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2015 Buick Encore airbags problems
severe
Owners of the 2015 Buick Encore have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See airbags across all vehicles →
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
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
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
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service BulletinPIC5650JJul 2021
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
This informational bulletin provides Information on Passenger Presence Sensing System (PPS or PSS) Concerns with Custom Upholstery, Accessory Seat Heaters or Other Comfort Enhancing Devices
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Buick Encore has a well-documented passenger airbag sensor problem that keeps the system switched OFF even when occupied. Multiple owners say the sensor incorrectly interprets adult occupants as too light, refusing to activate for passengers weighing 135–180 lbs, even though a dealer's 220-lb mechanic can trigger it. One owner tested with a 200+ lb passenger plus a dog and still got the OFF indicator.
The sensor behavior is inconsistent—one day it works, the next day it won't, with the same person in the seat and no changes to vehicle condition. Some owners also report the driver airbag warning light staying on repeatedly, recurring even after dealer repairs and warranty expiration.
Most concerning: two owners describe actual collisions—head-on impact at 45–50 mph and a 35 mph side strike—where airbags did not deploy at all. GM issued a recall in September 2016, but owners report the fix did not address the underlying problem. GM's recall notification was inconsistent; one owner discovered it in the newspaper rather than through official channels.
Same Buick Encore airbags reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger Seat Airbag Sensor Malfunction
Passenger-side airbag sensor misreads occupant weight and incorrectly displays 'OFF' status. Sensor fails to activate airbag for adults weighing under 180-200 lbs, even though they exceed the weight threshold. Problem persists even after recall service.
When: January 2018 onward; ongoing since purchase in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag OFF indicator illuminates with person sitting in seat; Airbag does not activate for occupants weighing 135-180 lbs; Airbag only activates for occupants over 200 lbs; Indicator stays ON regardless of motion or stationary state; Sensor inconsistently reads child-weight status for full-size adults
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommends new sensor replacement; no error codes reported by dealerships
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Previous recall (September 2016) performed but did not resolve issue; GM indicated no good explanation for non-notification of recall
Intermittent Passenger Airbag Activation
Passenger airbag activation status is unpredictable and inconsistent, switching between ON and OFF regardless of occupant weight, vehicle motion, or seating position.
When: Intermittent; no specific timeframe reported
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light turns on and off unpredictably with same passenger; Works one day and fails the next with no changes; Occurs whether car is moving or stationary; Behavior independent of occupant identity or weight
Driver Airbag Warning Light Recurrence
Driver-side airbag warning light illuminates repeatedly after service, with problem recurring multiple times over vehicle ownership.
When: First occurrence April 2017; recurred at least 4 times by time of complaint (warranty expired)
Symptoms owners cite: Driver airbag warning light stays on; Problem recurs after dealer service
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired three times under warranty; owner now facing out-of-pocket repair costs
Airbag Non-Deployment in Collision
Airbag system fails to deploy during high-impact frontal collisions at highway speeds, leaving occupants unprotected.
When: During collision events at 35-50 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag does not deploy on head-on impact at approximately 45-50 mph; Airbag does not deploy on side-impact at 35 mph; Seatbelt does not lock (narrative #9)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for this problem; however, owner reports recall service did not fix the issue
Airbag Light with Immobilization and No-Start Condition
Driver airbag warning light combined with immobilization light prevents vehicle from starting, creating a no-start condition.
When: Not specified in complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Driver airbag light stays on; Immobilization light illuminates; Vehicle will not start
Repairs/costs cited: Issues addressed by TSB according to complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) issued for this condition
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
3 most recent
airbags
· filed 12/13/2021
Drivers airbag light stays on - immobilisation light stays on, car won't start. Both of these issues were addressed by TSB and complaints
airbags
· filed 12/05/2016
There was a recall on the airbags as being unsafe. I contacted my dealer and asked for them to return my call so I could determine a solution to the unsafe situation. They have not contacted me back in any fashion.
airbags
· filed 11/27/2020
A car pulled out in front of my wife. She struck the other vehicle in the driver's door. The airbag did not deploy and the seatbelt did not lock. This caused her injuries. There has been a recall for this problem. It did not fix the problem. The accident occurred in a 35 MPH zone and on a 4 lane road.
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 Buick Encore?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2015 Buick Encore?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Buick/Encore.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.