2018 Buick Enclave problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (18) · Power Train (13) · Engine (6)
🧭 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
33 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (1,028)
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 2026-07-21 · 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.
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,028 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-18 · Power Train“i am the original owner of this buick enclave avenir. i have had two near accident occurences when the car started foring the breaks while i was accellarating on the highway and was not behind another vehicle. the car behind me nearly rerended me. on 10/17/26, my purge valve was replaced for the third time, making this the fourth purge valve the…”
2026-09-25 · Vehicle Speed Control“the vehicle is experiencing an intermittent but severe safety defect involving the stabilitrak and electronic parking brake (epb) systems. while driving at operational speeds, the "service stabilitrak" warning light illuminates, immediately followed by the uncommanded, autonomous engagement of the electronic parking brake. when the defect occurs, t…”
2026-06-17 · Unknown Or Other“2018 enclave w/106k on the odometer and the catalytic convertor cracked. $2200 repair.…”
2026-06-08 · Suspension“i am submitting this letter to formally report two ongoing issues with my 2018 buick enclave. first, i have experienced persistent problems with the emissions purge valve. my vehicle has repeatedly triggered diagnostic trouble code p0496, indicating a malfunction in the purge valve system. i am aware that this issue has been the subject of recall …”
2026-05-26 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (Ecu/Ecm) · 72,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 buick enclave. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the alternator was replaced 4 times before the dealer diagnosed that the failure was due to oil leaking onto the alternator and the battery. the contact stated that th…”
2026-05-12 · 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.…”
2026-05-11 · Unknown Or Other“catalic converter weld broke both sides now …”
2026-05-05 · Engine“exhaust leak from broken front exhaust pipe. this has been a known defect in this make/model however the year of my vehicle was not included in the extended repair window and should have been. the exhaust leak was identified by the dealership when the vehicle was taken in for other maintenance. i had to pay for the repair myself and would like to b…”
2026-04-28 · Visibility/Wiper“the air conditioning system failure prevents proper windshield defogging, significantly reducing visibility in humid or rainy conditions. additionally, cabin temperatures become excessively high, causing driver fatigue and impaired concentration. this creates an unsafe driving condition and increases the risk of a crash…”
2026-04-04 · Seat Belts · 💥 crash“in december 2017 we were involved in a rear end collision so violent the spare tire was knocked out from under the vehicle. our vehicle, 2014 buick enclave vin [xxx] was struck in the rear. the lap belt held us secure, but the shoulder belt allowed us to be tossed forward. my head hit the left windshield/top post leaving me looking like a racoo…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.