2008 Buick ENCLAVE: complaints, problems and recalls

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE ON MAY 10, 2007. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE NOTED THAT THE "ON/OFF" FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS INCONSISTENT WHEN MY 5' 4", 115 LB. WIFE SET IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT SHOWS THAT THE SYSTEM IS ON. WE FIRST TALKED WITH THE SALESMAN AND HE SAID THIS DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT AND I SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN WHEN IT WAS SHOWING THE SYSTEM WAS OFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS RIDING AS A PASSENGER. IN AUGUST, WE TOOK THE CAR TO TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202517 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED NEW 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE ON MAY 24, 2007. WE IMMEDIATELY NOTED THE "ON/OFF" FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS INCONSISTENT WHEN MY 5' 7" 118 LB. WIFE SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ABOUT 40% OF THE TIME THE LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF, BUT SPORADICALLY IT SHOWS THAT THE SYSTEM IS ON. JUNE 1ST, ON MY FIRST DEALER VISIT WITH THIS VEHICLE, I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS POSSIBLE AND WE SHOULD VIEW A SEAT SENSING VIDEO. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND VISITS TO MY DEALER, ROYAL BUICK OF TU…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204388 at NHTSA ↗

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT FREQUENTLY INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF WHEN MY 110 POUND WIFE IS IN THE SEAT. I HAVE NOTED THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM OTHER ENCLAVE OWNERS ON AN ENCLAVE WEB SITE (HTTP://WWW.ENCLAVEFORUM.NET/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=449.0 ). *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10205603 at NHTSA ↗

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A BUICK ENCLAVE 2008. WHILE DRIVING I ROLLED DOWN THE BACK WINDOWS TO LET SOME AIR IN THE NEXT THING I HEARD WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND IT HURT MY EARS, THE FASTER I DROVE THE WORSE THE NOISE BECAME. I TOOK THE ENCLAVE BACK TO THE BUICK DEALER AND AFTER THEY DROVE IT THEY ALSO HEARD THE NOISE. FROM WHAT THEY TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE THE ENCLAVE HAS A LOT OF AIR SPACE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSE THE NOISE BUT, WHY DOES IT NOT MAKE THE NOISE WHEN, I OPEN THE DRIVER WINDOW ALL THE WAY DOWN?? THEY COULD NOT ANSWER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10205946 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN AN ADULT SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212945 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN, THE CONTACT SHUT BOTH FRONT WINDOWS AND LEFT THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE SUNROOF BEGAN SHAKING AS WELL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE REAR WINDOWS AND THE SHAKING AND VIBRATING STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT ALL NEW VEHICLES PERFORM IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,897. UPDATED 3/25/08 *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 1,897 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220299 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2008-08-14 (August 14, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 88,809 MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE, AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPERS RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE MOTOR SHAFT AND THE WIPERS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIPER CRANK ARM, DRIVER'S SIDE LINK, AND A CRANK ARM NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN O OCTOBER 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Consequence: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

Reported: 2015-06-30 (June 30, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

Consequence: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

Reported: 2021-10-07 (October 7, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.