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

What owners actually said

536 reports

80,000 miles · Aug 8, 2013

EnginePower Train

Read full complaint

MY TWO CHILDREN AND I WERE TRAVELING ON A HIGHLY ELEVATED RAMP BETWEEN MAJOR HIGHWAYS IN SAN ANTONIO (281 AND 1604) WHEN MY CAR NO LONGER WOULD MOVE INTO A HIGHER GEAR AND SUDDENLY STALLED AT ITS CURRENT SPEED. THE ENGINE ROARED, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FASTER. THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME, AS I UNEXPECTEDLY WAS NOT INCREASING SPEED AS ONE WOULD TYPICALLY DO ENTERING A HIGHWAY. IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING TO ALL THREE OF US (ESPECIALLY MY 9 YEAR OLD) AND REQUIRED OUR EXITING THE HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM QUICKLY, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A FREQUENT REPAIR. THE "WAVE PLATE" FAILURE LED TO THE FAILED TRANSMISSION WITH ADDITIONAL ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE BILL EXCEEDS $6000. BOTH THE NEAR ACCIDENT AND COST HAVE BEEN HIGHLY STRESSFUL. WE WANT GM TO ADDRESS THIS "WAVE PLATE /TRANSMISSION" ISSUE BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ALMOST GET HURT. THE FORUMS FOR GM VEHICLES CONTAINING THIS PART HAVE DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534179

54,256 miles · Aug 3, 2013

Steering

LOST TOTAL STEERING AT LOW SPEED, LUCKILY I WAS IN AND OPEN AREA AND NOT IN CLOSE QUARTERS LIKE A PARKING LOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533455

71,000 miles · Jul 24, 2013

Steering

Read full complaint

STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED, ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE PROCESS. BUICK KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE ON THE ENCLAVE PLATFORM, STILL, NO RECALL. IF I DID GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND A FATALITY OCCURRED, LITIGATION WOULD HAVE BEEN IN ORDER. IS THIS WHAT BUICK IS WAITING FOR? SOMEONE TO GET INJURED, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE ORIGINAL STICKER PRICE FOR MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE WAS NORTH OF $40,000, WOW AND THEY CAN'T GET SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A STEERING RACK AND PUMP RIGHT? THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, I JUST HAD TO PAY $2800 TO GET THIS FIXED, AND NOT REALLY SURE IF IT WILL OR WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS, APPARENTLY BUICK DOES NOT CARE ONE BIT ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS AND DEFINITELY DOES NOT WANT REPEAT BUSINESS. I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO AVOID BUICK AT EVERY EXPENSE AND NEVER, NEVER, NEVER BUY AN ENCLAVE. I AM ALSO CONSIDERING SELLING THE ENCLAVE AND BUYING SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH IT AND SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531640

74,000 miles · Jul 10, 2013

Steering

STEERING RACK SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO STEERING ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER WE WERE TOLD THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE IN THAT CONDITION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE STEERING COULD FAIL OR LOCKUP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524224

64,000 miles · Jul 7, 2013

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

WE BROUGHT THIS CAR FROM LANDERS FORD COLLIERVILLE IN 19APR13 AND I HAVE HAD TO GET THE BRAKES REDONE, AND A VALVE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER FIXED. BUT WE WENT TO SUNRISE GMC ON 28JUN13 AND THEY ADVISED US THAT WE NEED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR DUE TO A CRACK IN SOME PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR THAT LONG AND NOW IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. LANDERS FORD KNEW THAT CAR HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. GMC ADVISED US THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS IN THE BUICK ENCLAVES AND THE ARCADIAS. SO IF YOU KNOW THAT THIS CAR HAD THESE PROBLEMS, THEN WHY HAVEN'T A RECALLED BEEN DONE ON THE CARS. WE DID RESEARCH THIS PAST WEEK AND EVERYONE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. WE ALSO CALLED GMC AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT SINCE I BROUGHT THE CAR FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP AND NOT GMC THAT THEY CAN NOT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. BUT THEY CAN GIVE US 70/30 WE PAY 70 PERCENT OF THE REPAIRS WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD. THEY ADVISED US THAT THE CAR CAME OFF THE LINE IN 2007 AND THAT IS WHY THE CAR IS 10 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523552

114,354 miles · Jul 3, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING AND UPON TRYING TO PRESS THE BRAKE THE CAR JOLTED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR. THE CAR SAID TRACTION CONTROL OFF. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE HOME WITH THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRING BUT REALIZE THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL KEPT GOING ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY. WHEN I READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE I REALIZED A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10523126

57,900 miles · Jun 21, 2013

Power Train

WE WERE DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH POWER WHEN THE GAS WAS PRESSED. WE COASTED TO A STOP AND WERE NEARLY REAR ENDED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521021

20,000 miles · Jun 18, 2013

Steering

STEERING UNIT EMITS GROWLING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS. THERE IS FEEDBACK THRU THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING FLUID CHANGED AT 10,000 MILE INTERVALS AND THAT SEEMS TO HELP, BUT THE SERVICE STATION THAT CHANGES MY OIL TELLS ME THAT THE UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED! HE HAS SEEN THE SAME ISSUE ON THE GMC ACAD…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10520353

42,000 miles · Jun 14, 2013

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 58 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE AND STOP VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBL…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10519874

22,500 miles · Jun 9, 2013

SteeringStructure

Read full complaint

DURING WET WEATHER, THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO SHUT DOWN AND MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER JUST STARTING OUT AND DRIVING THRU A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER AND AFTER A FEW MILES SEEMS TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT I HAVE SEEN FROM OTHER OWNERS AND NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL BECAUSE THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WE HAD ONE CLOSE CALL, HOW EVER DO TO THE LOW SPEED WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN TIME. SOMEHOW WATER MUST BE GETTING INTO THE STEERING COMPONENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515856

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