No first gear. Engine stalls if car is brought to a halt. On take off, car will stall if given too much throttle. If able to roll from dead stop, it will jerk and hesitate as if in too high of gear or dragging clutch.
NHTSA ODI 11718186
Home · 2013 Buick Enclave · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
Newest first · 68 complaints · page 1 of 3
No first gear. Engine stalls if car is brought to a halt. On take off, car will stall if given too much throttle. If able to roll from dead stop, it will jerk and hesitate as if in too high of gear or dragging clutch.
NHTSA ODI 11718186
Steering wheel is so stiff it over works my arms and shoulder muscles burn it hard to turn literally feels as if the wheels is kind of bumping the frame 5 days steering wheel started to make a weird noise that is now persistent and sounds like a rubbing rubber sound and I have been getting electric shock every time I’m getting out the car and go to close the door since this started making a static like electric sound in the dash over my steering wheel they all at the same time on the same day February 4,2026 scared my car might catch fire
NHTSA ODI 11716882
The contact owns a 2013 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.
NHTSA ODI 11610032
Check engine light illuminated due to transmission clutch not being adequate in manufacturing. Transmission causes motor to shudder due to clutches slipping. Whether in automatic or manual, when accelerating in low RPM, the entire car begins to shudder instead of downshifting. Transmission has been replaced twice, with no corrections. Happens every time the car is driven.
NHTSA ODI 11606223
You will just be driving down the road and then get the check engine light, engine power reduced, traction control off, and service stabilitrak warning on the dash board. You can be going 60 and it will just shut down with no warning. It's been to the shop 3 times and the issue is still unresolved. This is highly dangerous and could cause an accident
NHTSA ODI 11576452
This vehicle should have a recall on the transmission upon review the recall numbers NHTSA Recall ID: 14V092000 and NHTSA Recall ID: 09V073000 are not showing up in the system as recalls on the 2013 model. I purchased this vehicle used from a private owner. In April of 2023 the transmission went out without any warning a major expense not to mention the trauma from being stranded on the highway. The repair at that time was not under a recall even though several other Buick Enclaves failed at the same time. Present November 2023 upon returning home from a road trip the vehicle showed the inability to shirt failed to shift into the proper gear NHTSA Recall ID: 14V092000 . Vehicle was towed to a local shop for diagnosis this is very irritating and upon calling was told that recall did not apply to my vehicle. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY NOT !
NHTSA ODI 11556973
I originally did front end collision repairs on this GM vehicle and I had to originally replace the front passenger seatbelt. I went through 3 apparent good used ones for replacement and all of them have had their fair share of difference from acting up. One of them seemed to work but every now and then the airbag light would come on due to seatbelt. Replaced it with another and frequently the airbag light would come off and on than the last one installed. The 3rd replacement seems to work but airbag light would come on again, not as frequent and would only shut off if seatbelt is pulled and retracted purposely by hand. I am not seeing a short or a wire problem but the seatbelt is not working properly and I believe GM has failed to produce quality front passenger seatbelts. Even all three of the seatbelt would not fully retract on their own without pushing it in by hand.
NHTSA ODI 11546242
Ac issue causing it hot to be in vehicle in this hot drought we are in. Ac blows hot indicating that there is a leak in the system of Freon. This needs to be fixed as I was researching I found many others complaint of the same year 2013 Buick enclave having the same issue. In the south it is too hot and not safe for anyone to be in a vehicle with out a working ac and costly to find issues to fix the entirety of the ac in a vehicle to fix. Please help!
NHTSA ODI 11542373
My 2013 Buick Enclave transmission needed to be rebuilt after only 140,000 miles. While my cars transmission was being repaired there were 5 other Buick Enclaves being rebuilt as well. The internet shows that it is the number 1 car issue in Buick Enclaves. There needs to be some kind of recall for this issue. There is no reason that a transmission should be rebuilt on so many Enclaves.
NHTSA ODI 11492541
Engine stalled multiple times while driving. Fuse box under hood loose and threw a code P1682. Only threw code once. No other warnings. Engine just cuts off with power til to dash and other dash components.
NHTSA ODI 11467986
Vehicle has been to GM dealership many times for problems related to reduced engine power, stabilitrack, and traction control issues. Dealer replaced relay switches, problem appeared to be fixed. While driving on a busy road, engine power reduced, stabilitrack, and traction control warnings illuminated. Car reduced speed nearly causing an accident while driving and power steering failed. Police needed to help remove car from roadway. ECM replaced, appeared fixed for awhile. While driving on Highway 54, same warnings illuminated and car slowed itself from 60mph to under 30mph. Numerous complaints can be found about the 2013 Buick Enclave and other years and this problem. I believe it will cause an accident and kill someone one day, if it hasn't already. Class action suit was even filed, and unfortunately dismissed. I'm afraid to drive my car. It is at the dealership AGAIN and we've only owned it since February 2022.
NHTSA ODI 11466207
Hard to turn steering wheel when braking, parking, and completely stopped. No leaks and fluid is full.
NHTSA ODI 11466281
Brake seemed as if it had a sound when purchased but dealership said it was inspected. I now find that it leaks fluid and I spent over $600 to replace the pump. Now as the dealership was diagnosing and repairing a separate issue they've notified me that there is a failed steering rack. The power steering rack repair is estimated to be $2,000. As this is a definite safety issue I am reporting in hopes of Buick assisting with this known failure. Invoice to be uploaded when repair is completed.
NHTSA ODI 11437307
AFTER ANY AMOUNT OF RAIN, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT OFF AFTER TURNING THE KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND REMOVING THE KEYS. THE VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS ALL GO OFF WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT". THE VEHICLE REMAINS RUNNING. I HAVE TO PULL A FUSE TO GET IT TO SHUT OFF. THEN, THE NEXT MORNING I HAVE TO JUMP IT TO GET IT TO START.
NHTSA ODI 11414206
TRANSMISSION SHUDDER 2 ND GEAR MAYBE BAD WAVE PLATE DUV IS IN MOTION TO NOTICE SHUDDER AT 20 TO 30 MPH CAR IS 94.000 MILES
NHTSA ODI 11390702
AT 77,136 MILES, ENGINE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. CAR TOWED, RADIATOR REPLACED. AT 126,700 MILES, WHILE IDLING, CAR OVERHEATED. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF ENGINE X 30 MINUTES. DROVE 1.5 MI WHEN CAR BEGAN SPUTTERING, BEEPING, AND SMOKING. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. REQUIRED NEW RADIATOR, WATER PUMP AND ENGINE BLOCK.
NHTSA ODI 11390212
AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE LIFTS UP JUST FINE AND AS YOUR PUTTING STUFF IN THE HATCH IT COLLAPSES ON TOP OF YOU
NHTSA ODI 11387818
IT KEEPS HAPPENING. THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE YEAR. NO SERVICE CODE TO REPAIR!!! TO FIX WE KEEP DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AND RECONNECTING WHY IS THIS A RECALL ON SOME MODELS AND NOT ON OTHERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI 11324978
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ALPINE BUICK GMC 8120 W TUFTS AVE, DENVER, CO 80123 TO HAVE THE LIGHT TURNED OFF HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ONE DAY WHILE REVERSING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING CEASED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND THERE WAS NOT A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT THE SAME DEALER BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT WAS HEARD EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,515.
NHTSA ODI 11301142
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. THEY WOULD ONLY ENGAGE WHEN YOU USED THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. NO OTHER FUNCTION OF THE WIPER MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WOULD WORK. THIS LEFT NO WIPER FUNCTIONALITY UNLESS YOU TURNED RIGHT FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE INTERMITTENT FUNCTION AND FRONT WINDSHIELD CLEANER BUTTON DID NOT FUNCTION. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY DURING PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN MAKING VISIBILITY LITTLE TO NONE UNLESS THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS PHYSICALLY ENGAGED. THIS CONTINUED THROUGH CITY STREETS, TURNING, AND THEN STATIONARY AT A COMPLETE STOP WHERE IT QUIT FUNCTIONING ALL TOGETHER. ALL FUSES TESTED AND CHECKED AND NO FAULTS WERE REPORTED ON THE DRIVER DISPLAY OR FROM OBD CHECK. UPON REPLACEMENT OF MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (HIGH BEAM, TURN SIGNAL, WIPER SWITCH) IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE 4 PIN WIRE HARNESS (BLUE, GREEN, YELLOW, ORANGE) THAT IS SOLDERED TO THE PCB BOARD HAS ONLY ONE SPOT OF PROTECTION ELECTRICAL TAPE ON THE BACK OF THE UNIT.. AS THE WIRES ROUTE THROUGH THE PLASTIC HOUSING TO THE TURN SIGNAL MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH THEY ARE SUBJECT TO WEAR AND BECOMING SNAGGED BY NORMAL USE OF THE TURN SIGNAL OR HIGH BEAMS. HAVING ZERO PROTECTION OVER THIS WIRING CAUSED THE ORANGE WIRE TO BECOME BRITTLE AND BREAK AWAY FROM THE MODULE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE NO WIRE GROMMET PROTECTING SUCH A CRITICAL MOVING PART OF THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONALITY. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A CHEAP DESIGN WITH LITTLE TO NO OVERSIGHT. ALL OTHER PLASTIC HOUSING , COPPER CONTACT POINTS AND MOVING PARTS WERE CLEAN AND FREE OF DEBRIS AND HAD SUFFICIENT GREASE TO MOVE PROPERLY. THIS IS A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM TO COMPLAINT # 14V266000 WHERE MOVING PARTS HAVE CLEARLY NOT HAD PROPER PROTECTION AROUND WIRING OR WIRE HARNESSES.
NHTSA ODI 11298508
THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. THE PASSENGERS SIDE FAILED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I HAD IT REPLACED. A YEAR LATER IT FAILED AGAIN BUT I WAS NOT GOING TO PAY $1500 TO REPLACE IT. THE DRIVERS SIDE RECENTLY FAILED. I LITERALLY WATCHED IT HAPPEN AS THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING WHILE I WAS APPROACHING IT. NOW THEY ARE BOTH NOT FUNCTIONING. THESE ARE LEDS AND SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN ORDINARY LIGHTS.
