VinSpectorAI Logo
HomeHow It Works Pricing Vehicle Stats
States
CaliforniaTexasFloridaNew YorkPennsylvaniaIllinoisOhioGeorgiaNorth CarolinaMichiganNew JerseyVirginia
View All 50 States →
Blog Garage VIN Search Inspection Guide
LoginDemo
Vehicle Stats/Buick/Enclave Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Sep 2026Methodology

Buick Enclave Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 443 complaints and 14 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Buick Enclave options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

443
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
14
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
23
Crash-Related
crash complaints
1
Fire-Related
fire complaints
20
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2017–2026

Free VIN check

Found a Buick Enclave? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Buick Enclave has 443 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is AIR BAGS. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2024 drew the fewest.

Buick Enclave — key reliability facts
Make
Buick
Model
Enclave
Model years analyzed
2017–2026 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
443
Safety recall campaigns
14
Crash-related complaints
23
Fire-related complaints
1
Worst model year (by complaints)
2017 (179 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2024 (7 complaints)
Top reported issue area
AIR BAGS
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Sep 4, 2026
This Enclave has 14 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

Buick Enclave: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2017179 complaints201864 complaints202056 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
20247 complaints202213 complaints202319 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2017 Buick Enclave? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

20242024 Buick Enclave SUV AWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The BUICK ENCLAVE has 443 NHTSA complaints and 14 recalls on record. 23 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 443 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 14 federal recall campaigns
  • 23 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2017
179
2018
64
2019
42
2020
56
2021
25
2022
13
2023
19
2024
7
2025
36

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

14 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#23V334000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEOctober 5, 2023
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

#21V246000AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERSAugust 4, 2021
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

#21V782000AIR BAGS:FRONTALJuly 10, 2021
Safety recall

TIRES

#20V684000TIRESMay 11, 2020
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

#19V643000STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSJune 9, 2019
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN

#22V210000AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

#20V668000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:FRONTAL IMPACT

#21V472000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:FRONTAL IMPACT
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN

#22V210000AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

#26V114000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Safety recall

TIRES

#21V115000TIRES
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#20V639000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

#20V446000AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

#20V668000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 443 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
AIR BAGS153 complaints
02
ENGINE59 complaints
03
SERVICE BRAKES57 complaints
04
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM56 complaints
05
UNKNOWN OR OTHER51 complaints
06
POWER TRAIN51 complaints
07
SEAT BELTS17 complaints
08
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM17 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

443 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGJul 2026

The driver side headlight was working and then it wasn't. A very costly expense to replace.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGJun 2026

Right-side LED headlight assembly failed at under 3 years and ~55,000 miles. Dealer states the sealed LED unit is non-serviceable and must be replaced as a complete assembly, quoted at ~$1,450. LED headlights are rated for tens of thousands of hours and are marketed to last the life of the vehicle; this failed at a small fraction of rated life. Other 2023 Enclave owners report the same right-side failure at similar low age/mileage, suggesting a recurring defect.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERDec 2025

Sunroof leak due to fault drain tube causing the review mirror to glitch, leaking through the headliner and wire harness into the inside of the vehicle. Vehicle is still at the dealership. They have requested and put in the new equipment which upon inspection by dealer service this replacement was also defective and a new part has been ordered.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGOct 2025

Headlight on right side failure - no light. AI shows a recall for this problem, but my vin was not listed. Notice also states 2022, 2023, and 2024 vehicles. It should be as car was only 2 years 10 months old with about 42000 miles. GM has the part now. Dealer inspected the car. Light had less then 750 hours on it; references say average light should last 20,000 hours. An obvious defect. Only noticed failure due to a neighbor seeing it. We drive mostly in the day due to age. Car is used only to go to work. Car has auto headlights, and they do not operate during daylight when we drive.

SEAT BELTSOct 2025

Driver's seat belt cable going to floor on outside of seat broke, it is available for inspection. Seat belt is inoperative. I spoke with a dealer, but I am over on miles to be covered by warranty. The vehicle has not been inspected, and there were not any warning lamps or warning' I noticed when I tried to buckle up for ride home Friday evening 10/10/2025

STRUCTUREOct 2025

Anyone behind me could’ve hit the part and caused a wreck. We have told the dealer.

Read 14 more owner reports
SERVICE BRAKESAug 2025

Brakes squeak very loudly. This has been an issue since I purchased this new vehicle.

SEAT BELTSAug 2025

The SmartFloor rear passenger (driver side and passenger side) bucket seat seatbelt retractors do not release to allow a passenger to buckle the seat belt. Both driver side and passenger side retractors fail in the same manner. Passengers are not able to buckle themselves in. Will report to Freedom Motors who use SmartFloor vehicle seats in their products.

