Buyer Research

2017 Buick Encore — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $11,000–$16,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

A quiet, comfortable subcompact luxury-ish crossover with a surprisingly plush ride for its size. The 1.4L turbo is the engine, and it carries GM's small-turbo watch-items: coolant leaks, PCV/valve-cover, and turbo wear. Slow but refined and easy to park. A comfortable city SUV if the cooling system and PCV check out.

What we checked

Reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 89 owner complaints for the 2017 Buick Encore, across 2 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 47% of them are about one thing — the engine. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.

2 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Looked at and set aside: airbags (13) — 13 airbag complaints on file, almost always a recall matter rather than a repair bill; have a dealer check this VIN for open airbag campaigns and confirm any were performed.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2017 Buick Encore

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

1.4L turbo coolant leaksMedium

Leaks from the water outlet, thermostat housing, and hoses are common; check coolant level and for a sweet smell.

Repair cost (estimate): $200-$700

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (42).

Slow accelerationLow

The 1.4T is leisurely. Character.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: not yet checked against public records.

6T40 automatic transmission shudder or harsh shiftsMedium

The 6-speed automatic behind the 1.4L turbo can develop a shudder or vibration under light acceleration around 20–40 mph, plus delayed or harsh 2-6 shifts; GM technical bulletins point to debris in the valve body or a worn torque converter clutch as the cause. A fluid and filter service with the correct GM-spec fluid sometimes clears it up, but a shudder that persists usually means a torque converter or valve body replacement.

Repair cost (estimate): $300–$1,800

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (9).

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Low/leaking coolant
✗Rough idle with a whistle (PCV)
✗Turbo whine
✗Overheating history

Good Signs

✓Steady coolant, no leaks
✓Documented oil service
✓Recent PCV/valve cover done

Found a specific Buick Encore?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2017 Buick Encore in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.

Other Buick Encore years

2016 Buick Encore

$8,000–$12,000