Buick Enclave suspension problems

SUSPENSION

Lateral arms needed replaced at 60,000 miles causing shaking, accelerated wear on tires, increasing misalignment.

NHTSA complaint #11746168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I am submitting this letter to formally report two ongoing issues with my 2018 Buick Enclave. First, I have experienced persistent problems with the emissions purge valve. My vehicle has repeatedly triggered diagnostic trouble code P0496, indicating a malfunction in the purge valve system. I am aware that this issue has been the subject of recall campaigns for other Buick Enclave models; however, my vehicle has not been included in any such recall, despite exhibiting the same symptoms. This malfunction has resulted in persistent check engine warnings and noticeable performance concerns, raising questions about emissions compliance and the overall reliability of my vehicle. Given that other vehicles of the same make and model year have been recalled for the same issue, I respectfully request that my vehicle be reviewed for inclusion in the recall. Second, I am formally reporting a malfunction involving the stabilizers. Recently, I have noticed unusual noises and instability when driving, particularly when turning or traveling over uneven surfaces, which indicates a potential stabilizer malfunction. These issues have persisted despite regular maintenance and inspections, affecting the handling and safety of the vehicle. I believe this may represent a manufacturing or design defect that could pose a risk to other owners of the same make and model. I respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate this matter further. I kindly ask the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to consider expanding the existing recall to encompass additional vehicles affected by this defect. Please advise if you require further information or documentation regarding my case. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11742783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

Shortly after purchasing my 2017 enclave premium around 60000 I noticed a problem that felt like vehicle's tires were skipping when making sharp turns. Upon my own extensive research (as I didn’t have time money and couldn’t go won’t vehicle) discovered a clutch pack needed replaced. This is after replacing the battery and brakes nit even a month after buying. Later after taking it for an oil change I received a report stating the rear differential was cracked and power steering rack needed replaced. While driving in rush hour traffic one day all power steering was lost with no explanation. Still having problems with tire pressure monitor replacing multiple tire stems and tires. Won’t start after filling with gas or is stuck in crank position trying to start when it finally dies it wants to stall out. Currently headlights are flickering with no known cause. Oh and the driver heated seat stopped working right after purchase. I’m at a huge loss with repairs costing more than the worth of a vehicle that continues to have serious issues even after fixing the problem it seems to repeat itself. Owe too much to trade in. All these problems are known to occur I cannot believe this isn’t a lemon or recalled parts. If not in enclave same thing happens in similar vehicles made by sane manufacturers during the same years. I will never purchase another GMC nor purchase from Toyota who failed to help after purchase.

NHTSA complaint #11718078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I purchased a 2010 Buick Enclave from a dealer who did not disclose any major issues with the vehicle. After purchase, I began experiencing significant problems while driving, including difficulty shifting, loss of power, and unstable handling. Concerned for my safety, I took the Buick to a mechanic for inspection. The mechanic verified that: •The wrong transmission had been installed in the vehicle, causing unsafe shifting and performance issues. •The driveshaft was malfunctioning, which affects the stability and control of the SUV. •No warning or check engine lights were on •CV axel bolts were zip tied closed Because of these defects, the mechanic told me the vehicle is not safe to drive. These problems were never disclosed to me at the time of sale, and I would not have purchased the vehicle had I known.

NHTSA complaint #11684851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2020 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was inadvertently pulling to the left. Additionally, the vehicle made abnormally loud sounds, and unknown parts detached from the vehicle while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the control arm, ball joint, and axle driveshaft needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer confirmed that the vehicle would be sent to the body shop for the damaged body components. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and dispatched an investigator to the dealer to inspect the vehicle; however, the manufacturer declined to disclose any information. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000. The contact stated that GM authorized the repairs for the vehicle after inspecting it. The contact is still unaware of what caused the failure.

NHTSA complaint #11509594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

AT LOW SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. TAKES GREATER EFFORT THAN MY STRENGTH CAN HANDLE. ALSO SMELL A LIGHT BURNING SMELL WITH IT. FEELING EVERY BUMP WITH THIS ISSUE TOO SO MAY BE IN THE SUSPENSION BUT CANNOT DIAGNOSE YET.

NHTSA complaint #11400282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WE HAD TRUCK SINCE NEW. WE HAVE CONSISTENT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS INCLUDING STRUTS AND BUSHINGS. THE PARTS WERE DESIGNED FOR CAR AND NOT HEAVY SUV. THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT IF NOT REPAIRED AS INVOLVES STEERING AND DIRECTION. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACED 5 TIMES TO DATE. IT STARTS SQUEAKING. GM HAS SAID IT WILL NOT EFFECT THE BRAKE BUT THEY CANNOT LUBRICATE OR REPAIR UNLESS REPLACED. THIS ALSO EFFECTS OTHER GM TRUCKS ON SAME LAMBDA PLATFORM INCLUDING ACADIA AND TRAVERSE.

NHTSA complaint #11396015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I AM TOLD BY GRAFF CHEVROLET, OKEMOS, MI, THAT AT ONLY 63,000 MILES, MY REAR TOE LINK ADJUSTMENTS ARE SEPARATING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $407 PLUS A $90 WHEEL ALIGNMENT PLUS TAX. IN MY RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THE GM CADILLAX SRX HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY FIRST OFF, BUT ALSO BELIEVE GM SHOULD RECALL AND WARRANTY THESE PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #11384446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT THE RESIDENCE, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREENS AUTO REPAIR (23 E ORVIS ST, MASSENA, NY 13662, (315) 514-1282) TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE RESULT WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE REPAIR WAS STARTED BUT NOT YET COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,769. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11373464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

2010 BUICK ENCLAVE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, ENGINE STUTTERED, LOST POWER, AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PULLED OVER AND ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN, GEARS BLEW APART, TIMING CHAIN SHOT. FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTING ALMOST $7,000. MILEAGE WAS 178,222. ADDITIONAL ISSUES TO INCLUDE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS, BRAKES, ROTORS, WHEEL BEARINGS (TWICE) DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. REAR LATERAL LINKS BOTH UPPER AND LOWER (TWICE DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS). CAR STILL DOES NOT RIDE PROPERLY AFTER SECOND REPLACEMENT OF PARTS AND 4 ALL WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. CAR SWAYS TERRIBLY AND ROCKS ESPECIALLY DURING HIGHER WINDS. VERY HARD TO KEEP ON THE ROAD AND DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #11326788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WHEN DRIVING YOU CAN HEAR THE CLUNKING NOISE THE VEHICLE MAKES WHEN ON THE ROAD. IT'S SOUNDS BAD AND I DON'T WANT IT TO GET ANY WORSE. I CAN NOT PINPOINT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11326526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

BRAKE GRINDING CHANGED BRAKES AND ROTORS AND ALSO CONTROL ARM HUB BEARING AND STRUT

NHTSA complaint #11320803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING OVER 20 MPH AND BECAME UNABLE TO REVERSE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE DRIVING. WE DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO MAKE THIS REPAIR. THE CAR HAS SAT AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN A NON-DRIVABLE CONDITION SINCE APRIL 2019. THE REAR STRUT TOWERS REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CAR MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE BUICK GARAGE AND THEY RECOMMENDED THE STRUT TOWERS BE REPLACED AND THE REAR AXLE. THEY HAVE RECORD OF THE DATE AND MILEAGE. THE POWER STEERING CABLE RUBBED ON THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE AND A A HOLE WAS CREATED. THE AIR CONDITIONER BECAME NON-FUNCTIONAL. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED BY THE BUICK GARAGE BUT, WE DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPAIR THE AIR CONDITIONER SINCE WE NEEDED TO REBUILD THE STRUT TOWERS. SO WE DROVE THE CAR WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, UNTIL THE CAR STOPPED OPERATING IN REVERSE AND STOPPED ACCELERATING OVER 20 MPH. I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH 3 CHILDREN. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT HARDSHIP FOR US. IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT I WOULD PURCHASE A CAR FROM BUICK IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA complaint #11277362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

