NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Buick Enclave. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
2009 BUICK ENCLAVE EXPERIENCED NOISY BRAKES WITH ONLY 16,000 MILES. GMC COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. 7 MONTHS LATER THE SAME CAR WITH 26,000 MILES HAD HEAVY BRAKE PULSATING UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. GMC HAD TO TURN THE FRONT ROTORS AGAIN DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT AND BURN SPOTS WHICH CAUSED WARPING OF THE ROTORS. GMC SAYS THIS REPAIR DOESN'T FALL UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED ONE TIME PRIOR; HOWEVER, THEY ARE MISSING THE POINT IN THAT THIS ISN'T A BRAKE PAD ISSUE NOR IS IT DUE TO EXCESSIVE BRAKING. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM WHICH IS COVERED. NO CAR (UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS) SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE IN 26,000 MILES. THE HOT SPOTS ON THE ROTORS CONCERNS ME SINCE A BRAKE FIRE COULD RESULT ENDANGERING LIVES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVED EQUIPPED WITH A BLUE OX BRAKING SYSTEM. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEM WAS SENT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000. UPDATED 02/10/11 *BF UPDATED 12/06/2011 *LN
VEHICLE 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. KEEPS TURNING ON THE LIGHT ENGINE AND AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT IS BECAUSE I DON'T CLOSE THE GAS KNOB CORRECTLY. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON WHILE IM DRIVING IT GIVES ME A MESSAGE OF POWER ENGINE REDUCE AND IT REDUCE MY SPEED AND I CAN'T CONTINUE DRIVING. I'VE ALMOST CAUSE 2 ACCIDENTS WHILE IM DRIVING DUE TO THIS ISSUE. IT WILL COMPLETELY STOP IN CERTAIN TIMES WHILE IM DRIVING. LAST INCIDENT 06/05/10. AS WELL, MY TIRE GOT FLAT AROUND A MONTH AGO AND I REALIZED THE DEALERSHIP SOLD ME THE VEHICLE WITH NO EXTRA TIRE AND EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT TO CHANGE MY TIRE. *TR
2009 BUICK ENCLAVE CXL. SINCE 2010 IT HAS LEAKED WATER FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS YEAR WE HAVE STARTED TO NOTICE IT MORE WHEN THE HEAT CAME AND WE TURNED ON THE AC, THE AC STOPPED WORKING A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WHEN I WOULD TURN MY CAR WHILE DRIVING THERE WOULD BE WATER COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ON THE FLOOR AND THE AC WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. FINALLY MY HUSBAND TOOK DOWN THE COVER OFF THE BLOWER MOTOR AND WHEN HE TOOK IT DOWN IT WAS FILLED WITH WATER, HE CLEANED IT AND THE MOTOR STARTED WORKING AGAIN BUT NOT FOR LONG, IT DIDN'T EVEN LAST 3 DAYS AND THE MOTOR BLEW OUT. NOW I AM WITHOUT AC. *TR
ISSUE: INDICATOR LIGHT RECEIVED TO SERVICE REARVIEW PARK ASSIST RESOLUTION: DEALERSHIP FOUND NOT PROBLEM AND LIGHT NOT ON AT TIME VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. NO CODES STORED IN SYSTEM AND NO REPAIRS MADE. THE ISSUE IS SPORADIC AND I STILL HAVE THE ISSUE TODAY. ISSUE #3. *TR
AT 13,759 MILES ON NEW VEHICLE, BRAKES PULSED WHEN APPLIED. FRONT ROTORS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED/PITTED/WARPED, MEASURED AND TRIED TO MACHINE, WOULD BE BELOW MIN. SPECS IF MACHINED. BRAKE PADS WERE WORN EXCESSIVE AT MIN THICKNESS DUE TO THE ROTOR CONCERN. REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. REAR ROTORS WARPED/OUT OF ROUND, MACHINED REAR ROTORS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ACCELERATING TO SPEEDS OF 45 MPH AND REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE PEDAL YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARRANT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AT LEAST TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
SQUEAKING BRAKES AND STEERING NOISE. RESUBMITTED FOR REPAIR COULD NOT DUPLICATE AT DEALERSHIP. RESUBMITTED IN 2011 AND 2013, WATER PUMP REPLACED, STEERING GEAR BOX REPLACED, STEERING PUMP REPLACED, THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. ENGINE TIMING OFF AT IDLE, HARSH/RUFF TRANSITION BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTS. REAR HATCH FAILED TO OPERATE. SENSOR REPLACED, THEN ACTUATOR REPLACED, THEN CONTROL BUTTONS REPLACED THEN FINAL CONTROL BUTTON AND INTERNAL DOOR SENSORS REPLACED NOT BY WARRANTY, REAR HATCH STRUTS FAILED AND DROPPED ON CHILD AND OWNERS HEADS, OPEN AND CLOSE BUTTONS NON RESPONSIVE ON REMOTE FOR THE HATCH. ONLY THE INTERIOR HATCH RELEASE BUTTON WORKED. ONSTAR WOULD NOT POWER DOWN, NO NOTICE IT WAS CONNECTED, DROPPED CELL CALLS AND KILLED BATTERY. UPON JUMPING, THE CONTROL MODULE FOR ONSTAR FAILED AS DID CELLULAR ANTENNA NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. BRAKES SQUEAKING AND FLUTTERING PLUS PULSE AT SLOW DOWN. MASTER CYLINDER HAD HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKING INTO BRAKE LINES, BOOST PUMP FAILED AND REPEATED FLUSHING DID NOT CLEAR THE SYSTEM. AIR IN LINES CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE NEAR COLLISION AVOIDED WITH EVASIVE OPERATOR DRIVING MANEUVERS, 3RD FLUSH CLEARED THE LINES NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. STEERING UNSTABLE ON UNEVEN ROADWAYS AND IN LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS, REPEAT/RECUR, FINAL SUBMISSION 4TH TIME, ENGINE MOUNT BROKEN AND POSSIBLE SPARK PLUGS FOR IDLE PROBLEMS. REPLACED SPARKE PLUGS DID NOT RESOLVE IDLE SPEED OR HARD SHIFT OUT OF 3/5 GEARS. A/C OUTAGE THREE TIMES, NO LEAK DETECTED, FREON LOADED AND RELOADED: EVAPORATOR COIL DIAGNOSED AS PROBLEM. TOTAL DASH DISASSEMBLED, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES SURFACED SINCE INCLUDING ONSTAR, ECM ERRORS, NAV SYS STAYED ON, CELL PHONE NOT CONNECTING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING WITHOUT CAUSE CODES. OVER $16500 IN REPAIRS COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE, SOME COVERED BY WARRANTY, SOME NOT, BY 2013 NEARLY ALL REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
ISSUE: NAVIGATION/MAIN CONTROL PANEL GOES BLANK AGAIN RESOLUTION: DEALERSHIP FOUND DOCUMENT 237119 ADDRESSING ISSUE. PER DOCUMENT, UPDATED NAVIGATION SOFTWARE AND REPROGRAMMED RADIO WITH SPS ISSUE #2 *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WHERE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 53,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD RESTS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE TILTED TOO FAR FORWARD, CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO THE CONTACT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT ASKED IF THE HEAD REST ON THE SECOND ROW OF THE SEATS WOULD FIT THE FRONT SEATS. THE CONSUMER ALSO INQUIRED AS TO HOW TO REMOVE THE 2ND ROW SEAT HEAD REST. THE CONSUMER ORDERED AND INSTALLED THE 2ND ROW HEAD REST WHICH ELIMINATED THE DISCOMFORT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 02/10/11 *BF UPDATED 02/22/11
IN THE PAST I HAD JERKING OR SLIPPING OF TRANSMISSION AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AN HOUR, OR THE ENGINE WAS HAVING A COIL MISS FIRE. I HAD 3 NEW COILS INSTALLED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS BEFORE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE IF TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING OR ENGINE MISS FIRING, BUT NO CODE ON MISS FIRING ENGINE. SLIPPING OR HESITATING OF TRANSMISSION IS MORE LIKELY BUT CAN NOT DETERMINE SINCE DOES NOT ACT THE SAME CONSISTENTLY. STEERING NOISE STARTED IN THE WINTER APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 2013, BUT OFF AND ON SINCE; STEERING SEEMS A LITTLE STIFF BUT NOT FAILING YET LIKE SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ABOUT HERE. I WAS CHARGED $342.81 FOR DIRTY THROTTLE BODY AND OIL IN THE AIR DUST TUBE WHICH MIGHT CAUSE MISFIRE, THEY CLEANED AND REPLACED BANK 2 VALUE COVER AND CLEARED CODES, PERFORMED IDLE LEAN RESET. THIS DID NOT FIX PROBLEM ON 05/19/2014. I RETURNED ON 06/10/14 AND LEFT CAR TILL 06/11/14 THE DEALER LET ME USE A LOANER OVER NIGHT. THE DEALER SAID STUMBLE/MISFIRE AT TIMES WAS NOT ACTING UP ENOUGH TO DIAGNOSE. I HAD THE CARS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUSH SERVICE ON 02/26/14 AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. IN THE COURSE OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE I HAD 3 COILS REPLACED WITH PROBLEMS STARTING 01/05/10 ONE COIL, SECOND COIL ON 08/11/10. THIRD COIL SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THIS IS AFTER COMPLAINING SINCE 12/02/2009 ABOUT ENGINE SHUDDER. THE MISFIRE/STUMBLE IS STILL HAPPENING ABOUT 40 MPH AND SOMETIMES AROUND 20MPH IF YOU ARE SLOW GOING BUT NOT ON A PULL OR ACCELERATING. WE LOVE THE CAR, BUT THE PROBLEMS ARE GETTING EXPENSIVE AND THE WORRY OF WHAT ELSE CAN GO WRONG IS STRESSFUL. I DID NOT MENTION THE WARRANTY REPAIRS OF WATER PUMP GOING OUT FRONT MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, SHIFT LEVER, AIRBAGS, SEAT BELTS, LEFT OUT REMOTE MIRROR FAILURE, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION CODE UPDATES. DEALER SEEM OK, SO GM CAN NOT FIX OR WILL NOT DUE TO COST. *JS
ISSUE: RADIO/MAIN CONTROL PANEL FOR CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON AT ALL (TOTALLY BLANK) RESOLUTION: DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT POWER WAS GOING TO RADIO BUT NO POWER OUT OF CONNECTOR AT RADIO. TO REPAIR, IT WAS NECESSARY TO REMOVE RADIO AND REPAIR CONNECTOR FOR CIRCUIT. AND REPROGRAM. ISSUE # 1. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A VIBRATION NOISE COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A POWER STEERING NOISE AND VIBRATION FEELING WHEN HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL. GM STATED THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. UPDATED 04/16/10. *JB
GOT INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT TWO CARS RAN INTO MY VEHICLE AND EVERYONE WAS INJURED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT COME ON TO PREVENT THAT. I HAVE INSURANCE AND POLICE REPORT THAT STATES THIS. *TR
COMPLAINT ABOUT HEADREST IN 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE HEADREST TILTS SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SIT AGAINST THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT WITHOUT HAVING THE HEADREST PUSH MY NECK FORWARD AND DOWN. ROAD BUMPS CAUSE IT TO SLAM IN AND OUT AGAINST THE HEAD CAUSING NECK AND BACK STRAIN. THE DESIGN OF THIS HEADREST IS FLAWED AND DANGEROUS. *TR
PURCHASED NEW 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE CXL FWD(3/30/09) FULLY LOADED. 4 MONTHS LATER, BATTERY DIED. MADE 5 OR MORE VISITS TO GM DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN PARASITIC DRAIN DIAGNOSTICS OVER NIGHT , NEW UPGRADES INSTALLED, REPLACED BATTERY TWICE AND MORE THAN A YEAR LATER, EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS BATTERY DIES. I THINK THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM THAT GM SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER A RECALL BEFORE SOME ELECTRICAL CATCHES ON FIRE AND GM WILL HAVE TO PAYOUT MILLIONS.
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WAS HIT IN THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THE 10 SIDE IMPACT CURTAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WAS TOLD BY GM THAT THE CENTER POST BETWEEN FRONT AND BACK DOOR IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT HAS A SIDE IMPACT SENSOR THERE FROM THE FRONT DOOR TO THE BACK BUMPER OFFERS NO PROTECTION FROM A SIDE IMPACT OTHER THAN THE VEHICLE ITSELF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
IF WE DON'T DRIVE OUR 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE EVERY FEW DAYS, THE BATTERY GOES COMPLETELY DEAD AND WE HAVE TO CHARGE IT TO EVEN GET THE KEY OUT OF IT. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE BATTERY IS FINE BUT THERE IS A "BULLETIN" (BUT NOT A RECALL) ABOUT A "PARASITIC POWER DRAW" PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES AND THEY WILL LET US KNOW WHEN THEY HAVE A REPAIR AVAILABLE. IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE TO MAKE A POINT TO RUN OUR ENCLAVE EVERY FEW DAYS. *TR