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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering108
- Engine35
- Power train33
- Electrical system22
- Vehicle speed control11
- Electronic stability control (esc)9
- Air bags9
- Structure8
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Seat belts7
- Suspension6
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
7
7
9
30
52
29
26
12
14
9
10
2
3
4
0
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 30 |
| 2014 | 52 |
| 2015 | 29 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 3 |
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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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”
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.”
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.