This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Buick Encore engine problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 14 engine complaints filed for the 2015 Buick Encore, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine 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 engine 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 service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report multiple distinct engine failures on 2015 Buick Encores, most commonly turbocharger problems. One owner replaced the turbo three times in two weeks after the original failed around 70,000 miles, each time losing acceleration on highway grades—the third replacement also failed immediately. Another hit a turbo failure at 30,000 miles with the dealer unable to source parts due to high demand. A third owner reported loss of power and hesitation traced to turbo bypass valve issues at 102,000 miles, quoted $1,600 for repair. One owner saw the check engine light illuminated and confirmed a faulty turbocharger needing replacement around 79,000 miles.
Loss of acceleration and hesitation appear as separate symptoms—one owner reported chronic hesitation with no warning lights that eventually corrected itself, almost causing an accident. Another experienced severe hesitation at 60 mph with temperature gauge climbing and check engine light, diagnosed with multiple failures and an oil leak.
Oil-related failures are frequent: one owner's car was overfilled during a dealer oil change, then developed oil burning, smoke, and a missing engine mount bolt; another found a massive coolant leak that returns after repairs and may be entering the engine itself. One reported a frozen PVC valve leaking oil everywhere, with a dealer quoting $3,000 for a heater unit. A third cited oil leaking from the oil-coolant pipe and timing gasket issues. One owner had the plastic valve cover warp at 83,809 miles, causing a vacuum leak and power loss.
Sensor failures were documented: one owner replaced a MAF sensor twice and oxygen sensors three times for persisting power loss issues; another's check engine light indicated a faulty turbocharger.
Same Buick Encore engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Turbocharger failure
Turbocharger loses function, causing loss of acceleration, inability to shift, hesitation, and check engine light. One owner experienced three turbo replacements in two weeks, with each replacement failing; another at 30,000 miles faced dealer parts shortages.
When: 70,000 miles (first complaint); 30,000 miles (second complaint); 79,000 miles (third complaint); unknown mileage (fourth complaint)
Symptoms owners cite: loss of acceleration; inability to shift into intended gear; vehicle hesitation; check engine light illuminated; abnormal sounds from engine; vehicle unable to maintain speed on highway grades
Codes mentioned: P0299, TSB PIP5495H referenced
Repairs/costs cited: Turbocharger replacement performed multiple times in one case; $1,600+ estimated cost for bypass valve repair in another; parts unavailable due to high demand in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reported manufacturer advised filing NHTSA complaint; no recall mentioned; TSB PIP5495H exists for turbocharger issue
Oil system failure with burning/smoking
Engine misses, oil burns, and smoke exits the vehicle. One incident occurred immediately after dealer oil change where oil was overfilled by at least a quart and an engine mount bolt was found missing by tow truck driver. Fuel injectors were replaced but smoking persisted due to oil getting past the rings.
When: 15,000 miles (at oil change service)
Symptoms owners cite: engine misses; smoke from back of car; oil burning; check engine light illuminated; vehicle stalled
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: All fuel injectors replaced; oil overfill discovered; missing engine mount bolt discovered by tow operator; smoking reduced but not fully resolved after two days of dealer work
Coolant leak
Massive coolant leak occurs on and off; customer reports shop work and replacements have not resolved it. One shop suspects coolant is leaking into the engine itself.
When: Ongoing since November 2019 purchase (used vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: visible coolant leak underneath vehicle; recurring leak after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement performed at multiple shops without permanent resolution; suspected engine-internal leak
PVC valve frozen
PVC (positive crankcase ventilation) valve freezes, causing oil leakage everywhere. Dealership mechanic confirmed this is a known issue on the model.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: oil leak; frozen PVC valve
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted $3,000 to install a heater unit
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership acknowledged as known issue
Oil-coolant pipe leak and timing gasket blow
Oil leaks from the oil-coolant pipe underneath the vehicle and timing chain or belt gasket blows oil. Owner reports Google search revealed a 2016 service update for the same problem on 2015 models.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: oil leak from oil-coolant pipe; timing gasket failure; oil loss
MAF sensor and oxygen sensor failures
Mass air flow sensor and oxygen sensors fail, causing loss of power and hesitation. One owner replaced the MAF sensor twice and oxygen sensors three times with failures persisting.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: hesitation on acceleration; loss of power; check engine light illuminated; oil underneath vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: MAF sensor replaced twice; oxygen sensors replaced three times; failures persisted after all replacements
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not informed
Plastic valve cover warp
Plastic valve cover warps, leading to vacuum leak and loss of power.
When: 83,809 miles
Symptoms owners cite: loss of power; vacuum leak
Loss of acceleration and hesitation (unexplained)
Chronic loss of acceleration and hesitation without diagnostic codes or warning lights, eventually self-correcting. One case nearly caused an accident when the car would not accelerate despite adequate opportunity to merge. Another case occurred at 60 mph with temperature gauge increase and check engine light, diagnosed as multiple unknown failures including an oil leak; failures continued after repair.
When: Unknown mileage; 95,000 miles (second case)
Symptoms owners cite: loss of acceleration; vehicle hesitation; almost caused accident; no warning lights (first case); temperature gauge increase (second case); check engine light (second case)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (second case only)
Repairs/costs cited: Second case repaired at dealer but failures continued; first case remained undiagnosed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Second case: manufacturer not notified
Catalytic converter failure
Catalytic converter fails, causing abnormal sound from underneath vehicle and complete loss of motive power.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: abnormal sound from underneath vehicle; loss of motive power; check engine light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; independent mechanic diagnosis
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine revved and he was unable to shift the vehicle into the intended gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The contact referenced TSB Number: PIP5495H for the…
The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle, before the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who…
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2015 Buick Encore?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 62,728 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.