Problems · by component

2008 Buick Enclave air bags problems

113 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Buick Enclave cite air bags, 21% of all 536 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
113
21% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“1st incident was 6/29/24 my driver seat airbag deployed. 2nd incident happened 8/3/24 when the airbag on the driver side deployed the whole side from the front to the back of the trunk.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2024Air bagsODI 11607978
“I didn’t have any accidents but I when to many mechanics shops and each saying that it is an electrical problem with my 2008 Buick enclave CXL 3.6 also an issue with the airbag on the dash it showing service airbag soon I brought this car a couple of years ago and the airbag light was on when I brought it. VIN [XXX] I can be reach at [XXX] [XXX] or email me at [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2024Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11586473
“At 65,000 Transmission went out 100,000 Electrical issue due to lose ground wire under fuse box 121,000 Electrical issue caused battery to drain and vehicle not turn off. Even if key out of ignition 121,000 Driver Side Curtain Airbags deployed when battery replaced”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2023Power train, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11532452
“Passenger airbag will disable randomly while driving for random periods of time ranging from a few seconds to a few hours despite there being a 140+ lb passenger. This will happen every few minutes.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2022Air bagsODI 11477072
“1.Passenger airbag- warning light gives me a daily message to service the airbag. I worry about whether the airbag will deploy at any moment or may not deploy if an accident occurs as I travel with my children daily. 2.Power steering- My power steering locked as I was driving 2 years ago. The auto shop has replaced/repaired the power steering system multiple times, however steering continues to whine and rub. 3.Trunk liftgate- The liftgate has abruptly lowered as my children and I have tried to get items in and out of the back. This resulted in one of them getting hit in the head. The back liftgate button has stopped engaging.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2022Air bagsODI 11448492
“I purchased this vehicle several years ago used and everything was working fine. Several months later, whenever a "passenger" sits in the front passenger seat, the check airbag and seat belt system message appears in the dashboard. After the seat becomes unoccupied, the message remains on...sometimes for a couple of days, sometimes for a week, and sometimes for a month or two. Then it may stop showing the message until a person sits there again. This also happened when the vehicle was not running and the key was in my pocket. I went and applied pressure to the passenger seat and when I started the vehicle with an empty passenger seat, the message appeared again. I took my vehicle to the dealer and they were going to charge me an arm and a leg for the repair and I was thinking this should be a covered repair. What I am saying is the message appears that something is wrong and when someone sits in the seat.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2021Air bagsODI 11442063

Showing 6 of 113 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: frontal

Remedy pending

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Air bagsReported Oct 7, 2021NHTSA 21V782000

Air bags: side

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Air bagsReported Mar 17, 2014NHTSA 14V118000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.