Head-to-head reliability

Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Silverado

How the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Silverado compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Buick Enclave436 complaints · 14 recalls Fewer issues per year
Chevrolet Silverado7,787 complaints · 100 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Buick Enclave averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Buick Enclave has 436 complaints and 14 recalls on record; Chevrolet Silverado has 7,787 complaints and 100 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryBuick EnclaveChevrolet Silverado
Total complaintsAll model years combined436 Better7,787
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns14 Better100
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints23 Better225
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years43.6 Better778.7
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints20 Better150
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better3

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

  1. 01AIR BAGS153
  2. 02ENGINE59
  3. 03SERVICE BRAKES57
  4. 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
  5. 05POWER TRAIN50
In owners' words — AIR BAGS

On [XXX], 2024, a pickup truck ran a red light at 55+ miles per hour and struck the front left quarter panel of our 2023 Buick Enclave as we were pulling into an intersection. Our car was totaled with the entire front end of the car being severely damaged. Th…

The contact owned a 2025 Buick Enclave. While the contact’s daughter was driving through an intersection on a green light at an undisclosed speed, a truck crashed into the front driver’s side of the vehicle. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. The con…

Chevrolet Silverado

  1. 01ENGINE2,308
  2. 02POWER TRAIN2,215
  3. 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,437
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES1,193
  5. 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER832
In owners' words — ENGINE

At approximately 3,000 miles, the engine began making a loud knocking noise that became progressively worse while driving. The truck was diagnosed as needing a complete engine replacement. No warning lights, no check engine light, nothing. For someone inexper…

Truck has less than 1800 miles. Was at a stop light and the vehicle started shaking and making metal tin rattling sounds. Stopped for gas, started the vehicle all noises went away. Got onto the freeway and about 1 mile down the road the truck lost power at 70…

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

Equipment — Other — Owners/Service/Other Manual
#26V114000

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…

Air Bags — Side/Window — Curtain
#22V210000

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-…

Air Bags — Sensor — Frontal Impact
#21V472000

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…

Air Bags — Side/Window — Curtain
#22V210000

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-…

Chevrolet Silverado — 100 recalls

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) — Control Module — Software
#25V594000Nov 2025

The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV electric vehicles. After experiencing an electronic stability control (ESC) system malfunction, the ESC malfunction warning light may not illuminate on the next key cycle. As such, these vehicles fail to com…

The risk: An indicator light that does not illuminate may fail to warn the driver of an ESC system issue, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: The EBCM software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 15, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or G…

Equipment — Other — Owners/Service/Other Manual
#26V114000

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…

Equipment — Other — Owners/Service/Other Manual
#25V815000

The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles may not have received an owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, “Child Re…

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 provide the owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 30, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252532020. Vehicle Identifi…

Power Train — Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
#26V289000Jul 2026

The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yuko…

The risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contac…

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.

YearBuick EnclaveChevrolet Silverado
2026271
202536130
20247490
202318412
2022121270
202124899
202054820
2019411959
201864584
20171781152
Years to scrutinize: the 2017 Buick Enclave drew the most complaints (178); the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado drew the most (1,959). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Silverado — comparison facts
Comparison
Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Silverado
Buick Enclave total complaints
436
Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
7,787
Buick Enclave total recalls
14
Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
100
Buick Enclave avg complaints/year
43.6
Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
778.7
More reliable overall
Buick Enclave
Buick Enclave top complaint area
AIR BAGS
Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
ENGINE