2017 Buick Encore Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report engine and turbocharger problems: rough running, loss of power, hesitation, smoke and overheating, often traced by mechanics to the turbocharger or the PCV valve in the valve cover. A second cluster of complaints describes airbags that did not deploy and seat belts that did not hold in crashes, and several owners mention the vehicle rolling backward on inclines while stopped.

1. 1
   Engine

   Turbocharger failure and loss of engine power

   • 27 complaints (30%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe hesitation, rough running, a check engine light, and sudden loss of motive power or 'LIMP mode' while driving. Several report smoke from under the hood, and mechanics have diagnosed a failed or cracked turbocharger, sometimes after spark plugs, coils, or sensors were replaced first without fixing the problem. Some complaints note dealers could not duplicate the fault, while others were told the turbocharger needed replacement. Reported from roughly 22,000 to 118,000 miles, appearing in the sample across a wide mileage range with no clear single trigger.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the turbocharger has been inspected or replaced and whether Special Coverage N232395330 applies to the VIN. During a test drive, listen for whistling or hissing and watch for hesitation or smoke under hard acceleration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1. Valve cover gaskets been replaced in valve covers been replaced twice. 04/16/2024. 95113 miles 2. Air conditioning cooling leak and the fan motor would not shut off unless disconnecting the battery cable. 08/26/2024 at 100,254 miles 3. The turbocharger inline for the oil intake has been replaced . The car cannot completely carry a full carload without having no power to get up hills. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11621973, filed 2024-10

   “The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11646203, filed 2025-03, 85,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Rough idle, stalling and misfires

   • 17 complaints (19%)
   • median 60,189 mi at 5.7 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe stalling at idle and at traffic lights, shuddering, poor acceleration, and a check engine light, sometimes with codes for lean fuel trim or misfire. Owners say the valve cover or PCV vacuum control was found torn or dislodged, and in some cases a dealer replaced the battery or found no codes before the problem returned. Mostly reported between about 29,000 and 88,000 miles, often described as intermittent and worse at stops or low speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil filler and valve cover area for a fuel or oil smell and ask whether the valve cover or PCV assembly has been replaced. Note whether the idle is steady when the engine is cold and when the air conditioning is on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The 2017 Buick Encore would blow out a large amount of white smoke and die in colder weather anytime you step off the gas pedal. It did re-start, however would die several time immediately until it stop smoking. Once it hesitated at highway speed when I let off the gas due to traffic and almost died. The dealership stated that the car computer showed no problems and nothing could be done. They admitted it should have recorded the problem I had, but did not. But the computer was still trustworthy to advise if the car had a problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11186644, filed 2019-03, 9,800 miles

   “Everytime I put gas in it doesn't want to start back up. At a stop sign and red light it jerks like it is going to dye out. The check engine light comes on and off. Took back to the dealership only to have it start the problem again the next day.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365294, filed 2020-10, 62,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy and seat belts did not hold

   • 14 complaints (16%)
   • median 41,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Several owners describe collisions in which the airbags did not deploy, including rear-end impacts and a deer strike at highway speed, and some report seat belts that failed to lock or restrain occupants. Others report the passenger airbag showing 'off' with a passenger seated, and dealers diagnosing a failed passenger seat presence module. Two seat belt pretensioner recalls apply to this model year. Reported across the sample from about 8,000 to 88,000 miles, and in some cases within the first few thousand miles.

   Recall 17V437000Recall 16V651000

   What to check: Check with a dealer whether the seat belt pretensioner recalls for this VIN were performed. With a passenger seated, confirm the passenger airbag indicator reads 'on' and that each seat belt latches and locks firmly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was at a standstill waiting on traffic to pass to make a left turn. I was rear ended and it caused me to go into someone's yard and hit their car as well. My airbags did not deploy during this accident. The impact was enough to send me down the street into someone's yard but not enough to deploy my airbags?”

   NHTSA complaint #11414325, filed 2021-04, 60,000 miles

   “We hit 2 deers at 70 MPH it damaged the whole front part of our car . None of the air bags deployed. The 4 way flashers came on the seatbelts locked up yet no airbags. Also this is the first and only time the 4 way flashers worked. The car has been fixed and no 4 way flashers again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11269561, filed 2019-10, 35,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws repeated engine and turbocharger complaints along with airbag and seat belt non-deployment reports, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on the turbocharger, PCV system and seat belt recalls is worthwhile. Confirm which open recalls and any applicable special coverage remain for the specific VIN before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.