NHTSA ODI 11231865
I PURCHASED A NEW BUICK ENCLAVE IN 2013. AT 116,000 MILES, MY CAR ALL OF SUDDEN DECELERATED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD BUT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 35 MPH. I MANAGED TO GET IT HOME BY TAKING STREET SIDE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE INTO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, IT WOULD START, SPUTTER AND THEN CUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED ME THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER ADVISED ME WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL, IT BROKE. I LOOKED ON LINE AND READ THAT GM HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF ISSUES WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS IN ITS BUICKS, AMONG OTHER CARS. I CALLED THE GM COMPLAINT LINE. GM ADVISED ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THEY KNEW OF THE ISSUE OR NOW HAVE REASON TO KNOW OF THE ISSUE, WHY WOULD GM NOT BE REQUIRED TO MITIGATE DAMAGE AND PAY FOR THE REPAIR OR SOME PORTION THEREOF.
NHTSA ODI 11219500
WHEN DRIVING THE WHOLE ELECTRIC SYSTEM WIGS OUT. IT STARTS WITH THE WHOLE A/C CONTROLS BLACKING OUT AND TURNING OFF. THEN THEY MIGHT FLICKER. THIS IS FOLLOWING BY EVERY WARNING AND SERVICE LIGHT IN THE DASH COMING ON AND EVERY WARNING ANNOUNCEMENT COMING ON THE SCREEN ON THE DASH WITH THE CAR BEEPING AND DINGING. THEN THIS IS FOLLOWED BY THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN AND GOING BLACK AS WELL. SOMETIMES IT WILL DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN AND FLICKER A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE COMING BACK ON FINE, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL COME BACK ON FINE AFTER DOING THIS WHOLE CYCLE ONCE. IT HAS NOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE SO FAR, BUT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND DOWN OR UP SHIFTING DURING AND RIGHT AFTER THIS HAPPENS. IT MAY DO THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN THE SPAN OF ABOUT 10 MINS, OR IT MAY DO IT ONCE IN A 30 MIN SPAN OF TIME. THERE IS NO PATTERN OR REASONING TO IT. IT DOES THIS NO MATTER WHAT WEATHER CONDITION OR ROAD CONDITION THERE IS, AND NO MATTER HOW FAST I AM GOING OR HOW MANY MILES I HAVE DRIVEN. IT DOES SEEM TO BE DOING IT MORE ON A REGULAR BASIS NOW, IT IS EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE THE CAR, AND THIS IS A DAILY DRIVER I DRIVE IT AT LEAST FOUR TIMES A DAY. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO DRIVE AND STEER WHEN IT IS DOING THIS. I HAVE RECORDED VIDEO OF ME DRIVING AND IT DOING THIS. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW.
NHTSA ODI 11206405
THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO INDEPENDENT AUTO SERVICE SHOP THEN THE DEALERSHIP, NEITHER COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP MOVING MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT UP AND BACK EVERY SO OFTEN...THAT MIGHT GET IT TO GO OFF. SERIOUSLY, THAT IS WHAT DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. SO, DURING OIL CHANGE I ASKED AUTO SHOP TO TAKE A LOOK AT SERVICE AIR BAG ISSUE. THEY SAID NO COMPUTER CODE CAME UP, SO I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. NOW I'M LEFT WITH A CAR THAT MIGHT KILL ME IN A CRASH, AND MY BEST BET TO SURVIVE CRASH IS TO 'TRICK' SENSOR BY MOVING MY DRIVER SEAT ' BACK AND FORTH EVERY SO OFTEN!'
NHTSA ODI 11195317
MY 2013 BUICK ENCLAVE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS BACK IN DECEMBER. WHEN I WAS DRIVING ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR CHIMED ABOUT 3 TIMES THEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE DASHBOARD READ THE FOLLOWING: 1.ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED 2.SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL OFF 3.SERVICE STABILITRAK 4.THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME, THE ENGINE POWER STARTED TO DIE DOWN AND I WAS BARELY MOVING. IT WAS HARD TO STEER AND ALL POWER FUNCTIONS GREATLY REDUCED. ONCE I SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON BUT IT SWITCHED FROM TRACTION CONTROL OFF TO TRACTION CONTROL ON. THEN I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AGAIN. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE THINKING IT WAS A GOOD FAMILY CAR BUT NOW AFTER DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM AND SEEING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND NOTHING BEING DONE, NO RECALL, I MADE A BAD CHOICE. MY CHILDREN WERE WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPEND A FEW TIMES AND WE WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF IT. THE CAR LITERALLY STOPS WORKING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND IS NOT UNCOMMON TO GMC VEHICLES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY GMC HAS NOT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. I AM TAKING IT TO NIMNICHT DEALERSHIP TOMORROW IN JACKSONVILLE. HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE SOME REAL ANSWERS BEFORE THIS CAR ENDS UP KILLING ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. VERY DISAPPOINTED GMC AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND NOTHING BEING DONE.
NHTSA ODI 11194984
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