2016 Buick ENCLAVE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
141 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 110 of 141 complaints (78.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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 | 110 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Air Bags: 110; Engine: 9; Power Train: 9; Electrical System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Seat Belts: 3; Steering: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 116 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 32 |
| 2024 | 67 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2016: 6; 2017: 2; 2018: 6; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 32; 2024: 67; 2025: 10; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10821026 · 2016-01-19 (January 19, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10860055 · 2016-04-18 (April 18, 2016)
WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH IN OUR NEW 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE WITH ABOUT 319 ODOMETER MILES THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SENSOR CAME ON INDICATING TO ADD AIR. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS THE TIRE BLEW OUT. AFTER I WAS ABLE TO CROSS LANES TO STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER AAA WAS ABLE TO COME CHANGE THE TIRE WITH THE SMALL SPARE. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO THE BUICK DEALER AND HAD THE TIRE AND WHEEL INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THE THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR HAD COME OFF THE VALVE STEM CAUSING THE STEM TO COME OUT WHICH IN TURN C…
Owner-reported narrative. 319 miles reported. Look up ODI 10860055 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10875386 · 2016-06-20 (June 20, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE GETTING CARGO OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE TAILGATE CLOSED AND LOCKED AND FAILED TO RETRACT AND REOPEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR HAND INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10875386 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10905913 · 2016-09-12 (September 12, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN OUR NEW 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE WHEN I WENT TO PASS SOMEONE ON A CITY STREET AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO FULL ACCELERATION. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. LUCKLY THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS AROUND ME AT THE TIME. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT AWAY AND I NOTIFIED ON STAR SOS AND THEY NOTIFIED THE POLICE. IT WAS TOWED TO A BUICK DEALER WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT NOW. THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. 644 miles reported. Look up ODI 10905913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10909587 · 2016-09-26 (September 26, 2016)
BROUGHT THE CAR IN EARLIER THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STALLING. THEY TOLD ME IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LOSE CABLE, BUT LIKELY WAS NOTHING. IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN 3 DAYS AGO AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. YESTERDAY IT STALLED AGAIN AND MY WIFE CAME VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR-ENDED WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR. THIS IS A CAR THAT IS 1 YEAR OLD WITH 5.500 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND THE CAR COMPANY IS NOT HELPING ME WITH THIS. HELP!
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10909587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10914858 · 2016-10-08 (October 8, 2016)
TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10914858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051319 · 2017-11-29 (November 29, 2017)
COLLISION ALERT SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. MORE TIME NOT THE ALERT WILL NOT GO OFF, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS. APPROACHING A SLOWING VEHICLE IN FRONT AT A MORE RAPID SPEED THE ALERT WILL NOT SIGNAL BEING TO CLOSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051319 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11054874 · 2017-12-15 (December 15, 2017)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 27,125 MILES. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, WENT TO PROCEED AND HAD NO POWER TO MOVE. ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE. GOT VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND 3-5 REVERSE SNAP RING GROOVE HAD SHEARED OFF AND METAL WENT THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THEY HAD FOUR SIMILAR ISSUES IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054874 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V609000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
Reported: 2015-09-29 (September 29, 2015)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured August 18, 2015 to September 24, 2015. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.
Consequence: A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly, free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the wiper cover has been replaced. If weather conditions prevent operation of the vehicle without using the windshield wipers, GM will make arrangements to pick up the vehicle for servicing. The recall began on September 30, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15780.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V833000 · Seats
Reported: 2015-12-11 (December 11, 2015)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured November 6, 2015, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location.
Consequence: If the seat frame is not welded in the correct places, the seat may not perform as intended, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21930.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V782000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | Air Bags:Frontal
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V334000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2023-05-10 (May 10, 2023)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia 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. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.
NHTSA campaign record ↗