YearToAvoid

2016 Buick Encore Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 42 engine complaints for the 2016 Buick Encore, 53% of its 79 total complaints for the year. Owners commonly report stalling, loss of power, and excessive oil consumption, with a median failure mileage of 51,750. No related recalls are listed.

Engine complaints
42
53% of 79
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
51,750 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls or dies unexpectedly while driving at low or highway speeds, sometimes while turning or merging.
  • Owners report burning oil odor and visible oil on top of the engine, along with smoke at idle or startup.
  • Vehicle hesitates or loses power under acceleration, with some owners describing a rough or misfiring feel when stopped or merging.
  • Check engine light comes on along with a noticeable loss of power at higher speeds in upper gears.
  • Heavy vibration felt through the shifter during gear changes, described as coming from the engine or transmission area.
  • Excessive oil consumption leading to turbo damage after pistons reportedly stopped firing correctly.

When 2016 Buick Encore engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 7, 2016, latest Feb 21, 2026.

2016 Buick Encore engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Dec 2016Apr 2019Jan 2020May 2021Aug 2023Jun 2024Feb 2025Feb 2026
42 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2016 to Feb 2026; peak Oct 2019 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Buick Encore

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Encore model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201325 (48%)
  2. 201427 (45%)
  3. 201535 (28%)
  4. 201642 (53%)
  5. 201742 (47%)
  6. 201834 (46%)
  7. 201945 (52%)
  8. 20209 (47%)
  9. 20213 (33%)
  10. 20222 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2016 Buick Encore?
NHTSA lists 42 engine complaints for the 2016 Encore, which is 53% of all 79 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Buick Encore engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area on the 2016 Encore.
At what mileage do 2016 Encore engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine problem area is 51,750 miles.
What kind of engine issues do 2016 Encore owners report?
Owners describe stalling, loss of power, burning oil smell, visible oil on the engine, and rough shifting sensations tied to the engine or transmission.
Did any 2016 Encore engine complaints involve fire or crashes?
NHTSA data shows 1 fire report and 0 crashes among the 42 engine complaints for the 2016 Encore.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.