Defect 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 not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
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Executive Vehicle Verdict
The 2016 Buick Encore is associated with 79 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.
The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 20 reports (25% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 4 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.4l 4-cyl powertrain configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 26 to 30 MPG combined.
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 79 consumer reports filed
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 official campaigns
- • Primary Defect Domain: Engine (20 / 25%)
- • Field Incident Signals: 6 crash / 1 fire / 4 injury reports
- • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
- • EPA Certified Range: 26–30 MPG across 4 powertrain trims
What is the fuel economy and range of the 2016 Buick Encore?
Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Encore | 1.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 27 MPG | 33 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,050 / yr |
| Encore | 1.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 MPG | 33 MPG | 28 MPG | — | $2,200 / yr |
| Encore AWD | 1.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 26 MPG | 31 MPG | 28 MPG | — | $2,200 / yr |
| Encore AWD | 1.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 23 MPG | 30 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,350 / yr |
What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2016 Buick Encore?
Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD | 19.8% | ||||
| SUV AWD | 17.9% |
Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Buick Encore models.
What defect complaints are reported for the 2016 Buick Encore?
Summary of 79 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Buick Encore problems & component breakdown (35 categories) →Are there open safety recalls on the 2016 Buick Encore?
Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA
Defect 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 and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2016 Buick Encore
Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Buick Encore
How many safety recalls does the 2016 Buick Encore have?
The 2016 Buick Encore is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.
If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2016 Buick Encore?
NHTSA records list 79 consumer defect complaints for the 2016 Buick Encore. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Engine, appearing in 20 filings (25% of submissions).
Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2016 Buick Encore?
Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2016 Buick Encore earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).
Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.
What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2016 Buick Encore get?
Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2016 Buick Encore range from 26 to 30 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.
Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.
The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
- NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
- U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.