Problems · by component
2011 Buick Enclave power train problems
38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Buick Enclave cite power train, 18% of all 213 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
38
18% of all complaints
Crashes
1
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
“I have had my car looked at and my camshaft reductor wheel/valve is broken. This happened very unexpectedly and almost caused a serious accident at highway speeds. I was able to drift the car to the shoulder from the middle lane, but almost was hit by a semi when my car randomly stalled out in the middle of I-5. This is a problem I have sense researched and has happened to many others with the same car and model year.”
“While driving at highway speeds, with cruise control set the vehicle started to violently shake almost causing me to lose control of the vehicle. After having the vehicle inspected I was informed that the transmission is known to have an issue with the 3rd and 5th clutch pack causing the vehicle to shake when they are trying to engage. This is no lights on the dash and no other warning signs of said issue. I have an appointment to have the issue resolved which entails to have the transmission either rebuild or replaced.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL. DURING THE FAILURE, THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER CARL BLACK CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (11500 EAST COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32817) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
“TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED AT 160,000, ISSUE BEEN GOIN ON FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR OR 10,000 MILES HAS HAD OIL LEAKS, HAVE HAD TO FILL FUILD UP REGULARLY, SEEMS LIKE ALL OF THESE GM, CHEVY, BUICK AND SATURN'S ALL HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSIONS”
“IN 2017 THE TIMING BELT FAILED WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT WAS OVER 2000 DOLLARS. 2018 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDIA STING AN ISSUE WITH THE CAYTALIC CONVERTER. HAVE NOT REPAIRED BUT VEHICLE WILL DYE WHILE DRIVING. IT QUIT WORKING ON INTERSTATE AND I HAD TO COAST ACROSS FIVE LANES TO SHOULDER, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ON 2 LANE HIGHWAY. 2020 AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, STAYED ON FOR A FEW DAYS AND WENT OUT. HIT BUMP IN ROAD AIRBAG LIGHT RETURNS.”
“HELLO - I AM WRITING AS A CONCERNED CONSUMER. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2011 BUICK ENCLAVE. TWO WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IT STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE CAR THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND BECAME INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL. WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE INABILITY TO RESTART THE ENGINE IT BECAME A DANGEROUS SITUATION TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ISSUE WAS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. THIS REPAIR REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN. RESEARCH INTO BUICK HAS SHOWN THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS VERY ISSUE BUT ONLY FOR THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. MY 2011 WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2010. FOR THIS VERY ISSUE, BUICK HAS EXTENDED THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY TO 120K OR 7YRS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS TIMING CHAIN ISSUE IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THE 2009 AS OWNERS OF OTHER MODEL YEARS ARE EXPRESSING THE SAME CONCERNS. I AM WRITING TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT, AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BUICK REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THE FAILURE OF THIS TIMING CHAIN LEAD TO A SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A WRECK AND POSSIBLE INJURY. I HAVE CONTACTED…”
Showing 6 of 38 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.