CarComplaints.com Notes: Buying the first model year of any vehicle is rarely a good idea. You become a guinea pig for the automaker and they are really not nice to guinea pigs.

The 2008 Enclave has a wide enough range of problems to issue a warning. There's transmission failure under 90k miles, new power steering units costing over $1,300, and enough engine complaints to NHTSA to scare anyone away.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,837 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Buick Enclave electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Buick Enclave Owner Comments (Page 4 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #9

Apr 242010

Enclave

  • 3,104 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 2008 Buick Enclave VIN [xxx] GM case #[xxx] has had electrical failure resulting since October 2008 in total vehicle being inoperable and once began smoking in the right side of fire wall when jump started. Dealer has replaced all wire harnesses, BCM, 2 radio head units/navigation, all light bulbs, check for water intrusion, bpp sensor calibration, lgm bracket, checked for chaffed wire, replace both sun visors. Vehicle was in the shop for 30 days in last 6 weeks and a total of 42 days since vehicle was purchased new with 61 miles on September 2, 2008. The vehicle would not start 45 minutes after being picked up from dealership last Friday, 5-28-10, after being in shop for 2 weeks. Contacted dealers service department at that time. No phone calls from dealership since, I stopped in at dealership on Tuesday, 5-25-10 to ask for another service. Dealer has not picked up vehicle and I spoke with the general manager of the dealership regarding a buy back or trade in this morning. GM customer service offered to pay 2 months car payments, detailing and an oil change at no charge. I told them I wanted this vehicle to be safe for my 22 month old, his friends that ride in this vehicle and my wife. GM told me that they will not consider a replacement vehicle, a GM engineer would not be sent out to make sure this vehicle was fixed properly and this was their final offer. I am concerned the vehicle will catch fire with my family in it. When the car looses power, none of the electronically controlled safety features operate as it is totally without power as if the battery was taken out of the car. This vehicle has been taken to the dealership on a flat bed tow truck on 2 occasions.

- Inwood, WV, USA

problem #8

Jun 082009

Enclave

  • 9,000 miles
After not driving my 2008 Buick Enclave for 3 days, when I tried to start it the battery was completely dead and I couldn't get the key out of the ignition. I had to have it jump started, after just 9,000 miles on it. Apparently, after doing some quick internet searches, this is a wide-spread problem with the Buick Enclaves.

- Clinton Township, MI, USA

problem #7

Sep 162008

Enclave 6-cyl

  • 500 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact believed there was a design flaw with the easy exit seat function. When the key is placed in the ignition, both the seat and steering wheel are supposed to move to pre-determined positions, and then move back when the key is removed. The contact stated that the seat and steering wheel did not move back when the key was removed. For months, he attempted to have the dealer repair the vehicle, but his appointments kept getting pushed back. Recently, the dealer stated that the issue could not be repaired because the vehicle was designed in that manner. The manufacturer agreed with the dealer. The current mileage was approximately 6,000 and failure mileage was approximately 500. Updated 04-17-09 the drivers seat would move back when the key was removed from ignition. The steering column would also move up and forward. Updated 04/20/09.

- Hartland, WI, USA

problem #6

Feb 282009

Enclave

  • 7,596 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Recurring dead battery.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #5

Jan 122009

Enclave

  • 17,000 miles
Nothing unusual, all power turned off; first two times, battery near-dead when started, then completely dead after turning key in ignition several times. Third time, key would not come out until battery was recharged.

- Lompoc, CA, USA

problem #4

Jan 232009

Enclave

  • 5,000 miles
2008 bought new in July 2008 has had two dead batteries. Dealership can find nothing wrong. The GM acadia which is a "sister" car to my Enclave, has a recall for the same problem. There are many owners on the Enclave forum that seem to be having this dead electrical system problem.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #3

Jan 042009

Enclave

  • 1,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Have had the battery die 3 times in one year on the car with everything shut off etc. Also once you put the key in the car to start it and it doesn't start, the key won't come out.

- Melbourne Beach, FL, USA

problem #2

Dec 202008

Enclave

  • 6,000 miles
New 2008 Buick Enclave, the battery went dead after not being driven for 6 days. Buick told me I need to drive the car at lest every 3 days to prevent this. Battery was jumped and car started fine. I can't live with a car that needs to be driven every 3 days.

- Canon City, CO, USA

problem #1

Nov 012008

Enclave

  • 3,200 miles
2008 Buick Enclave - 8 months old - 3200 miles. For no reason whatsoever the car would not start and the ignition key would not release. Triple a came and jumped the car - dealer said there is no problem with battery or alternator. However, edmonds.com there are any number of owners expressing this problem. This is a problem that needs to be addressed. I have owned cars for over 50 years and never had a problem like this.

- Wayne, PA, USA

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