MY ENCLAVE GETS THRE WORST GAS MILEAGE OF ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED. MY 2003 TRAILBLAZER GETS BETTER GAS MILEAGE THAN THIS SUV BY ALMOST DOUBLE AND IT'S NOT VERY FUEL EFFICIENT. MY BOYFRIEND'S V8 SILVERADO ALSO GETS ABOUT 50% BETTER GAS MILAGE. IVE BROUGHT IT IN MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY KEEP SAYING THEY CAN'T FIND AN ISSUE BC THE COMPUTER ISN'T FLAGGING ANY ISSUES. THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK THAT WAD REPLACED HAS ALSO ALREADY WENT BAD WITH NO REASON AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WOBBLES WHEN REVERSING OUT IF A PARKING SPACE. THIS AGAIN WAS CHECKED AND THEY DENIED FINDING ANY ISSUES. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND THE RIDICULOUSLY PRICED AND WORTHLESS ADDITIONAL WARRANTY IN DECEMBER OF 2017.

NHTSA complaint #11266022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WE PURCHASED A 2009 GMC BUICK ENCLAVE FROM GILLIE HYDE USED CARS IN GLASGOW, KY ON 3-15-19. IMMEDIATELY UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME, WE NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN ACCELERATING. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO OUR MECHANIC WHO NOTED THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND WE RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS THE TIMING AS WELL AS THE REAR TAILGATE FALLING AFTER AUTOMATICALLY OPENING. NONE OF THESE ITEMS WERE LISTED. HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CARS/BUICK/ENCLAVE/2009/RELIABILITY#RECALLS THE RECALLS WERE NOT NOTED ON THE CARFAX PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. WE FEEL AS THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN MISLEAD AND COMPLETELY LIED TO ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SHAKES BAD. WE HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED, OIL CHANGED AND STILL SHAKES. GM KNEW OF THE SHAKING RESULTING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHING AND OUR DEALER DID NOT INFORM US OF THIS (EVEN WHEN THEY HAD ANOTHER ENCLAVE ON THE LOT WITH THIS ISSUE AND TOLD US NOT TO BUY IT). GM CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE THIS ENGINE AND FINALLY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY: IN NOVEMBER 2012, GM RELEASED A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT (#11340C) FOR TIMING CHAIN WEAR IN 2.8L AND 3.6L V6 ENGINES (LP1/LY7/LLT).

NHTSA complaint #11192467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEELS FROM FAR LEFT AND FROM FAR RIGHT. GENERALLY HEARD AS YOU BEGIN TO BACK UP FROM A PARKING SPACE AND GOING FORWARD AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 73,000 MILES AND NEW FACTORY RECOMMENDED TIRES AT 68,000 MILES. RECENTLY HAD LEAKING POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED BY GM BUICK GARAGE. GM MECHANIC CAN'T DETERMINED SOURCE OF GRINDING SOUND.

NHTSA complaint #11174254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2010 BUICK I'VE NOTHING BUT PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM.. FOR SOME REASON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS SEEMS TO COME ON, SUSPENSION MAKES NOISE, AND STEERING SYSTEM IS MAKING NOISE..

NHTSA complaint #11171176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE THE POWER LIFTGATE WAS REACHING ITS FULL POSITION, IT INDEPENDENTLY SLAMMED SHUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RK CHEVROLET (502 N DELSEA DR, VINELAND, NJ 08360, (856) 696-8400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V415000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA complaint #11064264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND PERFORMED A TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCING. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF LEAKED WATER WHEN IT RAINED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (SELLERS BUICK GMC, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI, 248-579-4892) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR A LATER DATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #11051668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.