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTUREJun 2025

In Driver info center messages displayed are ESC “this is anti lock cracking system not working”. Steering assist reduced “this is lane departure steering assist not working” Parking brake. “not working” Also cruise control is not working Buick service tells me this has happened often enough in other vehicles that there is a repair bulletin on it. Also the initial cost to repair is $3000 + if this bulletin repair fixes the problem if not there would be more costs. This vehicle is within the 36 month bumper to bumper warranty period but has recently exceeded the 36000 mile warranty threshold. I have already paid for the initial part so it could be ordered.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFeb 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked or while driving, the infotainment system failed to display as needed. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the technician was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that a software update was performed and an undisclosed part in the infotainment system was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure several times but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 13,500.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJan 2025

The car stalled and is stuck in park. It has electronic shift and if the engine doesn't run it has to be put into neutral manually. The Buick dealerships don't know how to do this and keep referring me to an obsolete video. One service representative suggested the manual lever is under the air filter housing but they cannot provide any information on this design, The car is stuck in a garage and cannot be towed. It is stuck in place.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMDec 2024

The infotainment system locks up. Its like all features are on mute. I can't use phone, radio, contact onstarr or use navigation system I have a heart condition, when this freezes I have no way to reach help. The dealership has tried multiple fixes, they say they are just seller, GM is the manufacturer. GM no longer takes my calls. They have blocked all my numbers. There is no warning, it just stops working GM suggests I turn off vehicle, get out wait 20 minutes and the system should reset, I have tried to disconnect my phone from bluetooth and they seek each other out and reconnect. I live very rural, 20+ miles to anywhere. I have no way to get help

Crash 2 InjuriesAIR BAGSMay 2024

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. The front end of the car, both quarter panels, bumper and engine compartment were crushed. - NO airbags deployed. - Both my wife and I were injured. She has a fractured vertebrae and right knee and leg hurt. I have a broken left clavicle, five broken ribs and a hematoma on my left leg. No airbag warning or alerts on dashboard. - I reported the accident to General Motors but no one yet assigned - GM case #: [XXX]. - No complete police report has been provided yet. Police provided link to Crash doc website with insurance info. ...(report uploaded) - vehicle totaled; repair estimate provided by USAA, but looks incomplete and inaccurate...a lot of repair needed not listed (report uploaded) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFeb 2024

at early evening my lights do not come on when the rest of the cars lights are on and mine don`t come on till later i see canada is haveing a re call on this problem .i stop at buick they said that nothing could be done. thank you [XXX] email [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGDec 2023

The headlights on our 2023 Buick Enclave do not provide nearly enough light at night. If you shine the lights up against a wall at night they seem bright but they do not seem to light up the area directly in front of the car. When driving on a road without streetlights at night I barely feel like my headlights are on. It’s so bad that I am concerned that if a person or an animal stepped out in front of my car I wouldn’t be able to see it in time to avoid it. I brought the car into the dealer today and they actually found that both headlights need to be raised 11-12 inches (they were completely shocked). This is very odd for a new car with only 5k miles. Unfortunately, raising the headlight did not add more light in front of the car at night. I think the issue is caused by the headlights not only being very small but also because they are very low on the car. Also, the headlights are below the grill and the running lights are on the hood. I believe this could be a design flaw that is also a safety hazard. A mechanic at the dealer also agreed with me that in general the lights are very dim. If you drive this model car at night on a road with no street lights I bet you will come to the same conclusion. Attached is the invoice from today that shows the headlights had to be raised. I told the dealer that they should pull another enclave off their lot and see if the issue is only present in my car or if the headlights on other enclaves need to be raised.

ENGINEAug 2023

The contact owns a 2023 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased brand new in May. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the message "Oil Needed" was displayed. The contact stated that she drove to her destination and then drove back to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact believed that the vehicle had experienced abnormal oil consumption. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,663.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMAug 2023

Vehicle lost power and stalled on interstate hwy 07/29/2023. GM dealer Heartland Chevy in Liberty MO. Repaired replacing fuel tank and sensor due to failed sensor in tank. 08/08/2023 Vehicle again for 2nd time rough idling and staling out several times on hwy. Currently at dealer who diagnosed with fuel sensor issue and still at dealer. Vehicle has approx. 20,000 miles 2023 Buick Enclave.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGJul 2023

The vehicles low beams fail to properly illuminate the road, and create a significant blind spot in your vision. We bought a brand new 2023 Buick Enclave and noticed on the first night drive that the vehicles lighting has a very large blind spot where it fails to properly illuminate the road. When switching too high beams the blind spot is diminished but not eliminated. We immediately took the vehicle back to the dealer where they adjusted the lights. However, all that they accomplished was to move the blind spot more central to the vehicle. When traveling up or down hills the lighting problem changes. When traveling up a hill the blind spot is moved closer to the vehicle creating a larger hazard. Traveling down hill the lighting blind spot is moved a bit further out. This is truly a very big safety concern especially when around pedestrians at night as it is nearly impossible to seem them until the very last second. The lighting problem and safety is worse when traveling at higher speeds as you have no time react when things suddenly appear from a blind spot in the vehicles head lights. I have attached several pictures. Please get in contact with me if you have further questions. All attached photos have been taken with an iPhone 13 and have no visual enhancements.

CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKESNov 2022

As my husband was backing out of the garage to the East and turning the back end to the North so we could head forward out of our drive which is on a curve, the car accelerated and the brakes would not work. We went backwards down a very steep drive that goes to our machine shed and towards the bottom we were stopped by a tree. We could have suffered head trauma from the abrupt stop. If we had been backing out of the drive or a parking place, since we couldn’t stop, there could have been others involved and severe injuries. I called the sheriff’s office and they filed a report. Our insurance agent came out and took pictures. I called General Motors Buick and they opened a case. The car was towed to the body shop the dealership we bought it from uses. We noticed no warning lights or messages on the dash. After everyone left, I got on my computer and there were 2 diagnostic warning emails. One for the antilock brakes and the other for the StabiliTrac control systems,.

BACK OVER PREVENTIONApr 2026

After sitting in a parking lot for 6 days the radio receiver assembly (infotainment control module / head unit) in my 2024 Buick Enclave completely failed with a "no power" condition. The screen is blank, there is no audio output, no response to any controls, and the system does not power on even after multiple power cycles or battery disconnects. The dealer diagnosed the need for a full replacement of the radio receiver assembly. The part is currently on national backorder with an unknown delivery date, so the failed component remains installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. The failure disables multiple critical safety-related features, including: The rear backup camera (no image when shifting into Reverse) Audible turn-signal chimes and warning alerts Navigation system (including real-time traffic and hazard information) This creates a significant safety risk during low-speed maneuvers (such as parking or reversing) and reduces overall situational awareness while driving. The issue occurred on a nearly new leased vehicle (leased November 13, 2023) with only 54,781 miles. Yes. My authorized Buick dealer fully diagnosed the issue and confirmed the complete loss of power to the radio receiver assembly. They attempted basic troubleshooting (power cycles, etc.) with no success and determined that a full replacement of the radio receiver assembly is required. The dealer also noted the part is on indefinite backorder. The vehicle has been inspected and diagnosed by my authorized Buick dealership's service department. General Motors Customer Assistance has been notified and is aware of the issue.No inspection has been performed by police or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms. The failure occurred suddenly and without warning after the vehicle sat unused for only 6 days in a parking lot. One day the infotainment system worked normally; the next time zero power to it.

Showing 20 of 443 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Buick Enclave

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Buick Enclave, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Buick Enclave has 443 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Buick Enclave has 14 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 23 of the Buick Enclave's 443 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Buick Enclave vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Buick Enclave vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Buick Enclave has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

Compare

Buyers also compare

How does the Buick Enclave stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.

Toyota Camry reliability Ford F 150 reliability Chevrolet Silverado reliability
Buick Enclave vs Toyota CamryBuick Enclave vs Ford F 150Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Silverado

Explore

Other Buick models

Compare vs Honda Accord
All Buick Models

By state

Check a Buick Enclave by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Buick Enclave.

VIN check in CaliforniaVIN check in TexasVIN check in FloridaVIN check in New YorkVIN check in PennsylvaniaVIN check in IllinoisVIN check in OhioVIN check in GeorgiaFree VIN check

Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

All Buick reliability statsSafest car brandsBest value carsMost accident-prone carsVIN check by stateAll vehicle stats

Buick Enclave reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the Buick Enclave reliable?

Poor. The Buick Enclave has 443 NHTSA owner complaints and 14 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is AIR BAGS. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Buick Enclave years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (179 complaints), 2018 (64 complaints), 2020 (56 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Buick Enclave problems?

Top reported issues: AIR BAGS (153 complaints); ENGINE (59 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (57 complaints).

Does the Buick Enclave have recalls?

Yes — 14 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Buick Enclave. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

VinSpectorAI

The world's most advanced AI-powered vehicle history platform. Comprehensive insights, fraud detection, and smart analysis for any vehicle.

5M+
Reports
50+
Brands
AI
Powered
Check Any VIN Free
Product
  • Free VIN Check
  • Free Recall Check
  • VIN Search
  • VIN Search by State
  • Vehicle Reliability Stats
  • AI Analysis
  • Pricing
Company
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Affiliate Program
Support
  • FAQ
Legal
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility

© 2026 VinSpectorAI. All rights reserved.

contact@vinspectorai.com
Made with for car enthusiasts