YearToAvoid

2012 Buick Enclave Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

73/100

#5 most-complained of 16 Enclave years

The 2012 Buick Enclave has 132 NHTSA complaints, 6 recalls, and a complaint index of 73, ranking 5th worst out of 16 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Engine issues are the top problem area, reported at a median 113,500 miles.

Complaints
132
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
9 / 0
Injuries / deaths
25 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16.5 city / 23 hwy

Top 2012 Buick Enclave problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine26 (20%)
  2. Structure & Body26 (20%)
  3. Airbags21 (16%)
  4. Other20 (15%)
  5. Electrical System19 (14%)
  6. Steering17 (13%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain13 (10%)
  8. Brakes9 (7%)
  9. Fuel System8 (6%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during moderate-speed side and front collisions, sometimes despite occupants sustaining injuries.
  • Seat belts have failed to properly restrain drivers and passengers during crashes, contributing to broken ribs and passengers being pinned.
  • The engine has revved on its own at low speed with the brake pedal depressed, causing unintended acceleration into stationary objects.
  • The StabiliTrak and traction control warning lights have activated, sometimes accompanied by a reported loss of engine power.
  • Front seat head restraints have obstructed driver and passenger forward visibility.
  • The steering wheel has pulled abnormally to one side during driving, requiring repeated alignment attempts.
  • Rear door edges have cut occupants' legs when closing due to the door's curved bottom-corner design.
2012 Buick Enclave complaints: complaints filed per quarter102012 Q22014 Q42016 Q32018 Q32020 Q22022 Q12024 Q22026 Q2
171 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2014 Q2 (10).

2012 Buick Enclave recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 6 recalls for the 2012 Buick Enclave →

2012 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.

2012 compared with other Enclave years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid80273618.5
2011Avoid87212618.5
2012Caution73132618.5
2013Good4769418.5
2014Avoid100292718.5

All Buick Enclave years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Buick Enclave reliable?
NHTSA lists 132 complaints and 6 recalls for the 2012 Enclave, giving it a complaint index of 73 and a Caution verdict. It ranks 5th worst of 16 model years, better than 2010, 2011, and 2014 but worse than most later years.
What is the top problem area for the 2012 Buick Enclave?
Engine complaints are the top problem area, accounting for 20% of all complaints (26 of 132), with a median failure mileage of 113,500 miles.
Does the 2012 Buick Enclave have an airbag recall?
Yes. Two airbag recalls apply: campaign 21V782000 for a driver's airbag inflator that may explode during deployment, and 21V246000 for side curtain airbags that may not be properly attached.
How does the 2012 Buick Enclave compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 73, the 2012 model is rated Caution, less problematic than 2010 (index 80, Avoid), 2011 (index 87, Avoid), and 2014 (index 100, Avoid), but worse than 2013 (index 47, Good) and 2018-2024 model years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Buick Enclave?
EPA rates the 2012 Enclave at 18.5 mpg combined (16.5 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500.

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.