2009 Buick Enclave Engine Problems

My 2009 Buick Enclave CXL, VIN 5GAEV23D79J118427: Engine caught on fire during the time i was driving it. The car hesitated as if it was going to shut off then i saw smoke coming from underneath the front hood, I pulled to the side of the road and stopped the car and open the front hood, my engine was on fire. The fire was located on the passenger side of the car or the left side of the car if you were facing the front of the car. I tried to put the fire out, but the fire got out of control. I called 911 and the fire Department and Police arrived. My car was being repair due to the fire.

NHTSA ID

11500646

Incident

Nov 2, 2022

THE TIMING CHANGE IS LEAKING IT WAS FIXED BACK IN 2019 IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN A YEAR NOW SINCE I HAD IT AND IT'S LEAKING AGAIN I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I NOTICED A SMELL LIKE OIL BURNING AND WHEN I PARK THE VEHICLE IT STARTED LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE TIMEING CHANGE IS HOUSED

NHTSA ID

11337991

Incident

Jun 20, 2020

Mileage

119,280 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEED, WHEN SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE DRIVER STATED SMOKE WAS ENTERING THE VENT INSIDE THE CAB. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFETY. A FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACT AND ARRIVED TO THE RESIDENCE AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CONTACTED 911 BUT POLICE DID NOT ARRIVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATE OF 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11329171

Incident

Jun 12, 2020

Mileage

77,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR TWICE THIS WEEK MY VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ONE OF THE TIMES IT CUT OFF AT THE LIGHT WHILE I WAS TURNING.

NHTSA ID

11319402

Incident

Mar 26, 2020

Mileage

102,488 mi

VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING OVER 20 MPH AND BECAME UNABLE TO REVERSE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE DRIVING. WE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO MAKE THIS REPAIR. THE CAR HAS SAT AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN A NON-DRIVABLE CONDITION SINCE APRIL 2019. THE REAR STRUT TOWERS REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CAR MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE BUICK GARAGE AND THEY RECOMMENDED THE STRUT TOWERS BE REPLACED AND THE REAR AXLE. THEY HAVE RECORD OF THE DATE AND MILEAGE. THE POWER STEERING CABLE RUBBED ON THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE AND A A HOLE WAS CREATED. THE AIR CONDITIONER BECAME NON-FUNCTIONAL. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED BY THE BUICK GARAGE BUT, WE DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPAIR THE AIR CONDITIONER SINCE WE NEEDED TO REBUILD THE STRUT TOWERS. SO WE DROVE THE CAR WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, UNTIL THE CAR STOPPED OPERATING IN REVERSE AND STOPPED ACCELERATING OVER 20 MPH. I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH 3 CHILDREN. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT HARDSHIP FOR US. IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT I WOULD PURCHASE A CAR FROM BUICK IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ID

11277362

Incident

Apr 17, 2019

Mileage

137,000 mi

2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN SO WHEN THIS CODE APPEARS YOUR CAR WILL DRIVE ROUGH AND OF COURSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SO YOU LOSE YOUR REMOTE START. I HAVE REPLACED SENSOR AFTER SENSOR AS WELL, ALSO A MOTOR MOUNT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOW APPROACHED 150K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11271801

Incident

May 20, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK, THE GEARS SLIPPED, THE RPMS INCREASED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 9 MONTHS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11269997

Incident

Oct 2, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

WE PURCHASED A 2009 GMC BUICK ENCLAVE FROM GILLIE HYDE USED CARS IN GLASGOW, KY ON 3-15-19. IMMEDIATELY UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME, WE NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN ACCELERATING. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO OUR MECHANIC WHO NOTED THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND WE RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS THE TIMING AS WELL AS THE REAR TAILGATE FALLING AFTER AUTOMATICALLY OPENING. NONE OF THESE ITEMS WERE LISTED. HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CARS/BUICK/ENCLAVE/2009/RELIABILITY#RECALLS THE RECALLS WERE NOT NOTED ON THE CARFAX PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. WE FEEL AS THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN MISLEAD AND COMPLETELY LIED TO ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SHAKES BAD. WE HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED, OIL CHANGED AND STILL SHAKES. GM KNEW OF THE SHAKING RESULTING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHING AND OUR DEALER DID NOT INFORM US OF THIS (EVEN WHEN THEY HAD ANOTHER ENCLAVE ON THE LOT WITH THIS ISSUE AND TOLD US NOT TO BUY IT). GM CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE THIS ENGINE AND FINALLY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY: IN NOVEMBER 2012, GM RELEASED A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT (#11340C) FOR TIMING CHAIN WEAR IN 2.8L AND 3.6L V6 ENGINES (LP1/LY7/LLT).

