VehicleVerdict

2010 Buick Enclave problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 358 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.3 times the median Enclave year — the 2010 model ranks #2 of 19 Enclave years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

Steering leads the complaint categories with 128 reports (36% of the total).

358

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

2

Investigations

8

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

7

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2010 compare to other Enclave years?

See all Enclave years to avoid →

What are the most common 2010 Buick Enclave problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering12836%
Engine7421%
Transmission349%
Electrical System329%
Other195%
Brakes134%
Body & Structure123%
Fuel System113%
Speed Control93%
Suspension72%
Airbags62%
Tires & Wheels41%
Visibility & Wipers31%
Seat Belts31%
Seats21%
Lighting10%

Does the 2010 Buick Enclave have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V782000AirbagsOctober 7, 2021 · 555 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.

21V246000AirbagsApril 8, 2021 · 108 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.

Consequence

Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

15V415000Body & StructureJune 30, 2015 · 691,144 units

Defect

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 vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

Consequence

If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

14V266000Seat BeltsMay 20, 2014 · 1,339,355 units

Defect

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.

Consequence

If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.

Remedy

General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.

14V118000AirbagsMarch 17, 2014 · 1,176,407 units

Defect

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. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Consequence

Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

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. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

10V375000Seat BeltsAugust 12, 2010 · 207,210 units

Defect

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES. THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELD RESTRICTS THE UPWARD ROTATION OF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WHEN THE SEAT BACK IS RETURNED TO A SEATING POSITION AFTER BEING FOLDED FLAT. IF THE BUCKLE CONTACTS THE SEAT FRAME, ADDITIONAL EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO RETURN THE SEAT TO A SEATING POSITION. IF SUFFICIENT FORCE IS APPLIED, THE BUCKLE COVER COULD BE PUSHED DOWN THE STRAP, EXPOSING AND PARTIALLY DEPRESSING THE RED RELEASE BUTTON.

Consequence

THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELDS. IF A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE IS DAMAGED, DEALERS WILL REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ISSUES SINCE PURCHASED WITH BRAKES AND POWER STEERING I CONTACTED BUICK AND THE DEALER WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND AS OF 9/8/2014 THE BRAKES WERE THE ONLY ONES FIXED BUT POWER STEERING STILL AND ISSUE I HAVE CONTACTED BUICK FOUR TIMES SINCE MARCH AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · March 21, 2014 · crash

FEB 22, 2011 -- OUR 2010 BUICK ENCLAVE 4D FWD WITH 12,500 MILES EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FIRE WHICH ENGULFED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. AN INVESTIGATOR HIRED BY NATIONWIDE INSURANCE IS DETERMINED TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I PURCHASED THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · February 22, 2011 · fire

I STOPPED ON AN UPHILL GRADE AND THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARD WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE TO MOVE FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. I CALLED THE DEALER AND SPOKE WITH SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALL 2010 BUICK ENCLAVES DID THAT. I BRAKED THE CAR AGAIN BEFORE I HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE SERVICE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · February 11, 2010

AT SLOW SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS ONLY FOR A SECOND OR TWO BUT THE SENSATION SEEMS TO BE DANGEROUS IF THE STEERING FUNCTION DID NOT RETURN INSTANTLY. THIS LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS IDENTICAL TO THE POWER STEERING LOSS THAT IS THE SUBJECT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · September 17, 2018

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY GET STUCK AND DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED NO MATTER IF U RELEASE THE GAS OR PRESS ON THE GAS. THE GAR DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED AT ALL AND THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.I HAVE PUT CLOSE TO $1000 IN THIS VEHICLE IN A MONTH TRYING TO CORRECT THIS SCARY PROBLEM WHILE I AM…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · November 1, 2018

2010 Buick Enclave — common questions

Is the 2010 Buick Enclave reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 358 complaints put the 2010 model at #2 of 19 Enclave years. It is one of the Enclave years to avoid.

What are the most common 2010 Enclave problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are steering (128 complaints), engine (74 complaints), transmission (34 complaints).

Does the 2010 Buick Enclave have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2010 Buick Enclave. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2010 Buick Enclave under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Buick Enclave years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Enclave years to avoid are 2008, 2010, 2014, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2012. The cleanest record among Enclave years belongs to 2026.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.