Buick ENCLAVE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,492 owner complaints analyzed
29 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,449 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 754 of 2,492 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 462 | 18.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 246 | 9.9% |
| Braking behavior | 232 | 9.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 154 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 107 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 23 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 754 |
| Steering | 439 |
| Engine | 347 |
| Power Train | 335 |
| Electrical System | 263 |
| Unknown Or Other | 185 |
| Service Brakes | 102 |
| Structure:Body | 100 |
Air Bags: 754; Steering: 439; Engine: 347; Power Train: 335; Electrical System: 263; Unknown Or Other: 185; Service Brakes: 102; Structure:Body: 100
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 245 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 180 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 376 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 277 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 285 |
| 150,000 and above | 86 |
Under 25,000: 245; 25,000 to 49,999: 180; 50,000 to 74,999: 376; 75,000 to 99,999: 277; 100,000 to 149,999: 285; 150,000 and above: 86
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (376). 1,043 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2010 | 37 |
| 2011 | 59 |
| 2012 | 41 |
| 2013 | 125 |
| 2014 | 281 |
| 2015 | 183 |
| 2016 | 173 |
| 2017 | 117 |
| 2018 | 176 |
| 2019 | 168 |
| 2020 | 114 |
| 2021 | 76 |
| 2022 | 62 |
| 2023 | 269 |
| 2024 | 357 |
| 2025 | 119 |
| 2026 | 90 |
2007: 6; 2008: 13; 2009: 26; 2010: 37; 2011: 59; 2012: 41; 2013: 125; 2014: 281; 2015: 183; 2016: 173; 2017: 117; 2018: 176; 2019: 168; 2020: 114; 2021: 76; 2022: 62; 2023: 269; 2024: 357; 2025: 119; 2026: 90
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 462 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 246 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 232 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10260425 · 2009-03-02 (March 2, 2009)
I WAS DRIVING ON RANDALL ROAD TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH. I SLOWED TO ENTER A RIGHT TURN LANE AND THE STEERING BEGAN TO SHUDDER WHEN I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL. I BRAKED AGGRESSIVELY AND WAS ABLE AFTER MUCH EFFORT TO MANEUVER THE ENCLAVE INTO A PARKING SPACE. I PHONED MY HUSBAND AND UPON ARRIVAL FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. HE PHONED THE DEALER AND BUICK ASSISTANCE. AFTER 3 HOURS THE CAR WAS LOADED ON A TRUCK AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE PERSON STATED THAT THE COOLER LINE HAD DEVELOPED A PIN HOLE LEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261977 · 2009-03-16 (March 16, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EASY EXIT SEAT FUNCTION. WHEN THE KEY IS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, BOTH THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL ARE SUPPOSED TO MOVE TO PRE-DETERMINED POSITIONS, AND THEN MOVE BACK WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MOVE BACK WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED. FOR MONTHS, HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE DEALER REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT HIS APPOINTMENTS KEPT GETTING PUSHED BACK. RECENTLY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ISSUE COULD N…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225003 · 2008-04-19 (April 19, 2008)
2008 BUICK ENCLAVE THAT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR 8 MONTHS (NEW CAR WAS PICKED UP IN AUGUST OF 2007). AFTER SEVERAL SERVICE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IT STILL DOESN'T PERFORM LIKE IT SHOULD. TODAY WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE ENGINE WAS RACING TO OVER 4,000 RPM WHILE DRIVING DOWN A 35 MPH ROAD -- THOUGHT THE THING WAS GOING TO BLOW UP BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. ALSO HAD WATER (FROM RAIN) ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AFTER IT RAINED DUE TO FAULTY RAIL CONNECTORS (NOT SEALED) ON TOP OF CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10225003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235585 · 2008-07-24 (July 24, 2008)
I SLOWED FOR A CURVE IN A TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD. AFTER THE CURVE I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO RESUME SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR ENGINE RACED LOUDLY, THE RPM GAUGE SHOT WAY UP, AND THE CAR DECELERATED RATHER THAN ACCELERATE. I AGAIN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO SPEED UP AND THE ENGINE AGAIN RACED BUT THE CAR KEPT SLOWING. I BECAME AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO ACCELERATE AND ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION AND TAKE OFF ON ME. I LOOKED AT THE GEARSHIFT TO BE SURE I WAS IN "D" MODE, AND I WAS. I DOWNSHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,341 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208047 · 2007-11-06 (November 6, 2007)
