AutoUtility currently tracks 89 official NHTSA owner defect complaints for the 2017 Buick Encore. Engine & Cooling issues are the most frequently reported category, appearing in 35 complaints (39.3% of submitted records). Among these NHTSA complaint records, 12 filings cite a crash, 4 cite a fire, 8 report one or more injuries.

Key Problem Findings
  • Total NHTSA Complaints: 89 reports
  • #1 Reported Problem Area: Engine & Cooling (35 reports • 39.3% of submitted complaints)
  • Secondary Problem Areas: Air Bags & Restraints (17), Powertrain & Transmission (9)
  • Crash-Citing Complaints: 12 filings
  • Fire-Citing Complaints: 4 filings
  • Complaints Reporting Injuries / Fatalities: 8 injury filings • 0 fatality filings
Reporting Methodology: Statistics describe unverified consumer submissions voluntarily filed with NHTSA. Complaint volume is not normalized for vehicle sales volume or miles driven. Multiple components can be cited within a single owner complaint submission.
Total Complaints
89
Submitted to NHTSA ODI
Crash-Citing Complaints
12
Filings citing a collision
Fire-Citing Complaints
4
Filings citing smoke or fire
Complaints Reporting Injuries
8
Filings citing one or more injuries
Complaints Reporting Fatalities
0
Consumer filings citing fatalities

Most Reported Problems for 2017 Buick Encore

Top automotive subsystem defect categories ranked by unique owner complaint volume in federal records

#1 Problem Area 39.3% of complaints

Engine & Cooling

35 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ 2 crash reports 🔥 3 fire reports 🩹 1 injury report entry
#2 Problem Area 19.1% of complaints

Air Bags & Restraints

17 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ NHTSA Recall Context

NHTSA records list 2 official safety recall campaigns for this model year involving the same broad component area:

*Component overlap means an official recall exists for the same broad vehicle system. It does not establish that an individual owner complaint was caused by, covered by, or resolved through that recall.
⚠️ 9 crash reports 🔥 1 fire report 🩹 27 injury report entries
#3 Problem Area 10.1% of complaints

Powertrain & Transmission

9 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
✓ 0 crashes or fires cited
#4 Problem Area 10.1% of complaints

Brakes & Traction Control

9 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ 4 crash reports 🩹 2 injury report entries
#5 Problem Area 9% of complaints

Fuel & Propulsion System

8 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
✓ 0 crashes or fires cited
Domain Share Note: Share percentage represents the proportion of unique complaint filings referencing each vehicle system. Because single complaints may cite multiple systems (such as engine and electrical simultaneously), domain percentages represent individual category incidence and may sum to over 100%.

Symptoms Mentioned in NHTSA Owner Reports for 2017 Buick Encore

Specific mechanical, electrical, and driver-assist defect symptoms identified via deterministic narrative analysis

AutoUtility uses deterministic phrase matching to identify recurring symptom descriptions within consumer-submitted NHTSA complaint narratives.

Powertrain & Transmission 5.6% of complaints

Loss of Motive Power While Driving

5 complaint narratives describe this symptom
Symptom Identification Method: A complaint may describe more than one symptom, so percentages may sum to more than 100%. Symptom identification reflects text contained in consumer-submitted complaint records and does not establish a confirmed mechanical diagnosis.

Recent NHTSA Owner Reports for 2017 Buick Encore

Representative defect filings submitted by owners to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Fuel & Propulsion System NHTSA ODI ID: #11752260
Filed: 07/22/2026

"The factory-installed turbocharger assembly on my 2017 Buick Encore failed mechanically while operating the vehicle, creating an immediate and severe roadway safety hazard.The structural failure of the turbocharger causes the vehicle to experience a sudden, unpredictable, and extreme loss of engine..."

Incident Date: 05/15/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Wheels & Tires NHTSA ODI ID: #11750740
Filed: 07/16/2026

"The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unattended in the driveway in front of the residence, the front passenger’s side tire suddenly blew out. The tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, who was..."

Incident Date: 05/10/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: TIRES
Engine & Cooling NHTSA ODI ID: #11743618
Filed: 06/11/2026

"There is a problem with the 2017 Buick Encore turbocharger. From speaking with the auto shop I took it to for a check they have seen many Buick Encore’s with the same turbocharger problems. He spoke to me about it prior to me dropping off the vehicle and then confirming the issue after inspecting..."

