YearToAvoid

2019 Buick Enclave Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#13 most-complained of 16 Enclave years

The 2019 Buick Enclave ranks 13th of 16 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 20 and 42 NHTSA complaints — making it one of the better Enclave years, rated 'Best' relative to other years.

Complaints
42
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20.5
17.5 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2019 Buick Enclave problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain16 (38%)
  2. Engine13 (31%)
  3. Electrical System11 (26%)
  4. Other9 (21%)
  5. Structure & Body4 (10%)
  6. Brakes3 (7%)
  7. Steering3 (7%)
  8. Airbags2 (5%)
  9. Fuel System2 (5%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles can slam or lurch into gear when the auto start/stop system reengages the transmission after a stop, sometimes accompanied by fluid leaking under the vehicle.
  • Some engines developed a timing chain seal leak from very early on, with a pitted camshaft found and replaced under warranty.
  • Front brakes reportedly locked up unexpectedly at low mileage, recurring even after the master cylinder was replaced.
  • A second-row seat belt was found not bolted to the frame, with the paneling loose enough to reveal the unattached spool.
  • Airbags failed to deploy in a low-speed crash into a stationary object.
  • Plugged-in accessories and factory DVD players lost power or rebooted when a door was opened or closed while the engine ran.
2019 Buick Enclave complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2019Jan 2020Jan 2021Jun 2022Nov 2023Dec 2024Oct 2025Aug 2026
67 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2019 to Aug 2026; peak Jul 2026 (4).

2019 Buick Enclave recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V668000Oct 29, 2020Transmission & Powertrain194,105 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

    Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

2019 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.

2019 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
2017Caution67179317.5
2018Good3364020.5
2019Best2042120.5
2020Good4059620.5
2021Best725220.5

All Buick Enclave years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Buick Enclave reliable?
Compared with other Enclave model years, 2019 ranks 13th out of 16 with a complaint index of 20, which NHTSA data places it in the 'Best' tier relative to other years.
What problems does the 2019 Buick Enclave have?
NHTSA complaints point mainly to Transmission & Powertrain issues (38% of complaints, median mileage 60,000), followed by Engine (31%) and Electrical System (26%) problems.
Does the 2019 Buick Enclave have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 20V668000) covers the start-stop transmission accumulator, which GM inspects and replaces if bolts are affected.
What year Buick Enclave should I avoid?
Based on complaint index, 2014 (100), 2011 (87), 2010 (80), and 2025 (93) are the years to avoid; 2019 is not among them.
How does the 2019 Enclave's fuel economy compare?
The 2019 Enclave gets an EPA-rated 20.5 mpg combined (17.5 city/25.5 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.

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.