YearToAvoid

2021 Buick Enclave Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

7/100

#15 most-complained of 16 Enclave years

The 2021 Buick Enclave ranks 15th out of 16 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 7 and 25 NHTSA complaints — making it one of the best Enclave years. It has 2 recalls, both for airbag issues, and no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.

Complaints
25
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20.5
17.5 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2021 Buick Enclave problems

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

  1. Brakes6 (24%)
  2. Electrical System6 (24%)
  3. Structure & Body5 (20%)
  4. Other4 (16%)
  5. Seat Belts3 (12%)
  6. Engine2 (8%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain2 (8%)
  8. Fuel System1 (4%)
  9. Lane Departure1 (4%)
  10. Steering1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Brakes make a loud grinding or growling noise after the vehicle sits, sometimes starting as early as 300 miles.
  • Automatic engine stop-start causes hesitation when accelerating from a stop, such as during a left turn.
  • Lane keep assist reportedly reacts too late, letting the car cross lane lines before intervening.
  • Engine or transmission failure can cause the vehicle to abruptly stall in the road with no warning, with one owner reporting a third transmission replacement.
  • Tailgate switch failures allow the tailgate to open or close on its own, even while the vehicle is locked or moving.
  • Power liftgate stops responding to switches or the key fob, blocking access to the rear cargo area.
2021 Buick Enclave complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2021Jul 2021Sep 2022Oct 2024May 2025Apr 2026
31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2021 to Jul 2026; peak Jun 2021 (4).

2021 Buick Enclave recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V210000Mar 31, 2022Airbags89 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window:curtain

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.

    Risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 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 N212352140.

  2. NHTSA 21V472000Jun 24, 2021Airbags6 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:frontal impact

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.

    Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N212340220.

2021 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.

2021 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
2019Best2042120.5
2020Good4059620.5
2021Best725220.5
2022Best013120.5
2023Good2721020.5

All Buick Enclave years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Buick Enclave reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2021 Enclave ranks 15th out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 7 and a 'Best' verdict relative to other Enclave years.
What problems does the 2021 Buick Enclave have?
Owners most often report brake issues (24% of complaints) and electrical system problems (24%), followed by structure and body complaints (20%) and seat belt issues (12%).
Does the 2021 Buick Enclave have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Enclave, both involving airbags: one for incompatible harness connectors to the roof rail airbags and one for incorrect airbag calibration software. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2021 Buick Enclave?
NHTSA lists 25 complaints for the 2021 Buick Enclave, with a complaint index of 7, the second-lowest among all 16 model years covered.
What is the median mileage for reported failures on the 2021 Enclave?
Across recorded problem areas, median mileage at failure ranges from 50,944 miles for structure and body issues up to 90,000 miles for seat belt issues, with an overall median of 62,188 miles.

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.