2016 Buick Encore Powertrain & Transmission Problems

I was stopped at a traffic light and began moving forward to make a turn into traffic. As I activated my turn signal and started to proceed through the intersection, the vehicle suddenly stalled and shut off without warning, causing an immediate loss of power while the vehicle was in motion. Another vehicle was entering the intersection at the same time, creating a near-collision situation. I was forced to restart the vehicle in traffic. The incident occurred within less than 250 miles of purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle had recently received an oil change and inspection. No warning lights or messages were observed prior to the stall. This event created a serious safety risk.

On my way home in December 2025, my car started to sputter and make noises. All of a sudden the car started going about 10-15 miles. I almost go hit by several vehicles, because they had to put on brakes, I was trying to go up then down a hilly road. I finally was able to get to an Auto Advance Shop, I had to tow the car to Honda then to Buick for a diagnostic test. It had been over a month and I can’t get information in writing what the diagnostic test results are. I’ve had to rent a vehicle for over a month, even though I have a Lifetime Warranty on my power train and motor. I have submitted all my service and repair paperwork to John Miles Buick Conyers Georgia, the GM and Service Department, also I contacted GMC Corporate Office. I have been in a rental car for over a month that I can no longer afford. I don’t know where else to get results for my issue. Thank you, XXX. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My wife is [XXX] and I am [XXX] old. We purchased the 2016 Buick Encore with 29,000 miles from Buick GMC of Beaverton, Oregon on [XXX], expecting that it would out last both of us, since we are retired and only drive to the store and doctor's appointments; my wife has miraculously survived Stage IV cancer since February 1, 2019. The Encore is our only car and we depend on it for all transportation. We love the vehicle, changed the oil about every 3,000 miles, and have had no complaints for almost six years. On [XXX], my wife and I were driving home from shopping, in rain at night on [XXX] north bound, left lane, uphill at 55MPH in moderate traffic on a six-lane divided freeway. Suddenly the car lost half power, began missing and shaking badly, speed dropped to about 30 MPH with cars serving behind us, flying past us honking. We were panicked, not knowing if the car would seize up completely or the engine would explode. Fortunately, we limped off the highway without having to stop. We took the car back to the dealership where we bought it, for service. The next day they emailed a video of their inspection of the vehicle showing Cylinder 1 has very low compression of about 60 when normal should be 180 to 210 psi, which indicates a likely blown piston. April 30, 2019, NHTSA Service Bulletin 19-NA-090 describes the identical symptoms the Encore is experiencing: Misfire and low compression in one or more cylinders. Both the Buick GMC of Beaverton dealership and General Motors, 800-521-7300 are refusing to honor the original 70K mile warranty since they're indicating the warranty expired on 01/21/2023. We are devastated that because we pampered the vehicle and only drove it 17,000 miles in nearly 6 years, we are being unfairly penalized. GM admits that if we had driven the vehicle more and this same engine failure occurred at just 49K miles prior to January 20, 2023, they would immediately replace the engine. Help! We are requesting that NHTSA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

This is an addendum to Complaint # 11644925 Before taking the car back to the dealership, Buick GMC of Beaverton, for repairs, I called the owner of Bassitt Auto Repair in Beaverton Oregon, 503-616-2007. He told me that they've had 3 other Buick Encores come to his repair shop in just the last 6 months, all with the identical problem. He said, without seeing our vehicle, that it is low compression due to a blown piston. He said to take the car to a Buick dealership, that this repair should be a recall, that the engine is most likely blown, and that no one with rebuild that engine.

Two different issues occurred. While driving the check engine light came on and then went off about 10 minutes later. While driving the vehicle to get check engine light code checked temperature suddenly jumped from normal operating temp just below mid to the top with instrument panel dinging saying engine overheating idle engine. As trying to make way to side of road the blind spot warning on passenger mirror began flashing constantly with no traffic within 1/4 mile from vehicle and instrument panel stating blind spot not available. Once able to get to have code checked showed same code that had been addressed with the replaced turbo 0299. Thermostat replaced less than 19k miles prior. When engine overheat came on power diminished rapidly.

I purchased my 2016 Buick encore from the car dealer name [XXX] in Rochester Michigan. I purchased it in December 20 23 beginning in January when I would change gears the car sounded like the gears were clunking like they were gonna fall out or something. also, the engine hesitates and then excels really fast like I’m racing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2016 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle accelerated independently before returning to normal functionality. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

BUZZING HEARD WHEN I PRESSED ON ACCELERATING PEDAL. HEARD A POP, THEN IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SMOKED OUT TAIL PIPE. ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHTS BOTH TURNED ON. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT OCCURRED . I PARKED SHORTLY AFTER INCIDENT AND HAD CAR TOWED TO FIRESTONE NEXT MORNING. JEFF SAID ENGINE BLEW AND RECOMMENDED DEALER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY TO FIX. TURBO BLEW WHICH BLEW ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (60+ MPH), THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE CAR WILL LOSE SIGNIFICANT POWER IN 4TH AND HIGHER GEAR. THIS WILL PRESENT AS SPEED CAN STILL BE GAINED ALTHOUGH VERY SLOWLY IN 4TH GEAR, SPEED CAN BE MAINTAINED BUT NOT GAINED WHILE IN 5TH GEAR, AND SPEED WILL ONLY BE LOST WHILE IN 6TH GEAR. 3RD GEAR AND BELOW ALL WORK FINE. THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR A WHILE AND THEN IT CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS IT SHOULD THEREAFTER, HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL REMAIN LIT FOR A FEW DAYS. THE MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR LOSES THE CAPABILITY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER WHILE IN THIS STATE.

HEAVY VIBRATION IN LOWER GEAR WHILE SHIFTING SEEMS TO COME FROM ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION CANT TELL BUT STRONG VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN SHIFT HANDLE WHEN YOU ATTAIN HIGHER GEAR SEEMS TO STOP ON CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY SAME EXPERIENCE WORSE IN LOWER GEARS.