2018 Buick Enclave Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: September 9, 2026 · Filed: October 18, 2026

I am the original owner of this Buick Enclave Avenir. I have had two near accident occurences when the car started foring the breaks while I was accellarating on the highway and was not behind another vehicle. The car behind me nearly rerended me. On 10/17/26, my purge valve was replaced for the third time, making this the fourth purge valve the car has had. After getting gas, the car will not start, which is an indicator the part has gone bad and needs to be replaced. In June of 2025 I took my car to Anderson Buick over concerns while accellerating. They confirmed my transmission needed to be replaced. Our family shop suggested waiting until the end of summer since I wouldnt be driving daily and the replacement would cost nearly 10k. It could only be ordered through GM, making the part substantially higher in cost. When summer break ended and I needed to use my car daily we could not take the car to the dealer or our family shop because the part was no longer available. We could not get a clear time frame of when the part would be in stock, if at all. We had the transmission rebuilt with 166k miles. Nearly 4 months later the trasmission started to shudder again. We took it back to the same shop for repairs becuase it was under warranty. Nearly four months later, the issue began again. The shop said there is nothing I can do to stop it from happening, that the part is deffective and GM knows. I have opened a claim with GM and expect nothing will happen, but it is apparent that the transmission issues are rampant with this vehicle, as evidenced by the complaints here and the droves of complaints on reddit forums.

Incident: September 24, 2026 · Filed: September 25, 2026

The vehicle is experiencing an intermittent but severe safety defect involving the StabiliTrak and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) systems. While driving at operational speeds, the "Service StabiliTrak" warning light illuminates, immediately followed by the uncommanded, autonomous engagement of the electronic parking brake. When the defect occurs, the vehicle forcibly brakes itself and suffers a complete loss of throttle response, preventing acceleration. This creates a severe, immediate crash hazard, as the vehicle decelerates abruptly without warning to surrounding traffic, leaving the driver unable to accelerate out of harm's way.The vehicle was brought to an authorized General Motors dealership multiple times during the active warranty period for recurring StabiliTrak system warnings. The manufacturer failed to permanently diagnose and resolve the root cause of the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) failure. The vehicle remains highly dangerous to operate due to unpredictable, uncommanded braking.

Incident: June 1, 2026 · Filed: June 17, 2026

2018 Enclave w/106k on the odometer and the catalytic convertor cracked. $2200 repair.

Incident: June 1, 2026 · Filed: June 8, 2026

I am submitting this letter to formally report two ongoing issues with my 2018 Buick Enclave. First, I have experienced persistent problems with the emissions purge valve. My vehicle has repeatedly triggered diagnostic trouble code P0496, indicating a malfunction in the purge valve system. I am aware that this issue has been the subject of recall campaigns for other Buick Enclave models; however, my vehicle has not been included in any such recall, despite exhibiting the same symptoms. This malfunction has resulted in persistent check engine warnings and noticeable performance concerns, raising questions about emissions compliance and the overall reliability of my vehicle. Given that other vehicles of the same make and model year have been recalled for the same issue, I respectfully request that my vehicle be reviewed for inclusion in the recall. Second, I am formally reporting a malfunction involving the stabilizers. Recently, I have noticed unusual noises and instability when driving, particularly when turning or traveling over uneven surfaces, which indicates a potential stabilizer malfunction. These issues have persisted despite regular maintenance and inspections, affecting the handling and safety of the vehicle. I believe this may represent a manufacturing or design defect that could pose a risk to other owners of the same make and model. I respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate this matter further. I kindly ask the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to consider expanding the existing recall to encompass additional vehicles affected by this defect. Please advise if you require further information or documentation regarding my case. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: May 26, 2022 · Filed: May 26, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the alternator was replaced 4 times before the dealer diagnosed that the failure was due to oil leaking onto the alternator and the battery. The contact stated that the alternator had been replaced 6 times in total. Additionally, the contact stated while pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road, the vehicle shut off. The messages "Electronic Control Module Failure", "Battery Saver Active", "Battery Charging System" and "Steering Assist Is Reduced- Drive with Care" were displayed. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with the Electronic Control Module (ECM) and alternator failures. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

Incident: May 12, 2026 · Filed: May 12, 2026

After two transmission flushes and being told by a Buick dealership's service technicians that nothing is wrong with the vechile's transmission, it has now failed completely at ~90k miles.

Incident: February 1, 2026 · Filed: May 11, 2026

Catalic converter weld broke both sides now

Incident: October 20, 2025 · Filed: May 5, 2026

Exhaust leak from broken front exhaust pipe. This has been a known defect in this make/model however the year of my vehicle was not included in the extended repair window and should have been. The exhaust leak was identified by the dealership when the vehicle was taken in for other maintenance. I had to pay for the repair myself and would like to be reimbursed due to this being a manufacturer known defect with the exhaust pipe. The exhaust leak caused unusual noises, a loud roaring, and reduced gas mileage. This was also a danger for carbon monoxide exposure.

Incident: September 19, 2025 · Filed: April 28, 2026

The air conditioning system failure prevents proper windshield defogging, significantly reducing visibility in humid or rainy conditions. Additionally, cabin temperatures become excessively high, causing driver fatigue and impaired concentration. This creates an unsafe driving condition and increases the risk of a crash

Incident: December 16, 2017 · Filed: April 4, 2026

In December 2017 we were involved in a rear end collision so violent the spare tire was knocked out from under the vehicle. Our vehicle, 2014 Buick Enclave VIN [XXX] was struck in the rear. The lap belt held us secure, but the shoulder belt allowed us to be tossed forward. My head hit the left windshield/top post leaving me looking like a racoon the next day. General Motors representatives, [XXX] CEO at the time ,stated the seat belts functioned properly. I injured my left wrist as a result of being thrown forward and have pain in it ever since then. We now drive a 2018 Buick Enclave VIN [XXX] that we purchased as a result of the December 2017 accident. We have noticed the same problem with the shoulder belts not working in sync with the lap belt, especially during a panic braking. Could this be product failure or just coincidence? I BELEIVE THIS WARRANTS EVALUATION! Thank you. My email address is [XXX] , mailing address is [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)