The best Enclave years to buy are 2019 and 2021. Avoid the 2014 and 2017: front air bag recalls with long waits for parts make up most of their complaints.
Best years: 20192021 Years to avoid: 20142017
Every Enclave year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Enclave problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | - | 0 | Engine | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 22 | - | 0 | Exterior Lighting | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 14 | 46 | 1 | Other | Few reports |
| 2021 | 26 | 61 | 2 | Brakes | Good buy |
| 2020 | 61 | 159 | 6 | Engine | Average |
| 2019 | 45 | 88 | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good buy |
| 2018 | 66 | 133 | 0 | Brakes | Good year |
| 2017 | 179 | 369 | 3 | Air bags | Skip this year |
| 2016 | 142 | 273 | 4 | Air bags | Average |
| 2015 | 171 | 275 | 5 | Air bags | Average |
| 2014 | 292 | 469 | 7 | Air bags | Skip this year |
| 2013 | 71 | 117 | 4 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good year |
| 2012 | 133 | 235 | 6 | Engine | Average |
About the Enclave
The Enclave is Buick's three-row luxury SUV, built alongside the Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia. The older 2008-2017 Enclave shares the Traverse's timing chain and StabiliTrak issues, and many 2014-2017 owners waited a long time for front air bag recall parts. The 2018 redesign has a much lower complaint rate.
- 2008-2017: First generation. Air bag recalls, timing chain and StabiliTrak warnings.
- 2018 on: Second generation. Far fewer complaints.
Enclave warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Buick files with NHTSA. 2,840 Enclave bulletins are on file in total.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the moonroof glass was produced without clear surface primer.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Various vehicle makes and models listed may have a condition in which the transmission case leaks fluid due to porosity around a mount bolt hole.
Customer Satisfaction Program.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Due to the industry-wide semiconductor shortage, the park assist feature is not functional on certain 2022 and 2023 model year vehicles, built beginning December 2, 2021.
Special Coverage.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Enclave
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA26006 · 2024 · opened Aug 2026
On April 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24011 after receiving complaints concerning a loss of brake assist in 2023 MY Cadillac Lyriq vehicles.
Engineering analysis EA20002 · 2012–2014 · opened Aug 2020, closed Aug 2024 · led to recall 21V245
On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) EA20002, as an upgrade of Recall Query (RQ) RQ19003.
Recall query RQ19003 · 2012–2014 · opened May 2019, closed Aug 2020
On May 19, 2014, General Motors LLC (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct Safety Recall 14V266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front outboard seat belts to the seat-mounted belt pre-tensioner in 1.4 million model year (MY) 2009-2...
Enclave vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Buick Enclave?
2019 and 2021. The best Enclave years to buy are 2019 and 2021. Avoid the 2014 and 2017: front air bag recalls with long waits for parts make up most of their complaints.
Which Buick Enclave years should I avoid?
2014, 2017. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Buick Enclave average.
Why is my Buick Enclave air bag recall delayed?
Recall 23V334 and related campaigns cover front air bag parts on many 2014-2017 Enclaves, and parts were in short supply for a long time. Check the VIN at a Buick dealer to see if the repair is available.
Based on 1,229 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.