2015 Buick Encore STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2015 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the power steering assist warning light illuminated and the steering wheel was locked. Additionally, a burning odor was detected, and the tachometer was inoperable while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

The contact owns a 2015 BUICK ENCORE. The contact stated that whenever the vehicle was placed in reverse the vehicle felt as if the tires were dragging. When the steering wheel was being turned in any direction, the vehicle would show signs of hesitation before turning. The contact stated that the failures were related to TSB number: 10161933 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 10139246 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND STEERING), 18NA049. The contact had taken the vehicle to the local dealer who stated that the rear differential had failed and the failure was caused by the issues mentioned in the TSB’s mentioned above. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BUICK ENCORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND REGAINED NORMAL POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE TO PARK AND THE VEHICLE THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED WITH RANDOM MESSAGES, SOME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START DUE TO THE BATTERY POWER BEING TO LOW DESPITE THE BATTERY BEING NEW WHEN PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE BUT FAILED WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER INSTALLATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DENOOYER CHEVROLET (5800 STADIUM DR, KALAMAZOO, MI 49009; (269) 389-0733) WHO WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BUICK ENCORE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CARL BLACK CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (1110 ROBERTS BLVD, KENNESAW, GA 30144 (770) 424-2200), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED, THE KEYS WERE LEFT IN THE IGNITION AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE AUTOMATICALLY RESET ITSELF AS A RESULT OF THE DEAD BATTERY THAT NEEDED TO BE RECHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V146000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

DRIVING ABOUT 45-50 MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER TURNED OFF, AND THE DASH BOARD SCREEN WAS BLACK. I THEN TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAIN DRIVING ROAD.