Incident Date: 06/10/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: ENGINE
Wheels & Tires NHTSA ODI ID: #11740762
Filed: 05/29/2026

"UNKNOWN. MY 2017 Buick Encore while parked in front of my home just blew up at 1 am. I have a video of this occuring. It was on the passengers side. My neighbor stated that he heard a loud bang and went outside. He said parts were flying off my car. I don't know how to send the video but I do have..."

Incident Date: 05/10/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: STRUCTURE,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Powertrain & Transmission NHTSA ODI ID: #11739555
Filed: 05/22/2026

"Formal Consumer Complaint Statement — GM / Crivelli Buick I am filing a formal consumer complaint against Crivelli Chevrolet Buick GMC and General Motors/Buick regarding what I believe was discriminatory and unfair treatment in connection with a warranty-covered vehicle repair. The customer is..."

Incident Date: 05/20/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Consumer Narrative Notice: Excerpts are sanitized text descriptions submitted by vehicle owners to the federal ODI database. They reflect the reporting consumer's observations at the time of filing and have not been independently confirmed by vehicle manufacturers or government investigators.

Complaint History for Buick Encore

Reported defect complaint volume across sibling model years (2015–2026)

Model Year NHTSA Complaints Crash Reports Safety Recalls Detailed Report
2015 Buick Encore 124 6 4 View 2015 Problems →
2016 Buick Encore 79 6 2 View 2016 Problems →
2017 Buick Encore Current Page 89 12 2 Current
2018 Buick Encore 74 10 0 View 2018 Problems →
2019 Buick Encore 84 9 2 View 2019 Problems →
2020 Buick Encore 19 1 2 View 2020 Problems →
2021 Buick Encore 9 0 0 View 2021 Problems →
2022 Buick Encore 8 1 0 View 2022 Problems →
2023 Buick Encore 0 0 0 View 2023 Problems →
2024 Buick Encore 0 0 0 View 2024 Problems →
2025 Buick Encore 0 0 0 View 2025 Problems →
2026 Buick Encore 0 0 0 View 2026 Problems →
Comparative Disclaimer: Complaint totals are unadjusted historical counts and are not normalized for vehicles sold, active fleet size, or total road mileage. Newer model years naturally have had less calendar exposure time to accumulate owner filings.

Detailed NHTSA Component Breakdown for 2017 Buick Encore

Complete distribution of consumer defect reports across all 41 granular NHTSA system and subsystem classifications

Vehicle Component / System Total Complaints Crash Reports Fire Reports Reported Injury Entries Reported Fatality Entries
Engine NHTSA category: ENGINE 19 0 3 0 0
Air Bags NHTSA category: AIR BAGS 6 5 0 24 0
Visibility & Wipers NHTSA category: VISIBILITY/WIPER 5 0 0 0 0
Engine & Cooling NHTSA category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 0 0 0 0
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES 4 1 0 0 0
Other / Uncategorized NHTSA category: UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS 3 2 1 2 0
Steering NHTSA category: STEERING 3 0 0 0 0
Tires NHTSA category: TIRES 3 0 0 0 0
Seat Belts NHTSA category: SEAT BELTS 2 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA category: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 1 0
AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 1 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 0 0 0 0
Fuel & Propulsion System NHTSA category: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
Powertrain NHTSA category: POWER TRAIN 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 1 0 0 0
STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 1 0 1 0
Structure & Body NHTSA category: STRUCTURE 1 0 0 0 0
STRUCTURE,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
Suspension NHTSA category: SUSPENSION 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
Data Attribution & Reporting Methodology: Complaints are unverified voluntary submissions to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Because multiple vehicle components can be cited within a single owner complaint submission, component-level rollups may sum to more than the unique complaint count (89). Injury and fatality entries in the detailed table reflect raw values entered by reporting consumers across individual submissions; they are not deduplicated casualty statistics and may include duplicate or unverified entries. Complaint volume is not normalized for sales volume or vehicle mileage and does not represent an audited component failure rate.
Official US Government Data Provenance

The complaint records on this page are retrieved directly from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public database.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.