Power Train. Review the 139 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports10 fire reports18 injury reports

Power Train complaints

139 reports

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117,000 miles · Jan 12, 2014

Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH THE VEHICLE KICKED OUT OF GEAR. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. PULLED TO SHOULDER OF FREEWAY AND COASTED. ONCE THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IT ENGAGED BACK INTO GEAR. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BETWEEN 55 AND 60 AT ABOUT 3000 RPM BUT TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO HIGHER OR LOWER GEARS. TOOK FREEWAY EXIT AND CAME TO STOP. UPON TURNING ONTO ADJACENT ROAD THE VEHICLE ONLY USED 2 GEARS TO REACH A SPEED OF 55 MPH, SHIFTING FROM A LOW GEAR TO A HIGH GEAR AT 4000 RPM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559486

112,000 miles · Jan 2, 2014

Power Train

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND SLOWED DOWN TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I ACCELERATED, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 40 MPH. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I RESTARTED CAR AND COULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 20 MPH. I WENT TO LOCAL GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. REVERSE, 3RD AND 5TH GEARS WERE GONE. I LIMPED THE VEHICLE HOME AND AM NOW LOOKING AT $3-5000 WORTH OF REPAIRS ON A HIGH END, WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE WITH ONLY 112,000 MILES. I AM VERY UPSET WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AT GENERAL MOTORS AND WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS OVERPRICED LEMON! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558126

74,000 miles · Dec 23, 2013

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS …

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NHTSA ODI #10557113

82,040 miles · Dec 12, 2013

EnginePower Train

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WHILE DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER, AND DOGS FROM THE VET; THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY STOP. I TRIED TO RESTART AND VEHICLE TURN ON LIGHTS, AC, RADIO CAME ON HOWEVER WOULD NOT CRANK. PEDESTRIANS PUSHED ME OUT OF HARMS WAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. TOWED TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT INSPECTION THEY SAID IT IS ENGINE FAILURE AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 7000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CAR HAD A FULL WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH JUST RECENTLY ENDED. I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS AND HAD THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 1 YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555845

74,704 miles · Nov 25, 2013

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. DRIVING HOME, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. ENGINE WAS ON AND WOULD REV, TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE, BUT CAR DIDN'T GO. TURNED OFF CAR FOR A COUPLE MINUTES, TURNED BACK ON, CAR STARTED. TRIED TO DRIVE HOME, BUT AT ABOUT 20 MPH ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS FAILED AND WE COASTED TO A STOP. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, $5000 REPAIR BILL, 10 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE WORST PART WAS THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING ABOUT THE FAILURE. IT WAS GOING FINE, AND THEN SUDDENLY WE HAD NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. FORTUNATELY WE WERE GOING SLOWLY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT IF THIS HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IT COULD BE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IN DOING SOME SEARCHING, IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IN CARS BUILT AROUND 2H 2007. BUICK NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553650

75,000 miles · Nov 7, 2013

EnginePower TrainSteering

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THIS CAR HAS A WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN THAT GETS LOUDER THE MORE DRIVE IT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BUICK CARE DEPT AND THEY INDICATED IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. THEY HAD ME TAKE MY CAR TO THE BUICK PLACE WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY COME UP WITH ABOUT 1900.00 TO FIX THIS AND SAY THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE BUICK STEERING THAT SOME HOUSING IS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT CREATES THE NOISE AND STEERING PROBLEMS AND THAT BUICK AND EVERYONE ELSE IS AWARE OF IT AND THAT THEY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL BUT DO NOT. IN ADDITION I HAVE ENGINE STALLING PROBLEMS WHERE THERE IS LACK OF POWER UPON SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551405

66,359 miles · Oct 14, 2013

Power Train

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AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE... I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL THEN BACK TO DRIVE AND IT WENT FORWARD VERY SLOWLY, THEN NOTHING. I COASTED OFF THE ROAD (AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION) AND FORTUNATELY 2 POLICEMEN STOPPED TO HELP ME. THEY LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THEY CALLED THE BUICK DEALER FOR A TOW AND WHEN I WENT INTO THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY 'THOUGHT' IT WAS PROBABLY THE TRANSMISSION, BUT WOULDN'T KNOW THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE TRANS. WAS DROPPED. ALSO THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN JULY! I WAS TOLD, TWO DAYS AND $3100.00 LATER IT WAS A WAVE PLATE PROBLEM. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE AND OTHER GM PRODUCTS. I BOUGHT THIS ENCLAVE USED IN JAN./2010 WITH 41,000. MILES. IT SUPPOSEDLY HAD RAVE REVIEWS, AND NOW HAS TERRIBLE ONES. THAT SAYS A LOT. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AFTER 5 YRS., OR 66,000 MILES, ESPECIALLY IN A HIGH END MODEL VEHICLE THAT COSTS THIS MUCH! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547870

49,000 miles · Oct 1, 2013

Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO REVERSE OR 2ND GEAR. GM DID NOT PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL TSB. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546410

60,531 miles · Sep 9, 2013

Power Train

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AND PARKING, NEXT DAY NOTICED LEAKAGE IN CARPORT UNDER CAR. AFTER A DAY OR TWO NOTICED A BIGGER SPOT UNDER CAR, CHECKED SPOT OUT IT LOOKS LIKE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE CARPORT SURFACE AND ON THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10542557

45,697 miles · Aug 29, 2013

Power Train

BROKEN 3-5-R WAVE PLATE IN TRANSMISSION. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10537984

Official recalls

21V782000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Oct 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 & remedy

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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.

Air Bags:frontal

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

15V415000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Jun 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 & remedy

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.

14V118000 · Air Bags:side/window

Mar 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 & remedy

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.

10V240000 · Electrical System

Jun 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 & remedy

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.

08V441000 · Electrical System

Aug 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 & remedy

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> .

08V410000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

Aug 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 & remedy

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> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA08010 · NON-CRASH Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 12, 2008 · Closed Sep 8, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery; Electrical System:wiring; Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood; Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers; Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 27, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-441) TO ADDRESS A SAFETY RELATEDDEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 850,000 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OF THIS INVESTIGATION COMPRISE OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE RECALL POPULATION. ACCORDING TO GM, A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID HEATER MODULE MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR OR CAUSE SMOKE AND IN RARE CASES IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE.AS A REMEDY, GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE. IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, SEVERAL OTHER GM MODELS WITH THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V-441: MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2005 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE (MANUFACTURED FEBRUARY 2007 THROUGH APRIL 2007); MY 2006-2008 CADILLAC DTS (MANUFACTURED MAY 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2007-2008 SATURN OUTLOOK (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007); AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007) VEHICLES.GM IS INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IF THEY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF WINDSHIELD WASHER HEATER MODULE SHORT CIRCUITS. GM'S RECALL RESOLVES THE SAFETY DEFECT CONCERNS PURSUED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (9)

Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Electrical System

Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Electrical System:wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Engine And Engine Cooling

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring