2018 Buick EnclaveRecalls, problems, MPG & safety
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 66 owner complaints for the 2018 Buick Enclave. Most complaints involve service brakes (20) and power train (16). The EPA rates it 20–21 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Safety recalls
Owner complaints by component
- Service brakes20
- Power train16
- Engine13
- Electrical system10
- Fuel/propulsion system5
- Forward collision avoidance5
- Vehicle speed control2
- Suspension2
- Engine and engine cooling2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Enclave model year we’ve synced.
View as table
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 536 |
| 2009 | 220 |
| 2010 | 275 |
| 2011 | 213 |
| 2012 | 133 |
| 2013 | 71 |
| 2014 | 292 |
| 2015 | 171 |
| 2016 | 142 |
| 2017 | 179 |
| 2018 | 66 |
| 2019 | 45 |
| 2020 | 61 |
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 39 |
| 2026 | 3 |
- Crashes reported
- 5
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Deaths reported
- 0
What owners report most
Service brakes
“Several times I have been stopped at a red light, and my parking break will come on without me engaging it. I was almost hit by other vehicles the last time my vehicle did this. People were blasting their horns and speeding around me because I was unable to move my vehicle. Because I had not manually engaged my parking break, my vehicle would not allow me to disengage the parking break until after it finally read that I engaged it. It took me 10 minutes of having to turn my car off and back on and trying to engage the parking break manually before the vehicle finally noticed it was engaged and would allow me to disengage my vehicle so that I could move it out of the way. This has now happened 3 separate times in the last month. It is an extremely dangerous situation and is making me become nervous to drive my own vehicle.”
Power train
“I am the original owner of this Buick Enclave Avenir. I have had two near accident occurences when the car started foring the breaks while I was accellarating on the highway and was not behind another vehicle. The car behind me nearly rerended me. On 10/17/26, my purge valve was replaced for the third time, making this the fourth purge valve the car has had. After getting gas, the car will not start, which is an indicator the part has gone bad and needs to be replaced. In June of 2025 I took my car to Anderson Buick over concerns while accellerating. They confirmed my transmission needed to be replaced. Our family shop suggested waiting until the end of summer since I wouldnt be driving daily and the replacement would cost nearly 10k. It could only be ordered through GM, making the part substantially higher in cost. When summer break ended and I needed to use my car daily we could not take the car to the dealer or our family shop because the part was no longer available. We could not get a clear time frame of when the part would be in stock, if at all. We had the transmission rebuilt with 166k miles. Nearly 4 months later the trasmission started to shudder…”
Engine
“Exhaust leak from broken front exhaust pipe. This has been a known defect in this make/model however the year of my vehicle was not included in the extended repair window and should have been. The exhaust leak was identified by the dealership when the vehicle was taken in for other maintenance. I had to pay for the repair myself and would like to be reimbursed due to this being a manufacturer known defect with the exhaust pipe. The exhaust leak caused unusual noises, a loud roaring, and reduced gas mileage. This was also a danger for carbon monoxide exposure.”
Engines, transmissions & drive
- EPA class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Engines
- 3.6L 6-cyl
- Transmissions
- Automatic 9-spd
- Drive
- Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
EPA fuel economy by version
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enclave FWD Auto 9-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | $2,950 | 416 |
| Enclave AWD Auto 9-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,100 | 446 |
- 21mpg comb.
- 20mpg comb.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
- Frontal crash
- 4 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 15.0%
- Frontal crash
- 4 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 16.9%
Maintenance basics
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
- Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
6–12 months - Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
Every oil change - Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
1–2 years - Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
1–2 years - Brake fluid—
2–3 years - Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
5–10 years - Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
— - 12V battery—
3–5 years
2018 Enclave questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Buick Enclave have?
0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Nov 8, 2026.
What are the most common 2018 Buick Enclave problems?
Owners filed 66 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes (20), power train (16), engine (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2018 Buick Enclave get?
The EPA rates the 2018 Buick Enclave at 20–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).
How safe is the 2018 Buick Enclave?
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Buick Enclave 5 out of 5 stars overall.