ON AUG 20 THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME WITH A HITCH STOPPED; SO DID I. THE CAR BEHIND ME AND THE CAR BEHIND HIM DIDN'T STOP. I TOOK THE CAR TO SPRINGMALL AUTO BODY IN SPRINGFIELD - $5500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. ONE WEEK AFTER I PICKED IT UP, I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I GOT ON ONSTAR AND THEY SAID THE TRACTION AND ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED. I TOOK IT BACK TO SPRINGMALL. BECAUSE IT'S SO NEW, THEY DROVE THE CAR TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT - RTE 1 PONTIAC, GM AND BUICK, WOODRIDGE VA. UPON RECEIPT OF THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC NEVER ASKED FOR PAPE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10303381 · 2010-01-30 (January 30, 2010)
SNOWY CONDITIONS - ABOUT 2 INCHES ON THE GROUND; AS I BEGAN TO DESCEND THE HILL NEAR MY HOME I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO KEEP A SLOW PACE DOWN THE HILL. BRAKES FAILED AND I BEGAN TO SLIDE DOWN THE HILL. STEERING WAS UNRESPONSIVE; MESSAGES INTERCHANGEABLY FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD - 'SERVICE STABILITRAK' AND 'SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL'. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE, AND HALFWAY DOWN THE HILL JUMPED AN 8" CURB. FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE THERE WERE PARKED CARS TO THE LEFT. ALSO, FORTUNATE THERE WERE NO PEO…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251323 · 2008-12-10 (December 10, 2008)
2008 BUICK ENCLAVE - 8 MONTHS OLD - 3200 MILES. FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. TRIPLE A CAME AND JUMPED THE CAR - DEALER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH BATTERY OR ALTERNATOR. HOWEVER, EDMONDS.COM THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF OWNERS EXPRESSING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE OWNED CARS FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253822 · 2009-01-05 (January 5, 2009)
NEW 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE, THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AFTER NOT BEING DRIVEN FOR 6 DAYS. BUICK TOLD ME I NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR AT LEST EVERY 3 DAYS TO PREVENT THIS. BATTERY WAS JUMPED AND CAR STARTED FINE. I CAN'T LIVE WITH A CAR THAT NEEDS TO BE DRIVEN EVERY 3 DAYS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10370323 · 2010-12-12 (December 12, 2010)
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP X 1 FOR A LEAK IN THE SUNROOF. I AM NOW ON MY SECOND ATTEMPT TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. ON THE PREVIOUS LEAK WATER COULD BE HEARD IN THE DASH WHILE TURNING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK AT THAT TIME WAS NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE A POST. THIS CURRENT LEAK IS ALSO ON THE SAME POST BUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS TIME I HAD MY BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF WITH MY PARKING ASSIST LAMPS. AN AUDIBLE CHIME COULD ALSO BE HEARD. THEIR IS AN OBVIOUS HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS SPECIFIC BODY FROM ALL …
Owner-reported narrative. 51,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459693 · 2012-05-25 (May 25, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669221 · 2014-12-31 (December 31, 2014)
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON... (4) RECALLS FOR OTHER MALFUNCTIONS..., THE CURRENT RE-CALL - 10/2014 ON SIDE AIR BAGS, THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF. THE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON ...THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE PROBLEM... THE GAS TANK...A BRAND NEW GAS TANK WAS NEEDED. HOW CAN THAT BE, THE CAR IS ( 6 ) YEARS - SIX . THE MILEAGE ( 64,000 ).. RECORD SHOWS CONSISTENT CAR SERVICES, GOOD CARE FROM THE INITIAL PURCHASE. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THE COST WOULD BE $505.00. "THE CAR COULD AT ANY TIME STOP RECEIVING GAS INTO THE TANK!!!.... THE CAR AT ANY TIM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10669221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10836424 · 2016-02-16 (February 16, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,859.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,859 miles reported. Look up ODI 10836424 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 6; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 4; 2014: 7; 2015: 5; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 0; 2019: 1; 2020: 6; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 0; 2024: 0; 2025: 0; 2026: 1