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2018 Buick Enclave

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Buick Enclave do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 69.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

33 reports with mileage · 31 unknown

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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 12, 2026
Power Train

After two transmission flushes and being told by a Buick dealership's service technicians that nothing is wrong with the vechile's transmission, it has now failed completely at ~90k miles.

NHTSA ODI #11737422

110,000 miles · Mar 23, 2026
Power Train

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended, with a grinding sound coming from the transmission. A bystander pushed the vehicle to the side road, and the vehicle was later towed to the residence. The …

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The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended, with a grinding sound coming from the transmission. A bystander pushed the vehicle to the side road, and the vehicle was later towed to the residence. The contact’s husband inspected the vehicle and determined that it had experienced transmission failure. No further information was available. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #11726444

71,000 miles · Dec 23, 2025
Power Train

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while stopped at a gas station; after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle was restarted but was unable to shift to drive(D). The contact attempted to shift to reverse(R) and the shift lever failed to respond. The contact stated an unknown warning light was illuminated. The…

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The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while stopped at a gas station; after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle was restarted but was unable to shift to drive(D). The contact attempted to shift to reverse(R) and the shift lever failed to respond. The contact stated an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #11706736

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2025
Power Train

The torque converter is failing it seems this is far too common and dangerous with all Buick enclaves for this year. The vehicle shakes when applying the gas not having the power it needs to keep a steady speed without shaking. A mechanic stated the torque converter is bad known as the “GM shutter”

NHTSA ODI #11662883

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2025
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

mY VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS UNABLE TO PUT IN DRIVE

NHTSA ODI #11639358

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2024
EnginePower Train

My car starting sputtering on take off from stops, extremely dangerous if you’re trying to get out in traffic and keep up quickly from a stop. Then when I took it to get looked at it the mechanic said it needs a new transmission. Now my family is stuck because that’s our only vehicle big enough for our growing family. They’re wa…

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My car starting sputtering on take off from stops, extremely dangerous if you’re trying to get out in traffic and keep up quickly from a stop. Then when I took it to get looked at it the mechanic said it needs a new transmission. Now my family is stuck because that’s our only vehicle big enough for our growing family. They’re was a check engine light that keeps coming on.

NHTSA ODI #11608383

125,639 miles · Feb 21, 2023
EnginePower Train

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while idling or at a complete stop, the vehicle lunged forward upon acceleration. The contact then stated that while shifted to park, the vehicle inadvertently started. The contact also stated that she heard a screeching sound in the wheels while shifting in the firs…

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The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while idling or at a complete stop, the vehicle lunged forward upon acceleration. The contact then stated that while shifted to park, the vehicle inadvertently started. The contact also stated that she heard a screeching sound in the wheels while shifting in the first gear, and intermittently in second and third gear. Additionally, the contact stated that the check engine warning light was previously illuminated; however, after driving the vehicle, the check engine light turned off. The vehicle was taken three times to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the warranty was not honored, and no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 125,639.

NHTSA ODI #11508337

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2022
Back Over PreventionElectrical SystemPower TrainCrash

-A few weeks prior to accident, while driving down a 65mph highway in TX, vehicle side mirrors were folding inward. Continued to fold inward after hit button to open them multiple times. Even did this after pulled off highway and stopped/started vehicle and exiting vehicle and locking to try to create a "reset" of system. (Auto…

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-A few weeks prior to accident, while driving down a 65mph highway in TX, vehicle side mirrors were folding inward. Continued to fold inward after hit button to open them multiple times. Even did this after pulled off highway and stopped/started vehicle and exiting vehicle and locking to try to create a "reset" of system. (Auto folding windows feature in infotainment was NOT selected to be ON before or after this incident! Auto-folding sidemirrors are tied to the electron shifter status and should only engage when turned ON in infotainment option AND vehicle in PARK. This was occurring over 2-3 days while driving on highway at 65mph) Accident: -Pulled into parking spot and placed vehicle in PARK. -Front Dash Camera audio indicates the "Ding" confirmation of park and hear vehicle doors unlock upon Park status. -Vehicle was still ON and began to slow roll UP HILL BACKWARDS in parking lot and strike another parked vehicle across the double wide aisle. -No rear camera was engaged. -No collision alert (no seat vibration which was always ON in infotaiment option) -No automatic braking for about to strike a vehicle. -Display after impact was on the Buick Startup Icon, NOT the infotainment icons. -Vehicle driven immediately to Buick dealership and Claim initiated wth ESIS (regarding product liability claim with GM (General Motors) -no police due to private lot - 9 days later the black box data (Bosch Crash Data Report) and vehicle Global Diagnostics Sysem Reports were downloaded from Vehicle. Third report polling all the vehicle drive cycles was downloaded but not provided to me as consumer with claim. - No data obtained from CDR as not over 8mph and was backwards. -GDS2 indicates not DTC data most items but did indicate: 1)Rear Differential Clutch Control Module No Communication 2)Left Front Short Range Radar Sensor Module No Communication 3)Right Front Short Range Radar Sensor Module No Communication 4)Rear Short Range Radar Sensor Module No Communication

NHTSA ODI #11495213

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2022
Power Train

Place car in park, went into store, came back out tried to put car in reverse, car would. To go, tried it two more time, car would. To go in reverse. Turned car off, put in drive , would go in drive, put in reverse, car would go, but the engine light came on and stayed on until later that day. Took car to the dealer that Monday …

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Place car in park, went into store, came back out tried to put car in reverse, car would. To go, tried it two more time, car would. To go in reverse. Turned car off, put in drive , would go in drive, put in reverse, car would go, but the engine light came on and stayed on until later that day. Took car to the dealer that Monday morning, (Onstar notification says engine or transmission problem, park brake assist light came on a few times flashing on dashboard.dealer tells me first, needs to change transmission fluid. Then told me it is the solenoid switch in the transmission. Dealer calls National auto care(my warranty) and tells them that the problem, warranty wants the cause and part#. Dealer came out to look at car, stated don’t drive because their is slim metal shavings in transmission fluid. No one can tell me where it’s coming from. And the warranty company will not replace the transmission. So here I am paying a car note and a warranty. No fix

NHTSA ODI #11458067

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2022
Power Train

For 6 months I have had a shutter in the front part of my car. When I accelerate the car violently shakes. The car was under bumper Bumper warranty when this problem started. I have taken it to my dealer on multiple occasions and they and their engineers cannot determine what is causing the problem. They have had several other e…

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For 6 months I have had a shutter in the front part of my car. When I accelerate the car violently shakes. The car was under bumper Bumper warranty when this problem started. I have taken it to my dealer on multiple occasions and they and their engineers cannot determine what is causing the problem. They have had several other enclaves come in with the same issues. They replaced my transmission among other things and nothing fixes it. I have contacted buick headquarters and I am only permitted to speak to customer service who only tells me the same thing that my dealership tells me. I am frustrated and don't know what to do. The problem is getting worse. The dealership says they are working with engineers and they cant seem to find the problem. I'm told my dealership has 6 other buick enclaves with the same issue and other dealerships he had some as well. There has been no warning icons show up.I have no copies of paperwork where my dealership has worked on my vehicle, but they have everything in their computer. My dealership is Bob Ross in Centerville, Ohio. I'm not sure if this is a safety issue or could become one since no one seems to know what is wrong with my vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11456220

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.