YearToAvoid

2018 Buick Enclave Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 21 brake complaints for the 2018 Buick Enclave, 33% of its 64 total complaints for the year, with 2 crashes and no fires or injuries. No related brake recall is on file, and median mileage at failure was 23,000.

Brakes complaints
21
33% of 64
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
23,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Electronic parking brake activates on its own while the vehicle is in motion or parked, locking the rear wheels and requiring a tow.
  • Brake pedal feels unresponsive or requires extreme pressure to slow the car, sometimes right after a cold start.
  • A grinding noise and a red service brake assist message appear on the dash when brakes are applied.
  • ABS pulses but the vehicle fails to stop fully, especially on wet or slick roads.
  • While backing up, especially downhill, the brakes engage late, causing the car to travel farther than intended.
  • The service brake system light comes on intermittently along with the parking brake issues, sometimes returning after a dealer 'calibration' or software update.

When 2018 Buick Enclave brake complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 12, 2018, latest Oct 24, 2025.

2018 Buick Enclave brakes complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2018Dec 2018Dec 2019Jul 2020Jul 2021Oct 2022Dec 2024
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2018 to Oct 2025; peak Sep 2019 (2).

Brakes recalls for the 2018 Buick Enclave

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Enclave model year

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

  1. 201018 (7%)
  2. 201119 (9%)
  3. 20129 (7%)
  4. 201312 (17%)
  5. 201410 (3%)
  6. 201515 (9%)
  7. 20160 (0%)
  8. 20173 (2%)
  9. 201821 (33%)
  10. 20193 (7%)
  11. 20206 (10%)
  12. 20216 (24%)
  13. 20223 (23%)
  14. 20233 (14%)
  15. 20240 (0%)
  16. 202514 (38%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2018 Buick Enclave have?
NHTSA lists 21 brake-related complaints for the 2018 Enclave, which is 33% of the 64 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Buick Enclave brakes?
No related recall is listed in the data for the 2018 Enclave's brake system.
Did the brake problems cause any crashes?
Owners reported 2 crashes tied to brake complaints for the 2018 Enclave, with no fires or injuries recorded.
At what mileage do 2018 Enclave brake problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2018 Enclave is 23,000 miles.
What specific brake problems do owners describe most?
Owners most often describe the electronic parking brake engaging on its own and the brake pedal failing to stop the vehicle promptly, sometimes with a service brake assist warning.

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.