2016 Buick ENCLAVE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Buick ENCLAVE has 152 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (72% of all complaints), specifically: we were involved in a motor vehicle accident on i-79 in pennsylvania where we were struck from the rear we were stopped in traffic the impact was severe it knocked the rear tire completely off. there was smoke coming in the vents of the front of the car and the air bags did not deploy. the front pas.

3 crash reports 8 injuries

152

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

110 complaints

72%

• WE WERE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON I-79 IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE WE WERE STRUCK FROM THE REAR WE WERE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE IT KNOCKED THE REAR TIRE COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING IN THE VENTS OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT PAS
• WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT OUR VEHICLE. WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2018. A CAR RAN RIGHT INTO OUR REAR WITHOUT STOPPING AT ABOUT 45 MPH. WE WERE VERY SURPRISED OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. WE SMELLED THE SMOKE USUALLY INVOLVED WITH THE AIRBAGS BEING D
• 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE HAD A SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT/MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD CONTINUOUSLY. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST & THE ISSUE IS THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN MOVES THE WIRING HARNESS THE LIGHT COMES & GOES. ADDITIONA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WE WERE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON I-79 IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE WE WERE STRUCK FROM THE REAR WE WERE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE IT KNOCKED THE REAR TIRE COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING IN THE VENTS OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT PAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

8 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN OUR NEW 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE WHEN I WENT TO PASS SOMEONE ON A CITY STREET AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO FULL ACCELERATION. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND COAST TO THE
• TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK.
• TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 27,125 MILES. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, WENT TO PROCEED AND HAD NO POWER TO MOVE. ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE. GOT VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND 3-5 REVERSE SNAP RING GROOVE HAD SHEARED OFF AND METAL WENT THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP INFOR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN OUR NEW 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE WHEN I WENT TO PASS SOMEONE ON A CITY STREET AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO FULL ACCELERATION. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND COAST TO THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• BROUGHT THE CAR IN EARLIER THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STALLING. THEY TOLD ME IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LOSE CABLE, BUT LIKELY WAS NOTHING. IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN 3 DAYS AGO AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT.
• COLLISION ALERT SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. MORE TIME NOT THE ALERT WILL NOT GO OFF, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS. APPROACHING A SLOWING VEHICLE IN FRONT AT A MORE RAPID SPEED THE ALERT WILL NOT SIGNAL BEING TO CLOSE.
• 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BASIC ONSTAR SERVICE AND ONSTAR CHANGING THEIR BASIC PLAN. *AS *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BROUGHT THE CAR IN EARLIER THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STALLING. THEY TOLD ME IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LOSE CABLE, BUT LIKELY WAS NOTHING. IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN 3 DAYS AGO AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

7 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE F
• I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN OUR NEW 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE WHEN I WENT TO PASS SOMEONE ON A CITY STREET AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO FULL ACCELERATION. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND COAST TO THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL BEFORE SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. THE ENGINE LOW INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC ARLINGTON BUICK GMC (1400 E. I-20 HWY, ARLINGTON, TX 76018) WHERE THE OIL CONSU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN OUR NEW 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE WHEN I WENT TO PASS SOMEONE ON A CITY STREET AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO FULL ACCELERATION. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND COAST TO THE
• BROUGHT THE CAR IN EARLIER THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STALLING. THEY TOLD ME IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LOSE CABLE, BUT LIKELY WAS NOTHING. IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN 3 DAYS AGO AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT.
• 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE HAD A SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT/MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD CONTINUOUSLY. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST & THE ISSUE IS THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN MOVES THE WIRING HARNESS THE LIGHT COMES & GOES. ADDITIONA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 152 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: WE WERE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON I-79 IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE WE WERE STRUCK FROM THE REAR WE WERE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE IT KNOCKED THE REAR TIRE COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING IN THE VENTS OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT PAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN OUR NEW 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE WHEN I WENT TO PASS SOMEONE ON A CITY STREET AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO FULL ACCELERATION. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND COAST TO THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: BROUGHT THE CAR IN EARLIER THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STALLING. THEY TOLD ME IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LOSE CABLE, BUT LIKELY WAS NOTHING. IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN 3 DAYS AGO AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)