VehicleVerdict

2011 Buick Enclave problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 284 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.6 times the median Enclave year — the 2011 model ranks #5 of 19 Enclave years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 25 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across steering (41), airbags (38), and transmission (38), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

284

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

2

Investigations

23

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

25

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2011 compare to other Enclave years?

See all Enclave years to avoid →

What are the most common 2011 Buick Enclave problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering4114%
Transmission3813%
Airbags3813%
Engine3613%
Electrical System3412%
Body & Structure269%
Speed Control145%
Fuel System114%
Other93%
Brakes83%
Tires & Wheels83%
Seat Belts52%
Seats41%
Lighting41%
Visibility & Wipers41%
Suspension31%
Latches & Locks10%

Does the 2011 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.

12V151000Visibility & WipersApril 9, 2012 · 47,846 units

Defect

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPER MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, CAUSING THE WIPER ARM TO LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE WIPER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE STEERING TO TIGHTEN AT SLOW SPEEDS MAKING THE CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT POWER STEERING PRESSURE INLET HOSE AND POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPAIR. AN INDEPENDENT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · September 21, 2018 · crash

I was driving and the other person ran the stop light and hit my car making me go in and hit another car from the other side.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · September 27, 2022 · crash

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A 50MPH ZONE AND A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US. OUR CAR T-BONED THE CAR THAT PULLED IN FRONT OF US. EVERYONE HAD THERE SEATBELTS ON BUT THE FRONT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULDNT HAVE DEPLOYED WHEN WE HIT THE OTHER CAR AT AT LEAST 40MPH AFTER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · July 4, 2015 · crash

MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE BACK OF A STOPPED SEMI AT 25 MPH. HAD SEVER DAMAGE TO HOOD, DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT, FENDER, DOOR, WINDOW, DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD, FRONT FRAME, WIPER MOTOR AND FRONT BUMPER. ONLY HAD IGNITION SHUT OFF AIRBAG AND ON STAR WAS NOT NOTIFIED. AFTER TWO RECALLS FOR AIRBAGS ONE IN JUNE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · April 29, 2013 · crash

MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE BACK OF A STOPPED SEMI AT 25 MPH. HAD SEVER DAMAGE TO HOOD, DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT, FENDER, DOOR, WINDOW, DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD, FRONT FRAME, WIPER MOTOR AND FRONT BUMPER. ONLY HAD IGNITION SHUT OFF AIRBAG AND ON STAR WAS NOT NOTIFIED. AFTER TWO RECALLS FOR AIRBAGS ONE IN JUNE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 29, 2013 · crash

2011 Buick Enclave — common questions

Is the 2011 Buick Enclave reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 284 complaints put the 2011 model at #5 of 19 Enclave years. It is one of the Enclave years to avoid.

What are the most common 2011 Enclave problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are steering (41 complaints), airbags (38 complaints), transmission (38 complaints).

Does the 2011 Buick Enclave have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2011 Buick Enclave. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2011 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.

How safe is the 2011 Buick Enclave?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2011 Buick Enclave earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

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.