Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Buick Enclave
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Buick Enclave has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 133 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V782000 Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V246000 Side Curtain Air Bags May be Unsecured NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V415000 Liftgate Struts may Fail and Liftgate may Fall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V266000 Flexible Steel Cable for Seat Belt may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V118000 Side Impact Air Bags Wiring Connections NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V151000 WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM NUTS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 24 complaints
- Structure 24 complaints
- Air Bags 21 complaints
- Electrical System 20 complaints
- Unknown or Other 20 complaints
- Steering 17 complaints
Of the 133 complaints on file, 9 report a crash; across all 133 complaints, owners report 25 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Buick Enclave has a below-average reliability rating, primarily due to recurring issues with the engine, electrical system, and air bags, as highlighted by recalls and numerous owner complaints for these systems.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $2,000–$4,000 | very common |
| electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| air bags | 60,000–90,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | common |
| steering | 80,000–110,000 miles | $700–$1,200 | occasional |
| power train | 90,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Replace brake pads every 40,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 50,000 miles
- Replace spark plugs every 100,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfire or rough idle
- Unresponsive power features
- Airbag warning light on
- Steering system noise
- Slipping transmission
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Buick Enclave at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.