YearToAvoid

2011 Buick Enclave Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 38 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Buick Enclave, 18% of its 212 total complaints that year, the highest count among all model years listed. No related recalls are on file. Median mileage at failure was 29,000 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
38
18% of 212
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
29,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle rolls backward on an incline when foot is released from the brake, even in drive.
  • Vehicle rolls forward when in reverse on a decline, forcing quick brake-to-accelerator switching.
  • Owners describe an absence of a hill-hold feature, so the drivetrain provides no resistance to rollback on hills.
  • Some owners report the rollback made parking on an incline or backing into a garage difficult and unsafe.
  • One owner reported the transmission behavior caused increased wear on brakes from repeated two-foot driving.

When 2011 Buick Enclave transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 3, 2011, latest Jun 17, 2024.

2011 Buick Enclave transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2011Nov 2011Mar 2013Jul 2014May 2015Dec 2018Jul 2021
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2011 to Jun 2024; peak Aug 2011 (4).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 Buick Enclave

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Enclave model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201033 (12%)
  2. 201138 (18%)
  3. 201213 (10%)
  4. 201313 (19%)
  5. 201421 (7%)
  6. 20154 (2%)
  7. 201610 (7%)
  8. 20174 (2%)
  9. 201815 (23%)
  10. 201916 (38%)
  11. 20209 (15%)
  12. 20212 (8%)
  13. 20221 (8%)
  14. 20231 (5%)
  15. 20241 (14%)
  16. 20253 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2011 Buick Enclave have?
NHTSA lists 38 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 Buick Enclave, which is 18% of all 212 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Buick Enclave transmission?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for this transmission issue.
At what mileage do transmission problems show up on the 2011 Enclave?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints is 29,000 miles.
What is the main transmission complaint for the 2011 Buick Enclave?
Most owners describe the vehicle rolling backward on an incline when the brake is released, with no hill-hold feature to stop it, requiring quick movement between the brake and accelerator.
How does the 2011 Enclave compare to other years for this issue?
The 2011 model year has 38 complaints in this area, more than any other year listed, though 2019 had a higher share of its total complaints (38%) in this category.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.