2008 BUICK ENCLAVE Complaints

View complaints related to 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 520 complaints submitted for the 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - BEECH GROVE, IN

    WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND AS CAR WAS TRYING TO CLIMB A HILL AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING GEARS, IT SLIPPED. HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WHILE ON INTERSTATE. GOT TO LOCATION AND THEN WENT TO LEAVE AGAIN AND BACKING UP CAR WAS HESITATING. PULL FORWARD THEN NEEDED TO GO IN REVERSE AND CAR HESITATED LIKE SOMEONE PRESSING ON AND OFF GAS. ARRIVED BACK AT HOME AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO TRANSMISSION PLACE (HAD ALREADY RESEARCHED THROUGH WEEKEND ON PROBLEM AND SAW ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH 2008 BUICK ENCLAVES WITH WAVE PLATE (SNAP RING) GOING OUT ON TRANSMISSION. JUST RECEIVED CALL AND MY BUICK IS ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS JOINED THE RANK OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT/REPLACED AT THIS STAGE OF VEHICLE LIFE. I AM ONE YEAR OUT OF MY WARRANTY, BUT UNDER THE MILEAGE, HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T MATTER! GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS! THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM AND IN LIGHT OF ALL THE RECENT NEWS ON GM PROBLEMS, I THINK WE HAVE FOUND ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND WASN'T. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - STANLEY, ND

    THIS VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER. THE POWER STEERING IS HORRIBLE AND PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT GO OUT ON THEM. COSTS A TON TO REPAIR AND IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH ENCLAVES. THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THE PARTS EVEN THOUGH MY FAMILY IS IN HARMS WAY. I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT GEOLOGICAL LOCATION AND VIN NUMBER EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS CLEARLY AFFECTED.... FRUSTRATED! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - KANSAS CITY, KS

    WHILE DRIVING OUR 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE IN A PARKING LOT, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT AND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP ON ME AND I WAS UNABLE TO FINISH THE TURN AND ALMOST RAN INTO A CAR. LUCKILY I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT THE CAR PARKED IN THE SPACE NEXT TO THE ONE I WAS TRYING TO PARK IN. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN. SINCE THEN EVERY TIME I AM GOING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED AND MAKE A SHARP TURN THE STEERING GOES OUT OF THE CAR. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THE DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP IS FAULTY. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. AS I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET I SAW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS THE FIX FOR THIS IS OVER A $1000.00. FOR A VEHICLE THAT COSTS ALMOST $50,000 BRAND NEW THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I SHOULD NOT BE TAKING THIS CAR TO THE SHOP FOR STEERING PROBLEMS AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - FALLSTON, MD

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

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO ARMS AND HANDS. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE HEAD AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SINCE SHE WAS PREGNANT AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,300.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - STAFFORD, VA

    WE WERE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY (ROUTE 1 NEAR STAFFORD, VA) WHEN IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SUDDENLY NOT SHIFTING GEARS CORRECTLY AND QUICKLY THEREAFTER LOST POWER BEYOND 30 MILES PER HOUR. WE DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT. WE CALLED THE NEAREST BUICK DEALERSHIP/REPAIR SHOP (ROUTE 1 BUICK IN WOODBRIDGE, VA) AND TOLD THEM OF ISSUE. THEY SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION AND THE WAVE PLATE IS A "KNOWN ENCLAVE PROBLEM." THEY SAID TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THEM AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST US WITH COST AS IT'S CLOSE TO WITHIN POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WE HAD IT TOWED THERE TO ROUTE 1 BUICK. THEY DIAGNOSED AND FOUND ALL TRANSMISSION CODES A WAVE PLATE CODE. THEY SAID IT WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" AND SO THEY CALLED BUICK GM SERVICE MANAGER. ROUTE 1 BUICK CALLED US BACK TO SAY GM WOULD NOT ASSIST US AS WE WERE OUTSIDE WARRANTY AND HAD NO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION (I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER TRANSMISSION AND POWER LOSS COMPLAINTS I AND THE PREVIOUS OWNERS HAVE MADE ON THIS EXACT VEHICLE IN MY RESEARCH INTO THIS...I HAVE KEPT ALL RECORDS!). ROUTE 1 SAID THAT OUR COST WOULD START AT $3,800 WITH NO GUARANTEE THEY WOULDN'T FIND OTHER ISSUES NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED. THE ALSO SAID LUCKY FOR US, OUR VEHICLE HAD AN OPEN RECALL ON SIDE AIR BAG ISSUE THEY COULD FIX. AS WE REALIZED WE MUST PAY OUT-OF-POCKET AND COULD NOT AFFORD $3,800, WE PAID THEM THE $120 FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TOWED IT (AT OUR EXPENSE) TO DUN-RITE TRANSMISSION IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA. DUN-RITE FOUND IT HAD A BROKEN WAVE PLATE. THEY REBUILT TRANSMISSION FOR $2,800. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STABILITRAK, TRACTION CONTROL, AND AIR BAG SENSORS ARE ALL ALSO GOING OFF AND CAR HAS HAD 2 OTHER INSTANCES OF LOSING POWER WHEN GOING UP HILLS. WE PURCHASED THE CERTIFIED GM CAR NOV 2012. MY CAR PAYMENT IS $462. PER MO. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE SPENT AN ADDITIONAL $6,095 ON REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. OUR AVERAGE MONTH EXPENSES ARE THEREFORE $801! HELP! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - STAFFORD, VA

