87 of the 779 complaints about the 2008 Buick Enclave are about the engine — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 82,040 miles.
87
Complaints
3
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
Electric issues, the recall for the sunroof was not disclosed and was not inspected properly…water and debris get clogged and goes into the in the engine.
NHTSA complaint #11655899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
Apparently the catalytic converter has gone defective. Plus, the backup camera stopped working.
NHTSA complaint #11486211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
Sunroof messing up electrical system clogs up easily radio and everything else don't work right electrical all messed up because it clogging sunroof crankshaft won't relearn
NHTSA complaint #11467201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while driving at 20 MPH, a warning message indicating that the vehicle was overheated illuminated. The contact pulled into a nearby parking lot. The contact then opened the hood of the vehicle by engaging the power release button inside of the vehicle. The contact saw black smoke and flames coming out from underneath the hood. The contact immediately exited the vehicle. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle remained at the scene. The local dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not included in a recall associated with the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V240000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11465024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
Vehicles Timing Chain keeps going out had it replaced 3 times and the problem the vehicle is having still consists the vehicle constantly hesitates to start.
NHTSA complaint #11431564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER'S BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING UP A HILL AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED, A FLAME HAD IGNITED FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. HER BOYFRIEND EXITED THE VEHICLE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. A FELLOW MOTORIST WITNESSED THE SITUATION AND ASSISTED HER DAUGHTERS BOYFRIEND BY GIVING HIM A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH THE BOYFRIEND USED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HAD THE VEHICLE INITIALLY TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME WHERE IT WAS THEN TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A "MECHANICAL DEFECT" AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR A REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
NHTSA complaint #11398993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE ENGINE BLEW OUT TODAY. CAUGHT FIRE. SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF MY DAUGHTER. THE CAR MADE A JERKING MOTION AND NOISE WHILE ON THE HWY. THEN FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT....PULLED IT OVER IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED OFF. IT WAS SMOKING. THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE BLEW OUT ...IT LITERALLY WAS MISSING PIECES OF METAL.
NHTSA complaint #11364494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
AT 160,000 ENGINE POWER LOWERED COULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH ON HIGHWAY SERVICE STABILITRAC WARNING CAME ON AND COMPLETELY STOPPED.
NHTSA complaint #11330711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
STEERING MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN HITTING MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND INTERMITTENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS A RATTLING NOISE WHEN FIRST STARTED AND RECENTLY THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN FIRST STARTED. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS DECREASED HORSEPOWER AND THE MILEAGE LCD SCREEN HAS BEEN ACTING UP AND NOT ALWAYS SHOWING THE PRNDL AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION ACTS UP WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3 AND 6 GEAR
NHTSA complaint #11318597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY MADE AN ABNORMAL LOW GEAR NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS EMITTING FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SMOKE INHALATION BUT WAS NOT HOSPITALIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11300138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
AT 125,000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN IT'S GOING OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11277570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #11270878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. RPMS WERE HIGH AND I HAD TO PULL OVER FROM THE FAST LANE WITH TRACTOR-TRAILERS DRIVING AROUND ME AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, IT SEEMS THIS HAS BEEN SEEN IN ALOT OF CARS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. I HOPE NO ONE DIES TO MAKE THE MANUFACTURER RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. IN FACT, THERE WERE TWO OTHER BUICK/GM CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE WAITING TO BE WORKED ON. THE CODES WERE P0776, P0796 AND P0700.
NHTSA complaint #11251879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE CAR WAS SPITTING D SPUTTER AND OVERHEATING ON THE MAIN HIGHTWAY... ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING A D IT SHOWED MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 2,4,6.... THE PROBLEM IS ON GOING AND HAS HAD MY 2 YEAR OLD AND MYSELF SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN 110 DEGREE HEAT INDEX WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK!. WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE MAIN HIGHWAY. THEN THE ACCELERATOR WOULD BE FLOORED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULDNT MOVE AT ALL. THUS I COULDNT CROSS THE LAST MAIN HIGHWAY TO GET HOME. IT SAID SERVICE STABILTRACT/ TRACTION CONTROL, WITH WNGINE LIGHT FLASHING... STILL ISNT FIXED
NHTSA complaint #11234936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON FIRST, THEN HEARD LOUD TAPPING NOISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER CHECKED THE OIL (FRESH OIL CHANGE THE DAY BEFORE) IT WAS STILL FULL. GOT THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAD THE CODES PULLED. THE DREADED TIMING CHAIN CODES OF P0008 AND P0017 AT 128,000 MILES ON THE CAR. MOST SHOPS THAT I CALLED WON'T EVEN TOUCH THIS BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE REPAIR. THAT LEAVES THE STEALERSHIP AT THE PRICE OF $3000 AND THAT IS IF NOTHING ELSE WAS DAMAGED. WHY WERE THE 2008'S LEFT OUT OF THE BUICK TIMING CHAIN RECALL WHEN IT HAS THE SAME 3.6L ENGINE? THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER BUICK. THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR (06/2018), BUT I KNEW IT WOULD BE A COSTLY REPAIR, SO THE CAR SAT UNTIL NOW.
NHTSA complaint #11197317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
AT 146,938 MILES, THE ENGINE HAS DIED (PISTONS HAVE COLLIDED WITH VALVES AT TWO POINTS AND ENGINE HAS JUMPED TIMING). THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME (ORIGINALLY REPLACED AT 56K MILES). THERE WAS NO SIGN ON THE DASH THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH EITHER.BUICK OFFERED NO HELP WITH THIS BEING SO UNUSUAL FOR THE ENGINE TO NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE SECOND TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11180848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE JULY OF 2017 PROBABLY ABOUT 6 MONTHS DRIVING MY RADIO MAKES A LOUD STATIC NOISE AND THEN NO SOUND NOT EVEN BLINKER SOUNDS. I GET IN IT LATER THAT DAY CRANK IT IT'S FINE. THEN BEGIN TO HAVE INTERMITTENT CRANKING ISSUES CRANK IT NOTHING EVERYTHING ON THE DASH BLACKS OUT NOTHING NOTHING HAPPENS TURN THE KEY BACK TURN IT BACK OVER IT CRANKS THAT STILL SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM IT STILL DOES THAT. THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER MY LIFTGATE JUST OPENS BY ITSELF THAT HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I JUST BEEN WAKE UP IN THE MORNING THE AND THE LIFTGATE IS OPEN. ONE MORNING MY HUSBAND WAKES UP TO GO TO WORK AND GOES OUTSIDE MY CAR HAS ACTUALLY REMOTE START ITSELF I WAS JUST SITTING IN THE YARD RUNNING LIKE SOMEBODY REMOTE STARTED IT BUT NO ONE WAS UP TO DO THAT. AT NIGHT WHEN I GO TO BED I DON'T LOCK MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT MAY BE AUTO STARTED THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I GET UP AND NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WITH MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT THE ENGINE IS GIVING THE CODE FOR INJECTORS 2 4 AND 6. P204 202 206. THESE LIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY COME ON AND GO OFF AND WHEN THEIR OWN THE VEHICLE WON'T START BOG DOWN AND TRY TO CUT OFF OR CUT OFF IT DOESN'T WANT TO STAY RUNNING CAME TO A RED LIGHT THREE DAYS AGO THOSE LIGHTS COME ON IN THE MIDDLE OF PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT IT WAS GREEN SO I WAS PULLING AWAY CAR JUST SHUTS OFF PUT IT PUT IT IN PARK CRANK IT UP DRIVES RIGHT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #11132007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THIS CAR IS A MESS. IT DIDN'T PASS THE STATE EMISSION TEST STICKER. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STABILITY TRACK CONTROL SYSTEM. ARE BRINGING UP A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH ERROR CODE P0174 AND P0171. EVERY TIME THOSE SYSTEM SHOWED UP IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL I GOT A FOLLOW UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND TWO GMC BUICK DEALER HAVE SAID DIFFERENT FIX METHOD. VERY BACK FOR ME. THEY WANT TO FIX DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS. THEY ARE GUESSING.
