2008 Buick Enclave Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Buick Enclave, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)12917.6%
- Airbags11315.5%
- Steering9913.5%
- Engine8611.8%
- Body & structure7710.5%
- Electrical7410.1%
- Driver assistance364.9%
- Visibility324.4%
- Brakes162.2%
- Other / unspecified131.8%
- Transmission121.6%
- Suspension111.5%
- Interior & seats101.4%
- Fuel system101.4%
- Seat belts60.8%
- Exterior lighting50.7%
- Heating & air conditioning10.1%
- Tires & wheels10.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Unknown
At 65,000 Transmission went out 100,000 Electrical issue due to lose ground wire under fuse box 121,000 Electrical issue caused battery to drain and vehicle not turn off. Even if key out of ignition 121,000 Driver Side Curtain Airbags deployed when battery replaced
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
1st incident was 6/29/24 my driver seat airbag deployed. 2nd incident happened 8/3/24 when the airbag on the driver side deployed the whole side from the front to the back of the trunk.
I didn’t have any accidents but I when to many mechanics shops and each saying that it is an electrical problem with my 2008 Buick enclave CXL 3.6 also an issue with the airbag on the dash it showing service airbag soon I brought this car a couple of years ago and the airbag light was on when I brought it. VIN [XXX] I can be reach at [XXX] [XXX] or email me at [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
Unknown
i was driving fine until i slowed down and tried to turn, the steering wheel was hard to turn and making a grinding noise. it works fine going on the highway. i noticed this was a big issue with the enclave and wondering why this isnt recalled? ive spent enough money on this that i didnt have and cant afford another expense. i do not have a warranty on it. no check engines light and fluids are good
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Electric issues, the recall for the sunroof was not disclosed and was not inspected properly…water and debris get clogged and goes into the in the engine.
Apparently the catalytic converter has gone defective. Plus, the backup camera stopped working.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that the vehicle had failed to start intermittently. The contact stated that upon attempting to turn off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off. The contact stated that her husband, who was a mechanic, had inspected underneath the hood and noticed that the wiring harness underneath the engine was melting. The contact's husband scanned the vehicle with a vehicle scanner and retrieved diagnostic trouble codes that indicated a computer module failure. The contact's husband purchased the module, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the module was installed and flashed; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact's husband diagnosed that the wiring harness failure had caused the battery to overcharge and fail. The contact's husband replaced the battery and the alternator; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the liftgate struts had failed, causing the lift gate to close unintendedly after being lifted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed that water was leaking inside the vehicle through the sunroof. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that there were several unknown point of entry of water, and mold had developed in the parts of the vehicle that were mostly affected by the water intrusion. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing electrical failures due to water damage. The contact stated that the windshield wipers were operating erratically and other unknown electrical parts had failed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. There was no further information provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that the vehicle had failed to start intermittently. The contact stated that upon attempting to turn off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off. The contact stated that her husband, who was a mechanic, had inspected underneath the hood and noticed that the wiring harness underneath the engine was melting. The contact's husband scanned the vehicle with a vehicle scanner and retrieved diagnostic trouble codes that indicated a computer module failure. The contact's husband purchased the module, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the module was installed and flashed; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact's husband diagnosed that the wiring harness failure had caused the battery to overcharge and fail. The contact's husband replaced the battery and the alternator; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the liftgate struts had failed, causing the lift gate to close unintendedly after being lifted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Electric issues, the recall for the sunroof was not disclosed and was not inspected properly…water and debris get clogged and goes into the in the engine.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ASB
2008 INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. NO MATTER THE SPEED. SOMETIMES 30MPH ON THE STREET, SOMETIMES 70MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY. SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, SOMETIMES IT DOESNT. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY. CARS COST TOO MUCH TO BE PLAYING GUESS THE PROBLEM!! TAKE TO DEALER AT $100. A VISIT FOR THEM TO GUESS AND ULTIMATELY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE A WEEK LATER THE VEHICLE IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING YOU TOOK IT IN FOR. I JUST WISH SOMEONE NEW WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM WAS. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN GM. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS, BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LOW END LUXURY. IT'S DANGEROUS AND I GUESS PEOPLE HAVE TO START DYING AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST GM WILL HAPPEN BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAGS LIGHT STAYS ON REAR WIPER STOP WORKING
I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH THE STABILITRACK SYSTEM GOING OFF AND IT TELLING ME TO SERVICE STABILITRACK. HOWEVER, NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND I HAVE A CAR THAT I OWE WAY TOO MUCH FOR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. ON TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION MY IGNITION ONLY WORKS PART OF THE TIME. THERE IS NO POINT IN REPLACING THE IGNITION IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE MOTOR ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUT APPARENTLY THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED DURING THE RECALL SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THAT. NOT TO MENTION SPENDING OVER $200 JUST TO GET MY HEADLIGHT BULB REPLACED AT A SHOP BECAUSE ITS NOT SIMPLE ENOUGH TO JUST TAKE THE COVER OFF AND REPLACE THE BULB. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A MONEY PIT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING A LITTLE STRANGE LIKE OCCASIONALLY NOT WANTING TO SHIFT ONE DAY AND THEN BEING FINE THE NEXT. THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING AND IT WOULDN'T SHIFT, REV"D UP TO 4000 RPM AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 40 MPH. I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO PAY FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE PLUS MY CAR PAYMENT ON A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ASB
Traction control and abs. Acceleration jerking
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
Traction control and abs. Acceleration jerking
My toddler is able to easily with one hand unbuckle the car seat. At the time I thought maybe my toddler was the only one but I have three other friends experiencing the same problem. Graco told us to just tell them not to unbuckle it or to have an adult sit back there with them. I believe that Graco should start making buckles that aren't so easily undone by a small toddler.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TROUBLE CODE DETECTED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,700.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE GRINDING CHANGED BRAKES AND ROTORS AND ALSO CONTROL ARM HUB BEARING AND STRUT
THE POWER STERRING PUMP AND RACK PIONION IS OUT AND NEEDS BOTH FRONT AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACE CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE RAN INTO A PARK VEHICLE NOW I AM BEING SUED
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Dealer Jeff Wyler Chevrolet replaced car cabin battery & failed to vent battery gas hose to the vehicle exterior. Hose is laying in well of battery compartment & filling the vehicle with hydrogen gas. General Motors has been informed & car is not safe to drive. Dealer installed a date altered dead cell battery (fully documented) creating a toxic & dangerous situation with no immediate assistance to resolve or reimburse. My grandbabys car seat is located above this battery compartment & we can’t use our car. Is my car now combustible or explosive?
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT COME ON FOR NO REASON WHILE THERE IS A PASSENGER SEATED. WE REPLACE THE SEATBELT AND SEAT BELT SENSOR. THE NEXT CODE SAYS TO REPLACE THE SEAT SENSOR ITSELF. THAT'S A $1000 REPAIR. AND THAT DOES NOT ENSURE THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. BASED ON THE CODES. WILL THE AIRBAG DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT? WE DO NOT KNOW. THIS OCCURS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND/OR MOVING.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Sunroof messing up electrical system clogs up easily radio and everything else don't work right electrical all messed up because it clogging sunroof crankshaft won't relearn
THIS SUV IS THE DEVIL IT SELF. IS GIVING ME ALL KIND OF PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IT HAVE A LIMP MODE AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING IN ANY GEAR. THE SOFT CODES SAID P0171, P 0174, P 0420, P 0300 IS CRAZY. I HAVE CHANGE THE ALTERNADOR, THE PURGE VALVE, THE VALVE CANISTER ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK AND THE OTHER SENSOR THAT TELL YOU ABOUT THE FUMES OF THE TANK WENT FILLING. I ALSO CHANGE THE PCV VALVE ALL THE BREATHERS HOSES IN THE INTAKE HOUSING , I CHANGE THE TROUTLE BODY, THE SPARK PLUGS, THE COILS, THE INTAKE GASKETS, THE OXIGENTS SENSORS,THE BATERY POLES. AND THIS SUV STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS NOW IT WENT TO A TRANSMISSION LIMP MODE AND IS NOT COMING OUT NOT EVEN IF YOU ERASE THE CODES AND ALL FUSES ARE GOOD.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT COME ON FOR NO REASON WHILE THERE IS A PASSENGER SEATED. WE REPLACE THE SEATBELT AND SEAT BELT SENSOR. THE NEXT CODE SAYS TO REPLACE THE SEAT SENSOR ITSELF. THAT'S A $1000 REPAIR. AND THAT DOES NOT ENSURE THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. BASED ON THE CODES. WILL THE AIRBAG DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT? WE DO NOT KNOW. THIS OCCURS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND/OR MOVING.
THERE IS A BIG LEAK COMING FROM THE ROOF OR SIDE OF DOOR WAY..EVERYTIME I WASH CAR OR ITS RAINING I NOTICED LEAKING FROM SIDE FROM FRONT DRIVER SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK TO PASSENGER SIDE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
BLACK MOLD FOUND IN VEHICLE, RAIN LEAKED THRU SUNROOF, FOUND FLOOR BOARDS SOAKED IN WATER, MOLD AND MOISTURE PRESENT ON THE DASH, SEATS, AIR CONDITIONING VENTS, AND ALL OVER THE INTERIOR. BACK DOOR LIFTGATE DOESN'T WORK. WAS NOT INFORMED BY SELLER OF HEALTH DANGERS OF THIS VEHICLE, NOR DID HE INFORM US THAT IT HAD BEEN WRECKED BEFORE.
SUNROOFS HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE WE BOUGHT IT AND NOW ALL THE ELECTRICAL STUFF IS GOING BAD. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. NO ONE WILL HELP
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS LEAKING FLUID INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED LEAKS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WAS LOCATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED MOLD GROWING ON THE CARPET INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE ONE YEAR AGO, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED. THE DEALER (BUICK GMC OF MAHWAH, 386 NJ-17, MAHWAH, NJ 07430, (201)-252-4475) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTED TO ADD AIR TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BUT THE FRAGMENTS OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WAS ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 UPDATED 1/20/12*CN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .