2008 Buick Enclave

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2008 Buick Enclave
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Buick Enclave Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2008 highlighted. 2008: 536 complaints 2008 2009: 220 complaints 2010: 275 complaints 2011: 211 complaints 2011 2012: 132 complaints 2013: 68 complaints 2014: 289 complaints 2014 2015: 170 complaints 2016: 140 complaints 2017: 178 complaints 2017 2018: 64 complaints 2019: 39 complaints 2020: 52 complaints 2020 2021: 24 complaints 2022: 12 complaints 2023: 18 complaints 2023 2024: 7 complaints 2025: 35 complaints 2026: 1 complaints 2026
2008: 536 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
2008536
2009220
2010275
2011211
2012132
201368
2014289
2015170
2016140
2017178
201864
201939
202052
202124
202212
202318
20247
202535
20261

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 24%

24% of complaints: power train — 129 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK MY ENCLAVE CONTINUES TO ROLL ANOTHER 5-7 FEET AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS UNLOADING GROCERIES FROM THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD AND RAN OVER MY FOOT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120529

AIR BAGS 19%

19% of complaints: air bags — 101 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE HIT A STATIONARY OBJECT, TELEPHONE POLE, IN THE CENTER OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE ISSUE ARE THE AIR BAGS OF WHICH NONE ACTIVATED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20121011

STEERING 18%

18% of complaints: steering — 98 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171206

ENGINE 13%

13% of complaints: engine — 72 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171206

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120525

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%

13% of complaints: electrical system — 71 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE

SAFETY TIMELINE

2008 — complaint volume: 536
I 20080612 — EA (closed 20080908)

NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

R 20080912 — electrical system

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SI

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WW

Campaign 08V441000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20081013 — visibility

GM IS RECALLING 88,809 MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE, AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWA

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIPER CRANK ARM, DRIVER'S SIDE LINK, AND A CRANK ARM NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN O OCTOBER 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, SATURN AT

Campaign 08V410000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20100611 — electrical system

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE E

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEE

Campaign 10V240000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20140616 — air bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014.

Campaign 14V118000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20161115 — structure

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia...

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016.

Campaign 15V415000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20220110 — air bags

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022.

Campaign 21V782000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2008 Buick Enclave — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for power train issues (129 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (101 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for steering issues (98 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 08V441000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08V410000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 10V240000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V118000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V415000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21V782000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2025 ▲ 2019 ▲ 2020

WORST YEARS

■ 2014 ◆ 2010 ◆ 2009

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2008 Buick Enclave reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2008 Buick Enclave is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Buick Enclave?

The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 24% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2008 Buick Enclave have?

6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.