    WE WERE DRIVING OUR ENCLAVE ON THE HIGHWAY (ROUTE 1 NEAR STAFFORD, VA) WHEN IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SUDDENLY NOT SHIFTING GEARS CORRECTLY AND QUICKLY THEREAFTER LOST POWER BEYOND 30 MILES PER HOUR. WE DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT. WE CALLED THE NEAREST BUICK DEALERSHIP/REPAIR SHOP (ROUTE 1 BUICK IN WOODBRIDGE, VA) AND TOLD THEM OF ISSUE. THEY SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION AND THE WAVE PLATE IS A "KNOWN ENCLAVE PROBLEM." THEY SAID TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THEM AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST US WITH COST AS IT'S CLOSE TO WITHIN POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WE HAD IT TOWED TO ROUTE 1 BUICK. THEY DIAGNOSED AND FOUND ALL TRANSMISSION AND WAVE PLATE CODES. THEY SAID IT WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" AND SO THEY CALLED BUICK GM SERVICE MANAGER. ROUTE 1 BUICK CALLED US BACK TO SAY GM WOULD NOT ASSIST US AS WE WERE OUTSIDE WARRANTY BY 3,000 MILES AND HAD NO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION (I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER TRANSMISSION AND POWER LOSS COMPLAINTS I AND THE PREVIOUS OWNERS MADE ON THIS EXACT VEHICLE IN MY RESEARCH INTO THIS...I HAVE KEPT ALL RECORDS!). ROUTE 1 SAID THAT OUR COST WOULD START AT $3,800 WITH NO GUARANTEE THEY WOULDN'T FIND OTHER ISSUES NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED. THE SAID LUCKY FOR US, OUR VEHICLE HAD AN OPEN RECALL ON A SIDE AIR BAG ISSUE THEY COULD FIX. AS WE REALIZED WE MUST PAY OUT-OF-POCKET AND COULDN'T AFFORD $3,800, WE PAID THEM THE $120 FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TOWED IT (AT OUR EXPENSE) TO DUN-RITE TRANSMISSION IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA. DUN-RITE FOUND IT HAD A BROKEN WAVE PLATE. THEY REBUILT TRANSMISSION FOR $2,800. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STABILITRAK, TRACTION CONTROL, AND AIR BAG SENSORS ARE ALL ALSO GOING OFF AND CAR HAS HAD 2 OTHER INSTANCES OF LOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING SINCE. WE PURCHASED THE CERTIFIED GM CAR NOV 2012. MY CAR PAYMENT IS $462. PER MO. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE SPENT AN ADDITIONAL $6,095 ON REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. OUR AVERAGE MONTHLY EXPENSES ARE THEREFORE $801. HELP US! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - DANA POINT , CA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE WAVE PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,001. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING FROM BOTH SIDES, AND THE PUMP SEIZED. ALSO, THE DEALER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 08/06/14 UPDATED 08/11/14*LJ

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - GAINESVILLE, VA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE
    - WEST PARK, FL

    I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON JANUARY 20, 2008. I WENT TO GET MY FIRST OIL CHANGE, AND WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AND STARTED TO DRIVE OFF EVERY LIGHT IN THE CAR INCLUDING THE BUTTON FOR THE DOOR LOCKS CAME ON. I RETURNED TO THE TO THE DEALER WHERE I GOT THE OIL CHANGE AND THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 4 WEEKS.MIND YOU THIS WAS A BRAND NEW CAR, A BUICK ENCLAVE, THAT I PURCHASED OUT OF THE STOCK ROOM ON DISPLAY. I WAS GIVEN A RENTAL CAR FOR THAT PERIOD, PICKED UP THE CAR AFTER FOUR WEEKS, RETURNED BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND A LEAK IN THE ROOF THAT I ALSO HAD TO REPAIR. SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERS. I CHANGED DEALERS AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER. THEY DID A GOOD JOB BUT TIME AFTER TIME I WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE PROBLEMS AFTER PAYING $47,000 FOR THIS CAR BRAND NEW. I FEEL I WAS GIVEN A BAD DEAL, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR BACK BECAUSE I AM HAVING PROBLEMS TO THIS DAY. I AM SMELLING SMOKE LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN FEAR FOR MY AND MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE!! I'VE HAD VALVES CHANGED, CYLINDER HEADS CHANGED, SEALS, GASKETS,, BOLTS,, IGNITION, COIL REPLACEMENT, ,LIFT-GATE REPLACEMENT, MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT, , REPLACED STEERING GEAR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PROBLEM TO ME. IN SPITE OF ALL THIS IT'S A VERY NICE COMFORTABLE CAR, BUT I GOT A BAD ENGINE, AND BUICK SHOULD HAVE HANDLED THIS DIFFERENTLY INSTEAD OF FIXING IT THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A DIFFERENT CAR. WHEN I PARK THIS CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AND I COME BACK THIS CAR FRONT WINDOW HAS NO VISIBILITY AND WINDOWS ARE FROSTED LIKE SOMETHING IS STILL RUNNING IN THE CAR. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR I HAVE BEEN IN A RENTAL MORE THAN THIS CAR. THIS IS A SECOND REQUEST WAS SENT OLD ODI NUMBER IS 10605243 CORRECTIONS DONE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE