AI Damage2018 Buick Enclave: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Buick Enclave filed 66 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and powertrain. The maker issued 659 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 66
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 659
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 32% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 24% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 3% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 3% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 21 complaints (32% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 26.
- Powertrain: 16 complaints (24% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 69.
- Engine: 13 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 66.
- Electrical system: 10 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 127.
- Forward collision avoidance: 5 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 66 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 21 | 2 | 26 |
| Powertrain | 16 | 1 | 69 |
| Engine | 13 | 0 | 66 |
| Electrical system | 10 | 1 | 127 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 96 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 37 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
In December 2017 we were involved in a rear end collision so violent the spare tire was knocked out from under the vehicle. Our vehicle, 2014 Buick Enclave VIN [XXX] was struck in the rear. The lap belt held us secure, but the shoulder belt allowed us to be tossed forward.
No warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A police report was filed. The contact sought medical attention for bloody stool, lower back pain, and neck pain. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
(Auto folding windows feature in infotainment was NOT selected to be ON before or after this incident! Auto-folding sidemirrors are tied to the electron shifter status and should only engage when turned ON in infotainment option AND vehicle in PARK.
At that point I hit the emergency parking brake button and the car stopped just as I hit the rear end of the car in front of me. Thankfully there was no damage to his car. I restarted the car and we pulled off the road into a parking lot to exchange information. Everything operated fine.
Cold start, ac unit on, engine at high idle speed. Put car in reverse to back out of the garage. Stepped on the brake pedal and the car kept rolling. Pumped the brake peddle and applied extreme pressure, car did not slow down. Panicked that I would hit a wall, I dropped the car from reverse to drive.
After getting gas, the car will not start, which is an indicator the part has gone bad and needs to be replaced. In June of 2025 I took my car to Anderson Buick over concerns while accellerating. They confirmed my transmission needed to be replaced.
The vehicle is experiencing an intermittent but severe safety defect involving the StabiliTrak and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) systems. While driving at operational speeds, the "Service StabiliTrak" warning light illuminates, immediately followed by the uncommanded, autonomous engagement of the electronic parking…
This malfunction has resulted in persistent check engine warnings and noticeable performance concerns, raising questions about emissions compliance and the overall reliability of my vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 750 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Enclave has 50 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 66, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000…
This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
NHTSA lists 659 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Buick Enclave?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, powertrain, engine. Total complaints: 66. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (26%), rollaway, parking brake (17%), knocking, grinding or other noise (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Buick Enclave?
NHTSA lists 659 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Buick Enclave from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.