2011 Buick Enclave problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (39) · Air Bags (28) · Power Train (23)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Buick Enclave model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
167 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2021-10-07 · campaign 21V782000 · 555 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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:critical Fasteners 2021-04-08 · campaign 21V246000 · 108 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Risk: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.
Structure:body:hatchback/Liftgate 2015-06-30 · campaign 15V415000 · 691,144 vehicles
Defect: 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 li
Risk: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Seat Belts 2014-05-20 · campaign 14V266000 · 1,339,355 vehicles
Defect: General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatig
Risk: If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-
Air Bags:side/Window 2014-03-17 · campaign 14V118000 · 1,176,407 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 repai
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages 2012-04-09 · campaign 12V151000 · 47,846 vehicles
Defect: GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN 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. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WIN
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012.
Service bulletins (1,475)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-27 · PIT6002C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is to advise about a part concern
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,475 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-12 · Exterior Lighting“the check engine light has been on for over 2 years now. it turns off and on, so it makes it hard to pass the emission test. i have replaced what shows on the emission testvas failed which are both catalyc converters, oxygen sensors and i also had to replace the engine in 2018. i have spent over $10k on the car and it still has the same codes appea…”
2026-08-31 · Engine“i drove to work just fine on may 19th, 2020, when i got off work around 3pm. i started the car and as i was about to pull out on brightleaf blvd in smithfield, nc my car just stopped. i contacted onstar and they pulled many codes p02ad,p0300 x2, p0305 x 2 at 126,362 miles with 73% oil life remaining. i contacted by mechanic and was able to have it…”
2026-04-19 · Tires:tread/Belt“while driving, the kenda klever tire experienced a sudden and complete tread separation. the tread detached in one solid ring from the rest of the tire. the failure happened without warning. the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and safely pull over. there were no injuries. klever st 255/60r19…”
2024-09-27 · Unknown Or Other“ignition not acting like it’s in the right spot like not starting when turning key it moves like it’s loose and turned off while driving. thankfully was driving very slow and coasted to the side of road when it died at first acted like it was going to start again but it did just drive back home. just bought suv from mother in law and already repla…”
2024-06-18 · Tires“the contact owns a 2011 buick enclave equipped with sentury tires, tire line: national commando hts, tire size: 255/55/r20, dot number: [xxx] . the contact had received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23t009000 (tires); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the front passenger's side tire wa…”
2024-06-17 · Power Train“i have had my car looked at and my camshaft reductor wheel/valve is broken. this happened very unexpectedly and almost caused a serious accident at highway speeds. i was able to drift the car to the shoulder from the middle lane, but almost was hit by a semi when my car randomly stalled out in the middle of i-5. this is a problem i have sense resea…”
2023-11-15 · Vehicle Speed Control“brakes are not stopping in time they are continuously scrubbing i have changed brakes and rotors and they are continuously scrubbing and not allowing me to stop in time nearly almost ran off the road i have got my brakes inspected but mechanic say there was nothing wrong the place i took it to but there is something wrong with the brakes. there is …”
2023-11-14 · Air Bags · 150,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 buick enclave. the contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to an unknown recall. the mechanic contacted an unknown dealer and was informed that they could not assist because vehicle had previously been repaired…”
2023-09-15 · Electrical System · 180,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 buick enclave. the contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera failed to make a beeping sound alert for nearby pedestrians. additionally, the contact stated that the infotainment system and the turn signals sound system had failed to operate while activated. there was no warning light illuminated. the dealer and…”
2023-08-10 · Engine“while driving at 60 mph around a curve with an incoming semi, the car suddenly lost power and the steering locked up. by the grace of god, we were able to avoid the semi and get it off the road. had it towed to mechanic who said the engine was blown. regular maintenance always kept. just had oil changed two weeks ago. this could have been deadly!!!…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.