This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Buick Encore electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Buick Encore have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 38,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Encore | 6 |
| 2014 Encore | 11 |
| 2015 Encore (this page) | 18 |
| 2016 Encore | 8 |
| 2018 Encore | 5 |
| 2019 Encore | 9 |
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Buick Encore we track for electrical problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 18.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other diagnostic methods to identify them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Encore electrical system is failing in multiple, sometimes catastrophic ways. The most dangerous pattern: complete loss of engine, steering, and brake power while driving, often triggered on highways after extended driving. One owner experienced this five times in six months across different states and dealers; another lost all systems while braking at a traffic light. Dealerships have replaced batteries, recharged batteries, reprogrammed ECMs, and in one case replaced the entire ECM, yet failures persist and return.
Beyond catastrophic shutdown, owners report the dashboard screen going black or dim unpredictably, turn signals and headlights misbehaving, door locks trapping occupants, SRS lights cycling on and off, and Bluetooth triggering system shutdowns. The ignition switch runs dangerously hot. One service manager told an owner the steering column wiring breaks from normal tilt steering wheel use—specific to this model. Dealers sometimes can't even duplicate failures or obtain diagnostic codes. Multiple owners are considering switching brands after repeated unsuccessful repair attempts.
Same Buick Encore electrical reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent System Shutdown/Loss of Power
Complete or partial electrical shutdown while driving, affecting engine, steering, brakes, gauges, transmission control, and other vital systems. Engine may stall mid-drive, requiring restart to restore function.
When: Highway speeds (40–75 mph), after extended highway driving (3+ hours), or during normal city/suburban driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stops without warning; Loss of power steering; Loss of brake assist; Instrument panel gauges go to zero; Transmission stops responding/stuck in low gear; Traction control light illuminates; Check engine light comes on after recovery; ON STAR/telematics unresponsive during event; Power returns after restart or waiting a few seconds
Codes mentioned: U0073, P0700, 0073
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships have replaced battery, recharged battery, reprogrammed ECM, replaced ECM. One owner reports dealership replaced 'the brains of the electrical system' after identifying multiple codes. Some vehicles remain undiagnosed after multiple dealer visits and tows.
Battery and Charging System Failure
Weld failure on battery terminal causing battery cable short and total electrical system loss. Impacts ability to start engine and operate critical safety equipment.
When: While braking/stopping for traffic light
Symptoms owners cite: Complete electrical system death except power seats and door locks; Engine will not start; Instrument panel inoperative; No hazard/emergency lights; Gear shift control disabled (stuck in park); No radio, lights, or turn signals
Repairs/costs cited: GMC dealer identified weld failure on battery terminal causing short in battery wire. Repair note does not specify parts or cost.
Display Screen and Infotainment Malfunction
Information center/display screen goes dim, black, or completely off intermittently while driving or parked. Radio may power on by itself or fail to power off with engine. Backup camera inoperative.
When: While stationary or during normal driving; at 30,000 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Display screen goes dim or nearly black (day or night); Display screen goes completely black; Cannot see radio stations on display; Radio powers on by itself with keys off; Backup camera inoperative alongside display failure
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer determined information center and radio needed replacement but parts were on backorder. Vehicle not repaired.
SRS/Airbag Light Fault (Passenger Presence Module)
SRS warning light cycles on and off intermittently. Dealer firmware update provided but did not resolve issue. Passenger presence module malfunction suspected.
When: Since vehicle was new; at 42,000 miles complaint was filed
Symptoms owners cite: SRS light comes on for weeks, then goes off, then returns; Passenger airbag warning light doesn't always illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Firmware update performed on airbag system by dealer. No recall issued. Owner reports independent garage was going to assess; dealer quoted over $1,000 to repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; dealer firmware update did not resolve issue
Ignition Switch Heat/Key Stuck in Ignition
Ignition gets very hot, key becomes too hot to touch safely. Key may stick in ignition. Specific to 2015 Encore model according to owner's mechanic.
When: During normal vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Ignition gets very hot; Key becomes too hot to touch, nearly burns owner's hand; Key may stick in ignition
Repairs/costs cited: Owner describes as specific to this make and model; no repair attempt documented
Door Lock System Malfunction
Power door locks fail intermittently, leaving occupants trapped inside vehicle. Back doors particularly affected.
When: During normal operation; sustained for 30 minutes in one incident
Symptoms owners cite: Door locks stop working; Back doors will not unlock; Occupant trapped inside vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided
Turn Signal and Exterior Light Malfunction
Turn signal lights (blinkers) fail intermittently. Headlights behave unpredictably, coming on when not needed or failing to come on when needed. Alert lights in side mirrors fail.
When: During driving; issues come and go over several days
Symptoms owners cite: Blinkers go out then come back on intermittently; Turn signals stop working while driving; Headlights come on when not needed; Headlights fail to come on when needed; Alert lights in mirrors don't work while driving
Bluetooth/Hands-Free System Malfunction
Bluetooth audio and communication fail intermittently. Incoming call triggered complete system shutdown in one case. Bluetooth calls may not transmit audio (callers cannot hear owner).
When: During use; one incident triggered full shutdown while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Bluetooth call caused entire electrical system to shut down; Loss of vehicle control during shutdown; Bluetooth calls: owner can hear caller but caller cannot hear owner; Bluetooth doesn't work properly
Transmission Control and Engine Surge Issues
Transmission stops responding to driver input. Engine surges at idle or during light acceleration. Multiple transmission-related codes present.
When: While sitting at traffic light and during bridge crossing
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surges at idle or during light acceleration; Transmission stops shifting; Transmission stuck in low gear
Codes mentioned: 0700, P0700
Steering Column Wiring Damage
Wires in steering column break due to tilt steering wheel usage, a known issue specific to this model according to mechanic.
When: During tilt steering wheel operation
Symptoms owners cite: Broken wires in steering column
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic noted this is specific to 2015 Encore make/model
Engine Ignition Coil and Cylinder Misfire
Ignition coil arcing to valve cover causing random cylinder misfire. Check engine light and misfire codes present.
When: Vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Random cylinder misfire; Check engine light illuminated
Codes mentioned: P0300
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My car started surging when I was sitting at a traffic light and as I was crossing abridge The check engine light came on - 2 codes - transmission module 0700 and module 0073
While driving, I received a call that routed through the Bluetooth hands-free system. Within seconds of receiving the call, the entire system seemed to blitz out and shut the car off completely. Luckily I was not going fast and was able to glide to the side. I lost almost all the ability to control the car. If this had been on the freeway it wouldn't have ended as well.
Had electrical 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 electrical problem on the 2015 Buick Encore?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 3,600 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 38,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,600; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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.