Problems · by component
2008 Buick Enclave power train problems
139 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Buick Enclave cite power train, 26% of all 536 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
139
26% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.”
“The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the traction control warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEARS AT LOW RATES OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED ABNORMALLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A DEALER BORCHERDING BUICK GMC (9737 KINGS AUTO MALL RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45249, (513) 677-9200) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.”
“2008 INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. NO MATTER THE SPEED. SOMETIMES 30MPH ON THE STREET, SOMETIMES 70MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY. SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, SOMETIMES IT DOESNT. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY. CARS COST TOO MUCH TO BE PLAYING GUESS THE PROBLEM!! TAKE TO DEALER AT $100. A VISIT FOR THEM TO GUESS AND ULTIMATELY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE A WEEK LATER THE VEHICLE IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING YOU TOOK IT IN FOR. I JUST WISH SOMEONE NEW WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM WAS. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN GM. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS, BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LOW END LUXURY. IT'S DANGEROUS AND I GUESS PEOPLE HAVE TO START DYING AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST GM WILL HAPPEN BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE.”
“I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH THE STABILITRACK SYSTEM GOING OFF AND IT TELLING ME TO SERVICE STABILITRACK. HOWEVER, NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND I HAVE A CAR THAT I OWE WAY TOO MUCH FOR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. ON TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION MY IGNITION ONLY WORKS PART OF THE TIME. THERE IS NO POINT IN REPLACING THE IGNITION IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE MOTOR ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUT APPARENTLY THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED DURING THE RECALL SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THAT. NOT TO MENTION SPENDING OVER $200 JUST TO GET MY HEADLIGHT BULB REPLACED AT A SHOP BECAUSE ITS NOT SIMPLE ENOUGH TO JUST TAKE THE COVER OFF AND REPLACE THE BULB. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A MONEY PIT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING A LITTLE STRANGE LIKE OCCASIONALLY NOT WANTING TO SHIFT ONE DAY AND THEN BEING FINE THE NEXT. THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING AND IT WOULDN'T SHIFT, REV"D UP TO 4000 RPM AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 40 MPH. I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO PAY FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE PLUS MY CAR PAYMENT ON A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE.”
Showing 6 of 139 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.