2008 Buick Enclave Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 18 Enclave years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2008 Buick Enclave has 536 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 18 Enclave model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (139 complaints, 26% of the total). Complaints report 13 crashes, 10 fires, and 41 injuries.
- Complaints
- 536
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 13 / 10
- Injuries / deaths
- 41 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16 city / 23 hwy
Top 2008 Buick Enclave problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain139 (26%)
- Airbags113 (21%)
- Steering99 (18%)
- Engine96 (18%)
- Structure & Body85 (16%)
- Electrical System76 (14%)
- Other44 (8%)
- Brakes37 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers30 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (3%)
2008 Buick Enclave recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V782000Oct 7, 2021Airbags555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 15V415000Jun 30, 2015Structure & Body691,144 vehicles
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 14V118000Mar 17, 2014Airbags1,176,407 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
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.
Risk: 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.
2008 Buick Enclave fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 18.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,500
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Enclave years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Buick Enclave a reliable year?
- Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Buick Enclave ranks worst among Enclave model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 536 complaints and 6 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Buick Enclave?
- The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (139 complaints), airbags (113 complaints), and steering (99 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 81,850 miles.
- Does the 2008 Buick Enclave have any recalls?
- Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2008 Buick Enclave, most recently reported 2021, covering airbags, structure & body, electrical system, and visibility & wipers.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Buick Enclave?
- EPA rates the 2008 Buick Enclave at 18.5 MPG combined (16 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.