and 2017. See the full Buick Encore years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Buick Encore problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 41,000 miles; 62% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.