NHTSA complaint #11129187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT AND THERE WAS A LACK OF ENGINE POWER. THE DEALER (REYNOLDS BUICK GMC, 345 N CITRUS ST, WEST COVINA, CA 91791, (626) 966-4461) REPLACED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. IT WAS LATER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN RECOMMENDING THE CONTACT REPLACE THE PART. THERE WERE NO RECALLS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11119725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE STABILIZER SYSTEM IS SHOWING A WARNING LIGHT. SAYING : THE STABILIZER SYSTEM NEED SERVICE. AT THE SAME TIME THE TIRE PRESSURE SYMBOL LIGHT COME ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOLLOW AND STAYS ON. SHOWING 3 ERROR CODES P0700 - P0174 - P 0171. THIS IS LIKE ONE ERROR CODE PULL THE OTHER. THEN THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT IS GONE, WHEN YOU COME AND START THE CAR AND THEN AFTER SEVERAL HOUR THE LIGHT COMES BACK AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11111337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. SUDDENLY SHUTS OFF/STALLS WHILE DRIVING. NO WARNINGS.FIRST IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN PROCEEDING FROM STOPS LIKE RED LIGHTS, AND STOP SIGNS. NOW IT'S ALSO HAPPENING WHILE IN MOTION. I HAVE TO STOP COMPLETELY, AND RESTART THE CAR. IT MAY TAKE UP TO TWO ATTEMPTS BEFORE IT STARTS AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN WAS
NHTSA complaint #11076227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
DRIVING THE CAR IN THE FREEWAY. CAR STARTED SMOKING, STOPPED ON SHOULDER TURNED OFF ENGINE. SMOKE GOT DARKER AND THEN FIRE APPEARED.
NHTSA complaint #11076070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
COMPLETE ENGINE POWER REDUCTION AUTOMATICALLY CASING CAR INSTANTLY TO DROP FROM 65 MPH DOWN TO 25 MPH IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. LOST ALL POWER STEERING ABILITY AND NOT ABLE TO TURN CAR AND ALMOST DROVE INTO TREES BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP. I HAD TO HAVE AAA COME AND TOW MY CAR TO WALSER BUICK GMC IN BLOOMINGTON, MN
NHTSA complaint #11052760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL. HAD HARNESS REPLACED (COME TO FIND OUT ITS DUE TO WATER LEAK). AIR BAG SENSORS GO OFF AND ON SO YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW IF ITS WORKING OR NOT. ENGINE SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY AND NOW WHEN ITS STARTED THE ENGINE MAKES LOUD KNOCK. WAS TOLD POSSIBLE TIMING CHAIN. ONLY HAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #11014759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
NUT CAME LOSE AND FELL OFF CAUSING HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM FEONT MOTOR MOUNT
NHTSA complaint #10994352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND GOING ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT STALLED AND FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10944505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTACTED ONSTAR WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, AIR BAG, AND BRAKE SYSTEMS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10935203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
AT 90K MILES VEHICLE HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALONG WITH WARNING FOR STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL. LATER THAT DAY THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED AT A RED LIGHT. THE BUICK DEALER IDENTIFIED TIMINIG CHAIN AND TIMING ACTUATOR AS ISSUES. THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED. AT 104K MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN; THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE SAME TIMING CHAIN THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. BUT THIS GM NOR THE DEALER CAN EXPLAIN WHY THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AFTER ONLY 14K MILES OF USE. TIMING CHAIN APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE ON 2008 ENCLAVE EVEN THOUGH GM HAS REFUSED TO COVER THEM. ALSO IT APPEARS THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT ANY BETTER.
NHTSA complaint #10930353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 70000 MILES. BROUGHT INTO DEALER AND TOLD STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN. ALTHOUGH GM HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MANY OF THESE ENGINES IN THE ENCLAVE, I WAS TOLD THAT MINE WAS NOT A PART OF THE QUALIFIED BATCH FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT ALL COSTS WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. I AM CURRENTLY STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT NEEDS OVER $3500 IN REPAIRS ON A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS NEEDED EMISSIONS TESTING AND IS AS SUCH UNDRIVABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10928793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION GOING OUT
NHTSA complaint #10927612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.