2019 Buick Enclave Powertrain (other) Problems

The problematic 9 speed transmission failed at 72,000 miles on [XXX]. GM required a flush due to the significant shudder problems in the transmissions. This was performed on this vehicle at 32,000 miles. GM knows the is issues. The car brought to Gerald Jones GM in Graniteville, SC and GM/Buick customer service was contacted 5/22/26 and after. The transmission failed when traveling on busy highway in Aiken, SC on [XXX]. The money spent for these cars with failed transmission design/construction and the safety risk to all traffic must be addressed by NHTSA. GM customer is horrific in there determination to cover up this colossal issue and safety risk. No one holds them accountable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755753

Incident

Jun 27, 2026

2019 Buick Enclave (GM) w/ 29481 miles, consistently serviced and in excellent working order. In city traffic about 45-50MPH, no warning lights until total electrical/power failure - no power, no steering, no electrical/lights. Car is owned by [XXX] mother-in-law ([XXX]). Her daughter ([XXX]) was driving. Had [XXX] been driving, there would have been a wreck. [XXX] was able to coast into a corner gas station/garage. Buy next day mechanic was able to isolate failure to alternator. Since we performed the repair at the closest mechanic, I do not know what GM knows. I see on internet a high volume of alternator failures in Enclaves. It doesn't seem an alternator failure should be so abrupt, without warning and with such dire immediate impact. GM has said they 'may' have been able to help with the cost of the repair if we had had it done at an authorized service center. Frankly, this feels like a trap (and Nissan did exactly this to me 2 years ago - asking me to tow into their service center and then saying 'oops, sorry, no warranty ... ). GM should buy their failed alternator back and study why it failed and why that failure had this impact to the vehicle. The repair was made with a GM part - honestly, not sure if that's good or bad, but there is no excuse for GM to not own their part failure. No one other than the mechanic has inspected the car. He would probably be glad to speak to NHTSA. No prior warning lights, messages, symptoms. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11751653

Incident

Jun 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving at 30 to 40 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering. The vehicle was hard to shift. The TPMS was illuminated. The contact indicated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V668000 (Power Train). The local dealer was contacted, who informed about the diagnostic fees. The contact called another local dealer, Starling Buick GMC Stuart Parts, and Starling Buick GMC Stuart Service, at 2445 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL 34994, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to a transmission center, which confirmed the failure was due to the torque converter. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed there was no recall or warranty coverage. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11742026

Incident

Jun 4, 2025

Mileage

80,000 mi

The car hesitates when accelerating. It feels like its going to die. Also, the car has shut off randomly with the display saying "not in right conditions to start". The dying has happened a few times.

NHTSA ID

11708807

Incident

Dec 27, 2025

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection? The issue appears to be related to the auto start-stop system and/or an EVAP-related component, as the vehicle will sometimes completely shut off instead of restarting when stopped. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the engine shuts off, the vehicle loses all power, including steering and brake assist. This has happened at red lights, stop signs, and in school zone traffic. I have to restart the vehicle while stopped in active traffic lanes, which puts me and others at high risk of being hit. I am a single mom with 3 young children. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. A Buick dealership inspected the vehicle earlier this year. They observed the stalling issue but could not identify a single cause. They suggested possible repair attempts, but the issue has continued. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? It has only been inspected by a Buick dealership service department. No other agencies have inspected it. Were there any warning lights, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure? When did they first appear? No warning lights or messages appeared when it first happened. The problem began before I replaced the battery, and replacing the battery did not resolve the issue. Additional Description: When I come to a stop—at red lights, stop signs, or in traffic—the vehicle’s auto start-stop system activates like normal, but instead of restarting, the engine will completely shut off. I then lose power steering and braking support and must restart the car in the middle of the roadway. It is unpredictable and unsafe. Sometimes it’s instantly but today I sat there for 15 minutes waiting. I took it straight to autozone and everything tested good.

NHTSA ID

11696554

Incident

Oct 30, 2025

This is the third time in less the last couple of months that the air conditioning system on this 2019 Buick Enclave has failed. The vehicle consistently blows only hot air, regardless of whether it is in motion or stationary. The problem does not fluctuate with changes in speed or drive duration. In addition, there is a consistent noise coming from the dashboard area that resembles a hydraulic hinge or actuator.

NHTSA ID

11675444

Incident

Feb 5, 2025

The 2019 Buick Enclave was taken in for transmission fluid flush & check. The dealer came back and stated that the torque converter needed replacement. The car was still under mileage warranty but just past the roll-off-line date by a month. There are numerous issues all over the internet related to The Enclave torque converter issues. Even a service bulleting PIP5608J that covers these exact issues. It is a wide spread safety issue. If the transmission fails, what is the outcome at high speeds? It has just over 69,000 miles. Todays transmissions should last 150,000 miles minimum. Unacceptable!

NHTSA ID

11654555

Incident

Apr 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while at a stop light the Auto START/STOP feature malfunctioned. The contact stated that after releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle turned off instead of restarting the engine. The contact stated that several minutes had passed before being able to restart the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V668000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11639285

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

Mileage

60,000 mi

I found where there was a recall on 2019 Buick and mine was not listed. It is doing what I have read about the recall. The transmission is shuttering at low speeds.

NHTSA ID

11608653

Incident

Jul 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that upon the start of the vehicle, a loud grinding noise would emit from the rear end of the vehicle. To correct the failure, the contact operated the vehicle in front-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for service, but the contact was given a diagnostic fee and declined. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the cause of the failure was linked to the rear differential. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

NHTSA ID

11564846

Incident

Jan 2, 2024

Mileage

87,000 mi

There are a couple of issues causing our concerns about the car. 1. Alternator - The alternator was reported went bad after only 4 years of usage, the dealer refused to pay the fixing cost for this. Due to the failure of the alternator, the car lost all the power in the middle of the road with our entire family in the car during the night, very dangerous. The car suddenly stopped at the road with 50MPH speed limit. 2. Engine and Catalytic converter pipe - The engine light is on due to abnormal feeling of the engine power, the dealer could not fix the issue in weeks and no rental car provided and we were asked to drive the car home and waiting for order status of the parts. 3. Exhaust system failure - The dealer mentioned the welding of the connection is bad ( still under warranty ) but refused to fix it but ask the customer to pay for the replacement and labor.

NHTSA ID

11539079

Incident

Jun 13, 2023

Traveled and car begin to shake when I got to destination. The shift gears lights started going from neutral to Low gear and my speed began to drop down even when I was accelerating. The engine light came on and the stabilitrak light was on during times I stop at lights or stop lights only when in traffic but not on the highway. After seen by an auto service dealer, the stabilitrak light still comes on during stops at the light or stop signs and hesitation to accelerate with a heaviness to steer. There appears to be a dragging or pull when accelerating not very smooth. The service was with the transmission, however, no attempt to fix the stabilitrak and now I am to take it back in, not really enjoying my vehicle, my American vehicle, this really saddens me.

NHTSA ID

11511638

Incident

Feb 24, 2023

Stabilizer trak

NHTSA ID

11507599

Incident

Feb 15, 2023

On the morning of October 25, 2021 at approximately 7:05 am, I was fixing to leave to go to work. The carport light was on, so I open the door to my car, slid into the driver’s seat, started the car up and the lights came on. As I was starting to get out of the car to go turn the carport lights off, I realized the car was going backwards. I tried to get back into the driver’s seat to try to stop the car but I was unable to do so. The door knocked me down on the concrete floor of the carport and the front left tire ran over both my legs. The car continued to go backwards, the door hit the column between the carport bays but continued to travel backwards down our approx. 11-foot paved drive way, crossed the dirt road and stopped when the back of the car went into the deep ditch that runs along the dirt road at that point. When my husband arrived, the car was still running and the lights were on. The man driving the wrecker for the local EMA Director and my husband all looked at the gear shift and the car was in PARK.

NHTSA ID

11446655

Incident

Oct 25, 2021

WHEN VEHICLE REENGAGING FROM AUTO START/STOP DURING STOPS IN TRAFFIC AND/OR LIGHTS/SIGNS, SLAMMING INTO GEAR AFTER REMOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE, PRIOR TO PUSHING GAS PEDAL. HAPPENS IN HIGHWAY TRAVEL (IF HAVING TO COME TO A STOP) AND CITY TRAVEL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED AUXILIARY FLUID ACCUMULATOR AND ADDED FLUID TO TRANSMISSION. OWNER NOW REALIZES FLUID SPOTS IN DRIVEWAY ARE WHERE VEHICLE MUST HAVE BEEN LEAKING SOME FLUID.

NHTSA ID

11300704

Incident

Jan 16, 2020

Mileage

16,000 mi

TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAR SUDDENLY SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL AND COULD NOT BE ENGAGE BACK TO ANY DRIVE GEARS. BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE AND ACCELERATOR WAS IN OPERABLE. FINALLY CAME TO A STOP BY COASTING TO THE SHOULDER AND WAITING FOR SPEED TO DROP FAR ENOUGH TO GET VEHICLE TO GO INTO PARK.

NHTSA ID

11218167

Incident

Jun 5, 2019

Mileage

1,500 mi