RoadVitals

2016 Buick Enclave Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 8, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 140 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Buick Enclave submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 8, 2026

Traction stabilization light comes on very frequently and vehicle loses power, step on gas and it sputters can’t get out of any one’s way, they throw parts at it and never fixes. From feedback off internet a big problem 2008-2017 enclaves

NHTSA ID
11749129
Incident
Jun 18, 2026
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 16, 2025

During a rainstorm water is entering the fuse box under the glove box and the carpet and padding underneath is soaking wet on the right front floor.When the fuse case was opened water started to drip out.The engine continues to run with the key off and the only way to stop it is to pull the ignition fuse under the hood. Unfortunately the battery died by morning and I could not get it charged for a few days. Now I have learned how to take the battery cover off which is located in the back of the car and remove the plastic covers under the mat so I can disconnect the battery so it doesn't run down. The rear wiper will not shut off now since this started.I am a 75 yr old widow and wonder how this problem has not been on a recall. It causes a very dangerous situation.I will try to see if I can get it into a Buick dealer this week and pray God it doesn't cost me an arm and leg to repair it. There are service bulletins on this problem and seems to be quite freqent yet I have not received any notifications from you.If this happens at night in a parking lot what am I to do? Can the car catch on fire by not shutting off?

NHTSA ID
11643046
Incident
Feb 11, 2025
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop uphill, with his children in the middle rear passenger’s seats, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact shifted to neutral and allowed the vehicle to roll downhill to the side of the road. The contact turned off the vehicle for 10 minutes. The contact restarted the vehicle and was able to continue to drive to his destination; however, the failure reoccurred that night, upon accelerating uphill from a complete stop. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 118,949.

NHTSA ID
11452224
Incident
Feb 14, 2022
Mileage
118,949 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 20, 2020

MY CAR ISN'T LEAKING ANY OIL SO IT IS BURNING IT AND ITS IT'S UNDER WARRANTY STILL BUT THEY WON'T FIX ANYTHING ON IT AND OTHER YEAR AND MAKE MODELS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11321672
Incident
Apr 1, 2020
Mileage
65,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 4, 2019

MY CAR WAS REPAIRED BY A DEALERSHIP IN TEXAS. FIRST THEY SAID IT WAS A FUEL INJECTOR. THEY REPLACED THAT. THEN THEY SAID THAT THAT DIDN'T WORK SO THEY SAID I HAD A CRACKED HEAD. THEY REPLACED THAT. I BROUGHT IT HOME TO SHREVEPORT, LA. AND IT HAD GAS FUMES COMING OF OF THE A/C VENTS. THE DEALERSHIP HERE IN BOSSIER CITY THAT THEY PUT IN A BROKEN PART. THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. I PICKED THE CAR UP AND IT STILL HAD GAS FUMES. I TOOK IT BACK. THEY SMELLED IT. KEPT IT FOR 2 DAYS. THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO THE KEPT DRIVING IT AND RUNNING IT UNTIL THEY COULDN'T SMELL IT ANY LONGER. I PICKED IT UP AGAIN AND I STILL SMELL IT. I BROUGHT IT BACK BUT THEY ARE DENYING THAT THEY DO. EVEN LIED TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THEY RODE AROUND WITH ME. I HAD A HORRIBLE HEADACHE WHEN I RETURNED HOME WITH THE CAR. IT'S BEEN PARKED FOR OVER A WEEK. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT SCARED IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE OR MY CHILDREN AND I WILL GET SICK. PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE TRIED WORKING WITH GM BUT THEY ARE NO HELP. THEY GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND. THE MECHANICS HAVE ALSO LIED SO MANY TIMES REGARDING MY CAR TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. I NEED SOMEONE IN MY CORNER. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE THE DRIVE MY CAR SINE 5/16/2019. IT WENT TO THE 1ST DEALERSHIP ON 5/18/2019. I DROVE ABOUT A TOTAL OF 1.5 SINCE.

NHTSA ID
11229464
Incident
May 16, 2019
Mileage
69,499 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 8, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL BEFORE SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. THE ENGINE LOW INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC ARLINGTON BUICK GMC (1400 E. I-20 HWY, ARLINGTON, TX 76018) WHERE THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED TWICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
11076860
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 12, 2016

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN OUR NEW 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE WHEN I WENT TO PASS SOMEONE ON A CITY STREET AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO FULL ACCELERATION. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. LUCKLY THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS AROUND ME AT THE TIME. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT AWAY AND I NOTIFIED ON STAR SOS AND THEY NOTIFIED THE POLICE. IT WAS TOWED TO A BUICK DEALER WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT NOW. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ID
10905913
Incident
Sep 11, 2016
Mileage
644 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ID
10821026
Incident
Nov 4, 2015
Mileage
4,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .