2011 Buick Enclave Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2011 Buick Enclave has 212 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 76, ranking 5th worst of 18 model years and earning an Avoid verdict. Top problem areas are engine, steering, and airbags, with 6 recall campaigns on file.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 76/100
- #5 of 18 Enclave years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 212
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 14
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 18
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16.5 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 18 / 0
Top 2011 Buick Enclave problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine46 (22%)
- Steering41 (19%)
- Airbags38 (18%)
- Transmission & Powertrain38 (18%)
- Structure & Body30 (14%)
- Electrical System24 (11%)
- Brakes19 (9%)
- Fuel System11 (5%)
- Other10 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in low-speed and moderate-speed frontal or rear-end collisions, leaving occupants without protection.
- Some owners report electrical fires starting from the engine bay, in one case while the vehicle was stationary in snow.
- Engine complaints describe unintended acceleration or the vehicle moving on its own at a stop sign, leading to crashes.
- The power steering pump has failed, causing the steering to tighten suddenly at low speed and making the vehicle hard to control.
- Owners report the vehicle rolling backward on an incline after releasing the brake pedal, described as an intermittent transmission issue.
2011 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 21V246000Apr 8, 2021Airbags108 vehicles
Air bags:critical fasteners
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.
Risk: 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.
- 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.
2011 Buick Enclave fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16.5 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.
2011 compared with other Enclave years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Buick Enclave reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Enclave ranks 5th worst out of 18 model years for this model, with a complaint index of 76 and an Avoid verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Buick Enclave?
- NHTSA data shows engine complaints as the top problem area (46 complaints, 22% share), followed by steering (41 complaints, 19%) and airbags (38 complaints, 18%).
- Does the 2011 Buick Enclave have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2011 Enclave, covering airbags, structure and body, seat belts, and windshield wipers; none are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2011 Enclave compare to other Enclave years?
- The 2011 model has a complaint index of 76, worse than the 2012 through 2025 model years except 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2014, all of which also carry Avoid verdicts.
- Are airbag failures common in the 2011 Buick Enclave?
- Airbags are the third-largest problem area with 38 complaints, 18% share, and 10 reported crashes at a median mileage of 55,500 miles.