9.8

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$6,940
Average Mileage:
107,850 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace engine (6 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Buick dealer.

problem #8

Aug 092023

Enclave CXL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

I bought a 2011 Buick enclave brand new with 3000 miles on it. Today my grandson was driving it on the highway when suddenly it completely lost power as he was going around a curve with an oncoming semi. The steering wheel locked up, but by the grace of God, he was able to avoid the truck and get it off the road. We had it towed to my mechanic who said immediately the engine is blown. Prior to this there were no issues whatsoever. I just had the oil changed a few weeks ago. Regular maintenance was always performed on this vehicle. This could have resulted in a death. Completely unacceptable. GM!!!!

- mindawg, Alexandria, US

problem #7

Jun 082022

Enclave LX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles

My car was idling rough. I had it towed to mechanic. First they said it needs new timing gear. Then they said new engine. Brought it to a different mechanic who reiterated first mechanic, the engine needs replacing. Had Endurance used car warranty who denied claim as they stated it was pre-existing. Car fax shows car was maintained regularly.

- njbooklover, Sewell, US

problem #6

Jan 142022

Enclave CXL 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,700 miles

So here we are again - the same car, a different problem but more serious. 35 days and about 100 miles later, my lower rod bearings decided to fail. From what research I found this was another common problem with these model and design of motors. Whereas the timing was ''EXPECTED TO FAIL'' from 80,000-120,000 miles, which is absurd, the lower rod journals and or bearings were "EXPECTED TO FAIL" from 100,000 - 150,000 miles. And GM speaks as though this is okay and should be expected by someone who plans on "maintaining" a vehicle past 100,000 miles. WHAT A JOKE.

I have never, and mean NEVER, had a vehicle that did not last, mechanically, past 150,000 miles. Most every vehicle lasted past 200,000, with a couple breaking past the 300,000 mark. And YES mechanically they still worked. The mechanics of the the vehicles always outlasted the body and frame. Except for this one. As stated in a previous gripe, I am a USMC Veteran. Retired. When this POS of a GM finally decided to break for good, it left my wife and I on the side of a major highway - unable to get to my Veterans Hospital to have a long awaited procedure to take place. A procedure that I already had to wait 3 months to get into. And now because of GM's FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP AND DESIGN, I had to miss my procedure and be rescheduled another 3 months out. And not to any fault of GM's, surprisingly, one month later my second vehicle, a great running 99 Chevy Silverado with 254,000mls, was totaled out when a driver decided to run a stop sign on me. This would not have been as detrimental if it wasn't for the recent complete failure of our Buick, our family car. It's supposed to be the dependable one. So here is yet another example of a faulty product that the manufacture recognizes but will not stand behind. It's SAD, real SAD, that this is the state of our automobile industry. Well, at least it is on GM's side. That's my opinion.

- Deon T., Onsted, MI, US

problem #5

Mar 232018

Enclave

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

I purchased a 2011 Buick Enclave on December 26th 2016 from a dealership and have had nothing but problems since then. I have replaced heating units, heated seats, outlets, I have spent thousands of dollars on top of the large loan I took out to purchase the vehicle. Last month I was driving and the check engine light appeared and said that the engine power was being reduced and then it shut off and would not start again.

I had it towed and they gave me a quote of $8,000.00 to replace the engine which is over half of what I owe on the vehicle. I contacted Buick and they said that they might be able to cover part of it due to a recall but it had to be towed to a Buick dealership. I did so, spending $500.00 on the initial diagnostic and $450.00 on the tow.

Once there (At a Buick Dealership) we were given two options; the first was for $5,500.00 and that would give us a 12,000mile/12 month warranty on the current engine being fixed. The second was $7,500.00 for a new engine and a 36,000/36 month warranty. Because we have had so many problems with our vehicle we went with the $5,500.00 option because we would like to pay it off as soon as possible to purchase a more reliable vehicle. They did the repairs and emailed me a few days ago stating that they completed the repairs but now say it really does need a new engine so not only do we have to pay the $7,500.00 for the new engine they are also charging us the $5,500.00 for the first “repair.” After a $1,000.00 discount for parts they could remove they want to charge us $12,000.00 to fix what should have been fixed right away. We are still unsure of what we are going to do.

- Christina F., Cazenovia, WI, US

problem #4

Apr 072018

Enclave CXL 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,000 miles

click to see larger images

blown engine blown engine

We were leaving our home made it about 1 mile and the motor died at a stop sign. No previous indications of any problems, appeared that the battery had died. had the car towed home and charged the battery.still wouldn't turn over. Decided to check if the motor would turn by hand. Put a wrench on the pulley at the bottom of the motor. It turned about 1 full turn and stopped dead. That is when I understood that it was a catastrophic engine failure. Have full service records and have always run full syn. oil.

Now I'm hearing that this is fairly common and GM doesn't want to offer any help .

What to do?

Update from Apr 23, 2018: Valve spring broke dropped the valve into the cylinder and scratched the block so I had to replace the motor. $6,500 for a remanned motor with a 100,000mile warranty

- Samuel Y., Denton, TX, US

problem #3

Oct 072017

Enclave

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,000 miles

Vehicle started to make a rattling nose during acceleration only and then would disappear when speed leveled off. Drove vehicle again 2 days later for a short distance and noise was louder. Took to GM dealer that has performed all repairs and oil changes on vehicle. States needs new engine. $6,800 in repairs for a new engine.

- Anne C., South Bend, US

problem #2

Feb 022015

Enclave CXL 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

Engine stalled while driving and wouldn't restart (sounded like a dead battery). Took car to reputable repair shop and they said it looked like the timing chain had stretched (a common GM problem due to cheap materials) and this caused the engine to seize. Took car to dealership since it was still under warranty (78,000 mi), and they said there was "lower engine knocking" and replaced the engine with GM rebuild. They said that GM would do the analysis, and they weren't going to provide an opinion of what went wrong. The tech manager told me it was about $7,800 worth of parts and labor.

Although the dealership replaced the engine quickly and with no hassle, it is still concerning that a 4 year old car would have such a huge mechanical failure. Now I'm hesitant to keep the vehicle beyond the warranty. Anyone want to buy a car?

- achg1124, Springfield, VA, US

problem #1

Jun 262014

Enclave CXL 3.2L Vvt

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,000 miles

This SUV has 122,000 of those a 100,000 of those miles are interstate miles. All routine maintenance was performed at the dealership except for 2 oil changes which I performed myself. The service department informs me today that we have had a catastrophic engine failure. They also inform me that it will cost 6750 dollars to replace the motor with one that has been rebuilt by Buick. The warranty is for 100,000 miles on this motor, I'm really disappointed in GMC for this. We purchased the extended warranty thru GE. The coverage was for 120,000. This vehicle has taken us all over but for a motor to fail after 4 yrs is just devastating. These companies have there planned obsolescence down to a science. The dealership isn't even trying work with me.

- Rex S., Beckley, WV, US