2016 Buick Enclave problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (107) · Power Train (9) · Steering (3)
🧭 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
25 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2023-05-10 · campaign 23V334000 · 995,085 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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. 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.
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.
Seats 2015-12-11 · campaign 15V833000 · 2,633 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:motor 2015-09-29 · campaign 15V609000 · 29,295 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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
Service bulletins (1,149)
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 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
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 2026-07-21 · PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pi to help diagnose a/c 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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,149 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-31 · Power Train“i purchased this used 2016 buick enclave in july 2026. shortly after purchase, the vehicle began repeatedly jerking and hesitating while driving. during occurrences, traction control/stabilitrak warnings appeared and the vehicle experienced loss of power and difficulty accelerating normally. i reported the jerking/drivability problem to the sellin…”
2026-07-08 · Power Train“traction stabilization light comes on very frequently and vehicle loses power, step on gas and it sputters can’t get out of any one’s way, they throw parts at it and never fixes. from feedback off internet a big problem 2008-2017 enclaves …”
2026-02-26 · Air Bags“i am seeing that these have been repaired, when in fact it has not been repaired. …”
2025-12-01 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 193,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2016 buick enclave on november 25, 2025 from an independent dealer. it was later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. at the time of purchase, the odometer reading was 102,068. after contacting endurance warranty company, the contact was informed that the odometer mileage was 193,000. no other age…”
2025-08-22 · Unknown Or Other“we have had spark plugs fixed twice in the past 4 months and they keep faltering. both mechanics changed them…”
2025-08-21 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 buick enclave. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v334000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. the dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. the contact stated that the manufact…”
2025-08-13 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 buick enclave. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v334000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet av…”
2025-07-14 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 buick enclave. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v334000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact called several dealers and was informed that the part was on backorder. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of tim…”
2025-04-07 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2016 buick enclave. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v334000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not ma…”
2025-02-16 · Unknown Or Other“during a rainstorm water is entering the fuse box under the glove box and the carpet and padding underneath is soaking wet on the right front floor.when the fuse case was opened water started to drip out.the engine continues to run with the key off and the only way to stop it is to pull the ignition fuse under the hood. unfortunately the battery di…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.