2012 Buick Enclave Powertrain (other) Problems

While driving, the vehicle suddenly and without warning experienced a severe, dangerous loss of acceleration. The dashboard immediately displayed a "Reduced Engine Power" warning message along with a "Service StabiliTrak" light, forcing the vehicle into an immediate electronic fail-safe "limp mode." This sudden, drastic reduction in engine power severely restricts the vehicle's ability to maintain safe roadway speeds, accelerate from a stop, or merge safely into traffic, posing an immediate rear-end collision hazard to myself and other motorists. Furthermore, the defect simultaneously disables critical active safety systems by shutting down the StabiliTrak and Traction Control networks. A diagnostic scan revealed code P2138 (Accelerator Pedal Position Sensors 1-2 Correlation Not Plausible). Investigation reveals that this is a widespread, systemic safety defect caused by design flaws in the vehicle's body. Rainwater and moisture from clogged factory sunroof drains or cowl seams leak directly down into the interior cabin wall, pooling into the primary instrument panel-to-body wiring harness block (X218 connector) in the driver's side footwell. This water intrusion causes green corrosion on the delicate pins, short-circuiting the 5-volt reference sensor circuit for the throttle controls while the vehicle is in motion. General Motors is fully aware of this exact defect and has documented it internally via Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) #10-00-89-017H (and related GM TSBs). Because this defect causes unexpected, immediate engine failure and disables traction safety networks while driving, it constitutes a severe safety hazard that should be escalated to a mandatory safety recall.

NHTSA ID

11738309

Incident

May 16, 2026

When pulling onto a county road with traffic the transmission kept slipping and the engine would rev higher. It took a lot longer to get up to speed and the cars behind me had to brake quickly.

NHTSA ID

11614684

Incident

Sep 15, 2022

What does it mean when my car says service StabiliTrak and service traction control? Its main function is indicating that the traction system has been turned off manually to remind you to turn it back on when necessary. However, the StabiliTrak warning light may also signal potential damage to vehicle components that allow the system to work effectively. Loss of Power to Engine, Can't stear, feels like its about to blow up. It seems very usual for the Enclaves, Traverses and Acadias. And I had the same problem out of my 2014 Traverse LTZ

NHTSA ID

11570693

Incident

Feb 7, 2024

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. WHITE FORD LLC., LOCATED AT 175 OLD FARM RD, ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC 27870 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID

11373135

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

89,000 mi

LAST COUPLE YEARS I BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SKIPPING, HESITATING A LOT THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE IS BIG PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME I WILL NEED NEW TRANSMISSION OR IT HAS TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE IT WILL GET WORSE WITH TIME. MY MECHANIC ADD SOME LUCAS TO HELP SMOOTH UP THE SHIFTING AND I DID THAT TWICE AND IT GETTING WORSE NOW SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO BECAUSE NEW TRANSMISSION IS COSTLY AND REBUILD ALSO. THE PROBLEM ACCURAC WHEN I DRIVE EVERY DAY AND IT'S HAPPENS WHEN I BE CRUISING AND THE CAR BE HESITATING AND SHAKING AND DON'T WANT TO DOWN SHIFT AND THEN FEELS LIKE IS STOLING AND WILL SHUT DOWN AND THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE SO THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND SHOULD BE RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE AS SOON POSSIBLE. THANKS

NHTSA ID

11289793

Incident

Dec 15, 2019

I HAVE LOOKED UP MY VEHICLE INFORMATION THROUGH GM. I CAN SEE WHERE THEY HAD THE VEHICLE IN A SHOP IN NY TO LOOK AT IT. UNKNOWINGLY I BOUGHT A VEHICLE WITH A HUGE LIST OF ISSUES! FIRST OF ALL, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS GOING OUT ON MY VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT FOR A DEALER. SECOND, THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE ENCLAVES, ACADIAS, TRAVERSES AND TERRAINS ARE JUNK! I TAKE GREAT CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION FAIL ON ME AT 100,000 MILES! WHEN GM HAS THIS VEHICLE IN NY THEY SHOULD HAD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY! THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THAT HAS THE ABOVE NAMED VEHICLES ARE LEFT WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. NOW I'M LEFT WITH HAVING TO REPAIR THE COST OF BOTH UNITS. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS TO MANY ISSUES ARE ARISING FROM THESE MODELS. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOTHING BUT SHUDDER AND SHAKE WHILE NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE IS DANGEROUS! MY TRANSMISSION FAILED OUT OF NO WHERE! I CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE 4TH,5TH OR 6TH GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11267031

Incident

Sep 30, 2019

Mileage

96,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DURING LIGHT ACCELERATION A MILD TO VIOLENT SHUDDER OCCURS CAUSING REDUCTION OR LOSS OF CONTROLL GM STATES ITS NORMAL. NO SPECIFIC SPEED HAPPENS ANY TIME AT RANDOM. AFTER RESEARCHING EXTENSIVELY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS LINE OF VEHICLES. VEHICLE IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE BUICK ENCLAVE PLATNUM EDITION. NO PROBLEM OR SOLUTION IS FOUND. THIS IS DANGEROUS

NHTSA ID

11132321

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM SUNTRUP FORD WESTPORT IN JULY 2018. THE DAY I TOOK IT HOME I FOUND ONE ISSUE WITH THE RACK AND PINION AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO BE LOOKED OVER. AFTER BEING GIVEN A LIST OF ISSUES I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THE ISSUES WOULD BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED. 2 MONTHS AND NO COMMUNICATION LATER I GET MY CAR BACK AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER STILL WAS NOT FIXED, MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE FOR MYSELF AND MY TWO CHILDREN TO BE IN. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW REFUSING TO FIX THE BRAKE BOOSTER WHICH WAS ON THE ORIGINAL LIST OF THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN JULY 21ST 2018 TILL SEPT 26TH 2018

NHTSA ID

11131912

Incident

Sep 26, 2018

Mileage

97,669 mi

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE AND ON AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS EXCESSIVELY IF THE BRAKES ARE NOT HELD. IF I PULL UP TO A SIGNAL LIGHT OR INTERSECTION WHERE THERE IS AN INCLINE MY HEART IS BEATING SO FAST BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO ROLL BACKWARDS ONTO THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A DEALERSHIP REPAIR REPRESENTATIVE TO "JUST APPLY THE BRAKES." WELL, YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE AND MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKES TO PROCEED, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS UNLESS I HURRY UP AND ACCELERATE (DOING THIS, I RUN THE RISK OF CRASHING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC). IF THERE IS A VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND MY VEHICLE, I COULD POSSIBLY ROLL BACKWARDS INTO IT OR INTO SOMEONE WALKING BEHIND MY VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP CONTINUES TO TELL ME THIS IS "NORMAL". NONE OF THE VEHICLES MY FAMILY HAS EVER OWNED OR THAT I'VE EVER DRIVEN HAS DONE THIS. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR MANAGER TEST DROVE OTHER ENCLAVES ON THE LOT AND HE SAID THEY DID NOT ROLL BACKWARDS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS. BUT WHEN HE TEST DROVE ANOTHER 2012 BUICK ENCLAVE IT ALSO ROLLED BACKWARDS WHEN ON AN INCLINE AND IN DRIVE. HE TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE OTHER 2012 BUICK ENCLAVE ALSO ROLLED BACKWARDS, THAT HE CONSIDERED THIS AS "NORMAL". I TOLD HIM IT'S NOT NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE TO EXCESSIVELY ROLL BACKWARDS LIKE THAT; IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SERIOUS 2012 BUICK ENCLAVE ISSUE. WHAT AM I TO DO IF THE BRAKES, GOD FORBID, SHOULD ALSO GO OUT. I'M AFRAID THAT IF I'M GOING UP A BRIDGE OR SOMETHING I'M GOING TO ROLL BACKWARDS TO MY DEATH.

NHTSA ID

10794664

Incident

Sep 18, 2012

MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING INTO A "NEUTRAL-TYPE-STATE" WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO/INTO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER 20 TIMES IN THE LAST 1.5 YEARS. DEALERSHIP TOOK CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE IT 1X. THEIR CORRECTIVE MEASURE WAS TO RE-DOWNLOAD TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE. THIS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK, AS THE SLIPPAGE CAN LAST ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 3 SECONDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701862

Incident

Apr 8, 2014

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHINE OR WHISTLE NOISE. DEALER STATED IT WAS LOW POWER STEERING FLUID; RACK AND PINION LEAKING. SYSTEM REPLACED BUT NOISE CONTINUED. RETURNED FOR MORE WORK IN 5/5 AND 5/27/2014. DEALER FINALLY SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE NOISE, BUT EVERYTHING IS WORKING ACCORDING TO SPECS. NOISE CONTINUES. BUICK CUSTOMER COMPLAINT REP. SAID NOTHING IS WRONG, THAT EVERYTHING IS ACCORDING TO SPECS, EVEN THOUGH THE NOISE WAS ABSENT FOR THE FIRST 16000 MILES. CUSTOMER COMPLAINT CASE NUMBER IS [XXX] MY CONCERN IS SOMETHING IS WRONG AND BUICK ISN'T SAYING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10692040

Incident

Apr 30, 2014

Mileage

16,002 mi

REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH PAK REPLACED BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. UNDER WARRANTY. OIL WAS DRIPPING FROM REAR, CENTER, NEAR AXLE. 09/11/2012 FIRST DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED "F2023 SEAL, PINION SHAFT OIL - REAR DIFFERENTIAL " REPLACED SEAL. UNDER WARRANTY - NO CHARGE. MILEAGE 24138. 09/19/2011 STILL LEAKING WHILE OUT OF TOWN. SECOND DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED SAME THING. "PINION SEAL IS LEAKING" "REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION SEAL FILLED FLUID..." UNDER WARRANTY - NO CHARGE. MILEAGE 24710. 09/27/2012 STILL LEAKING. CALLED DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED. TOOK TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY DIAGNOSED, "R&R TORQUE TUBE AND FOUND OIL ON BOTH SIDE OF CLUTCH PACK. OPENED TAC CASE REPLACED CLUTCH PACK AND DISASSEMBLED TORQUE TUBE AND CLEANED ALL OF RESIDUAL OIL." UNDER WARRANTY - NO CHARGE. MILEAGE 25504. THIS FINALLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651324

Incident

Sep 27, 2012

Mileage

24,138 mi

I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A HILL AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS.IT WOULD ROLL BACKWARD WHEN IT WAS IN DRIVE. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. THEN I WENT OUT OF TOWN AND TESTED IT ON OTHER HILLS AND IT DID THE SAME THING. WHEN I WAS GOING DOWNHILLI STOPPED AND I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT ROLLED FORWARD. WHEN I WAS GOING UPHILL IN DRIVE AND STOPPED AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT WOULD ROLL BACKWARD UNTIL I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND AS SOON AS I CAME TO A STOP AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IN WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS AGAIN. IT WOULD HAVE ROLLED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596815

Incident

Jun 6, 2014

Mileage

15,990 mi