NHTSA ID

11192467

Incident

Mar 16, 2019

Mileage

150,458 mi

WAS DRIVING ON RAMP TO ENTER HIGHWAY, WITH MY THREE 6 AND YOUNGER CHILDREN, AND ALSO 7 MONTHS PREGNANT! THE ENCLAVE JUST STALLED AND STILL CAN NOT START BUT ONE TIME IT DID, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP MAKING WEIRD NOISES SO I SHUT IT OFF RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS AND I SEE IT IS VERY COMMON WITH 2009 & 2010 ENCLAVES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE? IF THIS HAPPENED SHORTLY LATER I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND SEVERAL PEOPLE COULD BE INVOLVED GETTING HURT OR KILLED. I HAVE HAD IT LESS THAN A YEAR, WITH LESS THAN 104,000 MILES ON IT. ALSO HAS WHEEL BEARING ISSUES WHICH I REPLACED FRONT NOW THE REAR ONES NEED TO BE DONE. WHAT IS UP WITH THIS NEGLECT AND NO ONE TO ASSIST US CONSUMERS UNTIL SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED! NOW THE VEHICLE IS SITTING AT A GARAGE WHERE TOWED WAITING FOR REPORT AND I HAVE NO VEHICLE SO LOST MY JOB I HAVE FOUR KIDS TO SUPPORT. FIGURED I BUY A NEWER DECENT VEHICLE TO BE DEPENDABLE & RELIABLE ONLY TO FIND OUT IT'S NEITHER ONLY UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ID

11130833

Incident

Aug 25, 2018

Mileage

103,926 mi

SEVICE STABILTRAK LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTCAME ON AND ENGINE POWER LOSS WHILE TRAVELING DOWN FREEWAY. CHECK OUT MANY VIDEOS AND FORUMS OF ISSUES [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC

NHTSA ID

11065862

Incident

Jan 30, 2018

Mileage

78,000 mi

CAR SHUDDERS AND HAS PROBLEMS ACCELERATING WHEN GEARS SHIFTS. DIAGNOSIS=REPLACE BANK 1 CAMSHAFT ACTUATOR WORN TIMING CHAINS, REPLACE ALL SPARK PLUGS AND 3 IGNITION COILS AGAIN. (PERFORMED PFI SYSTEM DIA TEST. CODES FIRED P0017 AND P0300 STORED. CORRELATION AND MISFIRE COES).

NHTSA ID

11022515

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, JERKED, AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE #1 CYLINDER MISFIRED AND THE PLUGS AND PCV VALVES WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A TEST DRIVE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE SHIFTED INTO RESERVE, THIRD GEAR, OR SIXTH GEAR. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAVE PLATE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10972112

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

HAVE ISSUES WITH VEHICLE IDLING AND THE CAR JUMPS AT THE POINT OF SWITCHING GEARS. WHEN DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE CAR GOES ABOVE 50 HESITANTLY.

NHTSA ID

10898594

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED MAKING A TICKING NOISE. THE CONTACT PUT THE GEAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A ROD IN THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

10897914

Incident

Aug 22, 2016

Mileage

162,000 mi

MY ENCLAVE 2009 WAS CAUGHT FIRE WHEN IT WAS PARKED STATIONARY IN A GARAGE AT 9:40AM ON 5/30/2016. THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTS IN THE WHOLE CAR TOTALED. ME AND MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN SUFFERING MUCH FROM THIS EVENT. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE (ABOUT 30,000), WELL MAINTAINED BY US AND GM SHOP IN THE PAST (ALL THE RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE IN GM SYSTEM). ON 5/31 WE REPORTED TO GM WITH DETAILED INFORMATION AND REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION. ON 6/2, CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT CONTACTED ME, STATING THAT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND THEY DON'T INVOLVE IN AN INVESTIGATION AS WE HAVE OUR INSURANCE COVERED. I TOLD THEM NO MATTER OUR INSURANCE COMPANY INITIATES AN INVESTIGATION OR NOT, AS THE MANUFACTURER, GM NEEDS TO CHECK THIS VEHICLE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND IMPROVE ITS PRODUCT IF THERE IS A DEFICIT IN GM ENGINE. HOWEVER THEY STILL ASSERTED THAT THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF SUCH CASE. I HAVE KEPT THE RECORD OF OUR CONVERSATION IN CASE NEEDED. IT'S AN UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE. ALL THE EVIDENCE WE GOT SO FAR SUGGESTED IT'S THE PROBLEM OF THE ELECTRONICAL SYSTEM/ENGINE. WE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE. WE HOPE GM TO HAVE SOMEONE TO INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION ASAP.

