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2016 Buick Enclave

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Enclave years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Buick Enclave are substantially higher than the model-year median of 69.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Enclave years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 25 of 141 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

141 reports
57,000 miles · May 29, 2018
Steering

I HAVE A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE - THE HAVE EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY BY APPROXIMATELY BY APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MILES NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGUN MAKING SQUEALING SOUND MAINLY WHEN TURNING. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED A LEAK FROM THE POWER STEERING HOSE. HE FOUND THAT THERE IS A PUBLISHED SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING …

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I HAVE A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE - THE HAVE EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY BY APPROXIMATELY BY APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MILES NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGUN MAKING SQUEALING SOUND MAINLY WHEN TURNING. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED A LEAK FROM THE POWER STEERING HOSE. HE FOUND THAT THERE IS A PUBLISHED SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE ISSUE. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY OR A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11098619

50,000 miles · Mar 8, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL BEFORE SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. THE ENGINE LOW INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC ARLINGTON BUICK GMC (1400 E. I-20 HWY, ARLINGTON, TX 76018) WHERE THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED TWIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL BEFORE SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. THE ENGINE LOW INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC ARLINGTON BUICK GMC (1400 E. I-20 HWY, ARLINGTON, TX 76018) WHERE THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11076860

17,800 miles · Jan 10, 2018
Structure

THE LOWEST PART OF THE FRONT DRIVER OR PASSENGER DOORS COME TO A VERY SHARP POINT AT THE REAR OF THE DOOR. ON NOV. 11,2017 IN A COSTCO PARKING LOT A GUST OF WIND BLEW THE DOOR CLOSED ON MY LEG CAUSING A DEEP WOUND FROM THE SHARP PENETRATING EDGE OF THE DOOR. COSTCO EMPLOYEES PERFORMED EMERGENCY MEDICAL HELP TO STOP THE MASSIV…

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THE LOWEST PART OF THE FRONT DRIVER OR PASSENGER DOORS COME TO A VERY SHARP POINT AT THE REAR OF THE DOOR. ON NOV. 11,2017 IN A COSTCO PARKING LOT A GUST OF WIND BLEW THE DOOR CLOSED ON MY LEG CAUSING A DEEP WOUND FROM THE SHARP PENETRATING EDGE OF THE DOOR. COSTCO EMPLOYEES PERFORMED EMERGENCY MEDICAL HELP TO STOP THE MASSIVE BLEEDING. AS OF THIS DATE THE WOUND IS STILL BEING TREATED. (HOSPITAL HAS PICTURES) UPON ASKING THE DOCTOR AND WOUND NURSE IF I WAS THE ONLY ONE THEY HAD SEEN WITH THIS TYPE OF WOUND , I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THEM REPLY THAT I WAS AMONG THOUSANDS. THE CURE FOR PREVENTING THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT IN THE DESIGN OF ANY VEHICLES FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS IS SIMPLE. TWO DOOR CARS AND TRUCKS ARE ROUNDED AT THE LOW TRAILING EDGE POINT. REAR DOORS ON FOUR DOOR CARS AND TRUCKS ARE ROUNDED. IT SHOULD NOT BE A BIG DESIGN OR ENGINEERING PROBLEM TO CURE. I DO NOT HAVE PICS OF MY LEG , THE HOSPITAL DOES. THEY CAN BE GOTTEN IF NEEDED. THE MAIN ISSUE TO ME IS TO ELIMINATE THE RAZOR SHARP LOWER TRAILING EDGE OF THE DOORS ON ALL MODELS AND MAKES OF AUTOS AND TRUCKS. MY VEHICLE STATIONARY IN PARKING LOT . WIND PROVIDED THE ENERGY TO CLOSE THE DOOR ON MY LEG. I WILL ALSO CONTACT MY LEGISLATURE REPRESENTATIVES. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ODI #11062054

27,125 miles · Dec 15, 2017
Power Train

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 I…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11054874

17,500 miles · Nov 29, 2017
Unknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11051319

8,700 miles · Oct 8, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10914858

5,500 miles · Sep 26, 2016
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

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 AN…

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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!

NHTSA ODI #10909587

644 miles · Sep 12, 2016
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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…

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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 WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ODI #10905913

4,000 miles · Jun 20, 2016
StructureInjury

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 NO…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10875386

319 miles · Apr 18, 2016
Wheels

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. …

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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 CAUSED THE RAPID TIRE DEFLATION. THIS EVENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR DEATH. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY VALVE STEM TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR ISSUES LIKE THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. HOWEVER, IN MY RESEARCH SOME CHRYSLER MODELS APPEAR TO HAVE A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ODI #10860055

Official recalls

4

23V334000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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 & 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. 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.

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

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.

Air Bags:frontal

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.

15V833000 · Seats

Dec 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 & remedy

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.

15V609000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Sep 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 & remedy

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.