Head-to-head reliability
Buick Enclave vs Buick Envision
How the Buick Enclave and Buick Envision compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Buick Enclave vs Buick Envision: The Enclave has 424 complaints (42.4/yr) with air bag non-deployment and engine stalling, while the Envision has 206 complaints (20.6/yr) but includes total electrical shutdowns and brake failure. Both have critical safety issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Enclave or Buick Envision more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Enclave
The Buick Enclave is a large SUV with a high complaint rate of 42.4 per year, dominated by air bag issues. Owners report non-deployment in crashes and seatbelt failures, alongside engine stalling and brake grinding. Electrical gremlins like random tailgate opening add to the ownership burden.
Buick Envision
The Buick Envision is a compact SUV with half the complaint rate (20.6/yr), but its issues are more severe. Electrical shutdowns causing total loss of power and brake failures that prevent stopping are critical safety concerns. Engine stalls and lighting malfunctions compound the risk.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Enclave | Buick Envision |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 424 | 206 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 | 10 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 22 | 8 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 42.4 | 20.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 | 7 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Buick Enclave
- 01AIR BAGS152
- 02ENGINE57
- 03SERVICE BRAKES56
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM54
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER46
Owners report air bags not deploying in collisions, even when struck from behind and forced into another vehicle. Seatbelts also fail to lock, verified by police, which is a serious safety defect.
The engine can lurch forward and lose power at highway speeds, then refuse to shift out of park. The auto stop-start feature causes dangerous hesitation when turning left across traffic.
Brakes grind loudly after the car sits, and the noise persists. Dealership visits often don't resolve the issue, indicating a chronic problem with brake components.
Headlights and brake lights fail due to electrical faults not covered by warranty. The tailgate foot sensor stops working, then the tailgate opens randomly, even while driving.
“Motor vehicle accident 12/9/2023 in which I was struck from behind by fast moving vehicle, and forced into vehicle directly in front of my vehicle. No driver airbag deployment, nor did my seatbelt lock, as verified by responding officer.”
Buick Envision
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM57
- 02SERVICE BRAKES43
- 03ENGINE31
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER28
- 05POWER TRAIN27
Complete electrical shutdowns occur without warning while driving, killing the engine, dashboard, and hazard lights. Engine stalls and 'Reduced Engine Power' warnings follow turns or lane changes.
Brakes fail completely, with the pedal offering no resistance. Owners must shift to neutral to stop, and this can happen on a nearly new car with only 1,000 miles.
Engine stalls are often tied to electrical shutdowns, leaving the vehicle powerless. The 'Check Engine' light and reduced power mode can activate suddenly.
Adjusting automatic high beams can cause all lights to go out at night on the freeway. A failed Telematics Module triggers the check engine light, misdiagnosed as a bad battery.
“While driving in traffic, after changing lanes, the vehicle experienced a complete electrical shutdown without warning. The engine shut off, the dashboard went completely black, and hazard lights were not functional. There were no warning lights, messages, or…”
“Description of Safety Defect: While operating the vehicle at approximately 25-30MPH and make a right turn, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of power/engine stall, accompanied by a "Check Engine" light and a "Reduced Engine Power" notification.…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Buick Enclave — 14 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
The risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
The risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. Th…
The risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increa…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267,…
Buick Envision — 10 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Cou…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-970…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Buick Envision vehicles. The vehicles are missing the label that states the tire size, pressure, and the loading information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Se…
The risk: Missing tire and load rating information may result in driving with improperly inflated tires or an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install the label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2024. Owners may contact Buick Customer Service at 800-521-7300.
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
Buyer analysis
Buick Enclave or Buick Envision: which should you buy?
The Buick Envision has half the complaint rate (20.6 vs 42.4 per year) but its issues—total electrical loss and brake failure—are more immediately dangerous. The Enclave's air bag non-deployment is also critical, but its higher volume of complaints suggests more frequent headaches.
Key differences
- Enclave has 152 air bag complaints vs Envision's 0; owners report non-deployment in crashes.
- Envision has 57 electrical complaints vs Enclave's 54, but Envision's include total shutdowns while driving.
- Envision brake failures are complete loss of stopping power; Enclave brakes grind but still work.
- Enclave engine issues include lurching and auto stop-start hesitation; Envision engine stalls are tied to electrical failures.
- Check for any history of air bag non-deployment or seatbelt lock failure; ask if the SRS system has been inspected after a collision.
- Test the auto stop-start feature during a left turn to feel for hesitation; also check for brake grinding after the car sits.
- Test drive at low speed and make a sharp turn to see if the engine stalls or 'Reduced Engine Power' appears.
- Check brake pedal feel for any sponginess or lack of resistance; ask if the brake system has been replaced under recall.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's VIN and check NHTSA.gov for open recalls on both models.
- For the Enclave, ask the seller for proof that air bag and seatbelt systems were inspected after any accident.
- For the Envision, request service records showing brake and electrical system repairs, especially for the Telematics Module.
- Test all lights (headlights, brake lights, tailgate) and the automatic high-beam function on a dark road.
- During a test drive, simulate a left turn with the auto stop-start engaged (Enclave) or a right turn at 25-30 mph (Envision) to check for stalling.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Buick Enclave | Buick Envision |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 35 | 6 |
| 2024 | 7 | 9 |
| 2023 | 18 | 22 |
| 2022 | 12 | 23 |
| 2021 | 23 | 23 |
| 2020 | 49 | 10 |
| 2019 | 39 | 20 |
| 2018 | 63 | 13 |
| 2017 | 178 | 80 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Buick Enclave or Buick Envision in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Enclave vs Buick Envision
- Buick Enclave total complaints
- 424
- Buick Envision total complaints
- 206
- Buick Enclave total recalls
- 14
- Buick Envision total recalls
- 10
- Buick Enclave avg complaints/year
- 42.4
- Buick Envision avg complaints/year
- 20.6
- More reliable overall
- Buick Envision
- Buick Enclave top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Buick Envision top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM