Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Buick Enclave problems

Owners filed 220 complaints about the 2009 Buick Enclave with NHTSA between Apr 2009 and Aug 2025. The most-cited component is steering (108).

Complaints
220
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering108
  2. Engine35
  3. Power train33
  4. Electrical system22
  5. Vehicle speed control11
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)9
  7. Air bags9
  8. Structure8
  9. Engine and engine cooling8
  10. Seat belts7
  11. Suspension6
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic5
  13. Fuel/propulsion system4
  14. Latches/locks/linkages2

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20093
20107
20117
20129
201330
201452
201529
201626
201712
201814
20199
202010
20212
20223
20234
20240
20253

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

108 reports1 crash1 fire
“Every time I turn right my car turns off. I am able to restart after. I’ve taken it to several mechanic's and no one seems to know the issue. I’ve had my battery change circuits change a tune up and my gas filter changed and the car still doesn’t work.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2025SteeringODI 11681021

Engine

35 reports3 fires
“My 2009 Buick Enclave CXL, VIN 5GAEV23D79J118427: Engine caught on fire during the time i was driving it. The car hesitated as if it was going to shut off then i saw smoke coming from underneath the front hood, I pulled to the side of the road and stopped the car and open the front hood, my engine was on fire. The fire was located on the passenger side of the car or the left side of the car if you were facing the front of the car. I tried to put the fire out, but the fire got out of control. I called 911 and the fire Department and Police arrived. My car was being repair due to the fire.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2023EngineFire reportedODI 11500646

Power train

33 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2009 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that the rear driver’s side and center seat belt failed to latch securely. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed but no failure could be determined. could not be determined. The contact then stated that on another occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter failed to operate in drive(D). The contact stated that the shifter was stuck in drive (Low). As a result, while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH. Additionally, the contact stated that on multiple occasions, the instrument panel digital display failed to illuminate, and the contact was unable to state whether there were any warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the instrument panel light bulb was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2023Power train, Seat belts, Electrical systemODI 11511151

Electrical system

22 reports2 fires1 related recall
“Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2009 Buick Enclave. The contact purchased the vehicle from a local used car dealer in April 2025. The contact stated that the odometer and the bill of sales indicated that the mileage was 133,000. The contact stated that while registering the vehicle with Carshield, the contact was informed that the mileage was reported in January 2025 at 163,000. The dealer was made aware of the issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2025Electrical systemODI 11672171

Vehicle speed control

11 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK, THE GEARS SLIPPED, THE RPMS INCREASED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 9 MONTHS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.*DT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2019Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11269997

Electronic stability control (esc)

9 reports
“TRANSMISSION-PUSH ON GAS BUT WOULDN'T MOVE, JUST REVVED UP, WAS PARKED AND TRIED TO LEAVE AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE SO ENDED UP HAVING IT TOWED AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED. LESS THAN 75,000 MILE ON IT. POWER STEERING PUMP-WOULD GO TO TURN WHEEL AND WOULD TAKE BOTH HANDS TO TURN IT BECAUSE IT WAS THAT TIGHT. MOTOR MOUNT FOR STABILITRAK NEEDED REPLACED. WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND IT WOULD BE WOBBLY AND LIGHT WOULD COME ON THAT STABILITRAK/TRACTION CONTROL NEEDED FIXED. HAVE VEHICLE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND PUT LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON IT. ONLY HAD 74,000 WHEN I GOT IT. REGRET PURCHASE AND NOW FEEL UNSAFE IN MY OWN CAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 6, 2020Steering, Unknown or other, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11337674
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

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