YearToAvoid

2018 Buick Enclave Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#11 most-complained of 16 Enclave years

The 2018 Buick Enclave has a Complaint Index of 33 and ranks 11th out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Enclave years. Brakes are the top problem area with 21 complaints (33% share) and no recalls were filed for this year.

Complaints
64
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
5 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20.5
17.5 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2018 Buick Enclave problems

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

  1. Brakes21 (33%)
  2. Engine15 (23%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain15 (23%)
  4. Electrical System10 (16%)
  5. Other8 (13%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (6%)
  7. Fuel System4 (6%)
  8. Airbags2 (3%)
  9. Steering2 (3%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report brakes failing to slow the vehicle even with extreme pedal pressure during cold starts, sometimes causing rollaway or crash risk.
  • Some describe a grinding noise and a 'service brake assist' warning appearing on the dash along with reduced braking ability.
  • Owners report the vehicle rolling forward unexpectedly while shifted into reverse.
  • Airbags deployed during a low-speed rear-corner impact, leaving one owner questioning whether deployment was appropriate for that type of collision.
  • Owners describe the engine stalling or hesitating at stops, tied to the automatic stop-start feature not restarting quickly enough.
  • One owner reported the sunroof glass shattering unexpectedly while driving on a highway.
2018 Buick Enclave complaints: complaints filed per month5Feb 2018Nov 2018Nov 2019Jul 2020Nov 2021Feb 2023Dec 2024Nov 2025
88 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2018 to Jun 2026; peak Aug 2024 (5).

2018 Buick Enclave recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2018 Buick Enclave fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
25.5 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
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.

2018 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
2016Caution53141417.5
2017Caution67179317.5
2018Good3364020.5
2019Best2042120.5
2020Good4059620.5

All Buick Enclave years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Buick Enclave reliable?
Compared with other Enclave model years, the 2018 has a Complaint Index of 33 and ranks 11th of 16 years tracked, earning a 'Good' verdict. It has fewer complaints (64) and no recalls, unlike several other Enclave years.
What is the top problem area for the 2018 Buick Enclave?
Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 21 complaints and 33% of all complaints for this year, with a median failure mileage of 23,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Buick Enclave have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2018 Buick Enclave, including zero do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2018 Enclave compare to other bad Enclave years?
Years like 2010, 2011, and 2014 have Complaint Index scores of 80, 87, and 100 and 'Avoid' verdicts, while 2018 scores much lower at 33, placing it well ahead of those years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Buick Enclave?
The 2018 Enclave gets 20.5 mpg combined (17.5 city / 25.5 highway) and an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175 according to EPA data.

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.