Buick Enclave: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Buick Enclave problems by model year, from 1,698 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2019 (68%, 26 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (53%, 16 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (51%, 27 drivetrain complaints). 9 of the 12 Buick Enclave years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2021 (22%), 2015 (28%) and 2017 (31%). 2021 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2020 (48%) to 2021 (22%), down 26 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (101 of 412 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Buick Enclave year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Enclave | elevated | 38% | 101 | 275 | 8/12 | 6 |
| 2011 Enclave | high | 45% | 77 | 212 | 7/12 | 6 |
| 2012 Enclave | elevated | 33% | 36 | 132 | 9/12 | 6 |
| 2013 Enclave | high | 51% | 27 | 70 | 3/12 | 4 |
| 2014 Enclave | high | 48% | 40 | 292 | 6/12 | 7 |
| 2015 Enclave | no elevated signal | 28% | 17 | 171 | 11/12 | 5 |
| 2016 Enclave | high | 53% | 16 | 141 | 2/12 | 4 |
| 2017 Enclave | no elevated signal | 31% | 10 | 179 | 10/12 | 3 |
| 2018 Enclave | high | 49% | 30 | 65 | 4/12 | 0 |
| 2019 Enclave | very high | 68% | 26 | 42 | 1/12 | 1 |
| 2020 Enclave | high | 48% | 27 | 59 | 5/12 | 6 |
| 2021 Enclave | no elevated signal | 22% | 5 | 26 | 12/12 | 2 |
| 2022 Enclave | too few to score | – | 3 | 13 | – | 1 |
| 2023 Enclave | too few to score | – | 4 | 21 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Buick Enclave years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Buick Enclave transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Buick Enclave involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 23 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2014 | 14V092000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V639000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2020 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V668000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2019–2020 |
20 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2010 | 10V375000 | seat belts | 2010 |
| Apr 2012 | 12V151000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2011–2012 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V118000 | air bags: side/window | 2010–2013 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V223000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2014 |
| May 2014 | 14V266000 | seat belts | 2010–2014 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V614000 | electrical system | 2014 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V044000 | tires | 2015 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V415000 | structure: body: hatchback/liftgate | 2010–2012 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V609000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2016 |
| Dec 2015 | 15V833000 | seats | 2016 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V643000 | structure: frame and members | 2020 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V446000 | air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator | 2020 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V684000 | tires | 2020 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V115000 | tires | 2020 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V246000 | air bags: critical fasteners | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V472000 | air bags: sensor: frontal impact | 2021 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V782000 | air bags: frontal | 2010–2017 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V210000 | air bags: side/window: curtain | 2021 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V246000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2015 |
| May 2023 | 23V334000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2014–2017 |
What the free pages leave out on the Buick Enclave
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Buick Enclave
What are the worst years for the Buick Enclave?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Buick Enclave years are the 2019 (68% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2016 (53% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2013 (51% of relevant complaints, high). 9 of 12 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Buick Enclave?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Buick Enclave years are the 2021 (22%), the 2015 (28%) and the 2017 (31%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Buick Enclave have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 12 scored years, 412 of 993 relevant NHTSA complaints (41%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Is the Buick Enclave reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 9 of 12 Buick Enclave years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 41% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Buick Enclave?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Buick Enclave years we track, out of 23 in total: 14V092000 (Feb 2014, 2014), 20V639000 (Oct 2020, 2020), 20V668000 (Oct 2020, 2019–2020). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.