NHTSA ID

10873137

Incident

May 30, 2016

Mileage

30,000 mi

MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TIMING CHAINS AND ALSO 1/4 ACTULATORS REPLACED AT JUST UNDER 78,000 MILES. I DID GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE OTHER 3 ACTULATORS REPLACED SINCE THEY ALREADY HAD TO DROP THE ENGINE OUT OF MY CAR TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAINS. THIS WAS A HUGE EXPENSE AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF GM MOTORS FROM 08/09 HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10851991

Incident

Mar 16, 2016

Mileage

77,700 mi

WE HAVE THE 3.6L V6 ENGINE, AND THE TIMING CHAIN AND GEARS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 89,000 MILES - RENDERING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE (THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS MULTIPLE GM CARS USING THIS ENGINE). IN ADDITION, THE STEERING GEAR/RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY ARE FAULTY ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP (ALSO A KNOWN ISSUE).

NHTSA ID

10819886

Incident

Jan 2, 2016

CAR SPUDDERING ON ACCELERATION AND INCLINES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. NEEDS ALL SPARK PLUGS AND COILS REPLACED AGAIN. CODES P0300, P0302, P0303 STORED. MISS FIRE ON 2 AND 3 CYCLINDERS. ALSO, NEEDS REPLACE LINE AND RECHARGE SYSTEM AS AC DISCHARGE LINE IS LEAKING.

NHTSA ID

10818536

Incident

Jan 6, 2016

Mileage

116,210 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WITH REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE. ALSO DISPLAY AC OFF MESSAGE AND OVERHEAT MESSAGE. VEHICLE TOWED. PRESSURE TESTED SYSTEM FOUND WATER PUMP LEAKING. REMOVED AND REPLACED WATER PUMP. FRONT TIMING COVER LEAKING. REMOVED FRONT ENGINE COVER AND RESEALED. FOUND BOTH FRONT STRUTS LEAKING. REMOVED AND REPLACED FRONT STRUTS.

NHTSA ID

10818534

Incident

Dec 16, 2015

Mileage

115,699 mi

STABILITRAC LIGHT ON. FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING INTO BRAKE BOOSTER AND REPLACED. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT WAS ALSO BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

10818530

Incident

Jan 21, 2015

Mileage

96,207 mi

AC BLOWS HOT ON THE DRIVE SIDE. FOUND TO BE DRIVER SIDE AIR ACTUATOR. REPLACED LEFT SIDE ACTUATOR.

NHTSA ID

10818528

Incident

Oct 7, 2014

Mileage

91,712 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIR VENTS ONLY BLOW COLD AIR WHEN HEAT IS SELECTED. ALL OTHER VENTS BLOW HOT AIR. CHECKED AND CODE B0423 STORED. REPLACED RIGHT TEMP ACTUATOR AND REPROGRAMMED HVAC MODULE.

NHTSA ID

10818526

Incident

Oct 30, 2013

Mileage

74,976 mi

ENGINE FAN RUNNING ALL THE TIME. HEATING/COOLING DIAG WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN FOUND

NHTSA ID

10818522

Incident

May 10, 2013

Mileage

68,032 mi

DESIGN FLAW RESULTED IN A SERIES OF CODES INDICATING PREMATURE TIMING CHAIN WEAR. SEE TSB - 12-06-01-009-D . GM HAS OPTED NOT TO ASSIST IN REPAIR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, NOW WILL NOT START.

NHTSA ID

10785560

Incident

Oct 17, 2015

Mileage

154,543 mi

WAS TAKING MY FAMILY UP TO HOLLAND ,MICHIGAN FOR SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT. DRIVING ON N75 AT 65-70MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPM WENT OUT OF CONTROL ,ATTEMPTED TO PRESS ON THE GAS CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, SOUNDED LIKE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PRESENT GEAR. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TAKEN TO DEALER NEED WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

10748971

Incident

Jul 24, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi