2012 BUICK ENCLAVE Complaints and Recall Information
The 2012 Buick Enclave has 9 complaints and 7 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report loss of motive power while driving, hesitation on acceleration, and issues with the power liftgate. Problems with airbag warnings and seat belt fraying are also reported, as well as transmission failures and recurring fuel system malfunctions.
- Loss of power. Vehicle hesitates and loses motive power when accelerating with momentary check engine light illumination; cause often undiagnosed by mechanics.
- Power liftgate failure. Liftgate may suddenly fall after opening due to worn gas struts; clicking noises noted from rear liftgate struts.
- Airbag warning lights. Steering wheel airbag warning lights illuminate without clear resolution.
- Seat belt damage. Seat belts fray over time, raising concerns about occupant restraint.
- Support bar welding failure. Underneath welding supporting structural components potentially fails, affecting rear axle support.
- Fuel system issues. Fuel pump, throttle body, and high pressure fuel pump problems cause vehicle to cut off repeatedly, including at highway speeds.
- Transmission failure. Several owners report total transmission failure requiring replacement.
Seven recalls affect the 2012 Buick Enclave, involving systems such as power liftgate operation, airbags, seat belts, windshield wiper linkages, and structural components. The recalls address safety defects that could result in injury or system malfunctions.
- Visibility and wiper system. (NHTSA 12V151000) Affects 47,846 vehicles in certain cold-weather states. Snow or ice buildup can loosen windshield wiper arms causing wiper inoperability, which reduces driver visibility. Dealers will tighten wiper arm nuts free of charge.
- Power liftgate struts. (NHTSA 15V415000) Affects 691,144 vehicles with power liftgate option. Gas struts may wear prematurely causing liftgate to fall unexpectedly, risking injury. Dealers will update liftgate actuator motor software to prevent rapid closing free of charge.
- Side/window airbags. (NHTSA 14V118000) Affects 1,176,407 vehicles. Faulty seat mounted side airbag wiring harnesses can cause airbag and pretensioner failure in a crash, increasing injury risk. Dealers will replace harness connections with soldered connections free of charge.
- Seat belts. (NHTSA 14V266000) Affects 1,339,355 vehicles. Flexible steel cable in seatbelts may fatigue and break, risking occupant restraint failure. Dealers will inspect and repair or replace lap pretensioners when parts become available.
- Driver airbag inflator. (NHTSA 21V782000) Affects 555 vehicles. Inflator may explode during deployment, sending metal fragments into occupant compartment risking serious injury or death. Dealers will replace driver airbag module free of charge.
- Driver frontal airbag. (NHTSA 21V782000) Duplicate of above recall addressing inflator defect and risk of explosion. Repair as stated above.
- Side curtain airbags attachment. (NHTSA 21V246000) Affects 108 vehicles. Improperly attached side curtain airbags may fail to deploy correctly increasing injury risk. Dealers will inspect and realign or replace weld nuts free of charge.
Owners with repeated repairs or unresolved safety recalls related to powertrain failures, airbag malfunctions, or structural defects may have rights under their state lemon law. Consulting a consumer protection attorney experienced in lemon law claims is recommended.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE Summary
2012
Model Year
9
Total Complaints
6
Total Recalls
3255415
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
555 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
108 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Risk: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
691144 vehicles affected
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.
Risk: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
1339355 vehicles affected
SEAT BELTS
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.
Risk: If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
1176407 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
Risk: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
47846 vehicles affected
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPER MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, CAUSING THE WIPER ARM TO LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE WIPER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Complaints
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
ID: 2112468VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Transmission needs replacing
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
ID: 2112467ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Transmission needs replacing
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
ID: 2086801FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel pump, throttle body, and High pressure fuel pump. Car makes door lock noises and’s completely cuts off while driving over 20 times now on highway and all. Have gotten several things repaired in addition to these listed things and after repairing car works fine for a few months then needing to be replaced again. No codes are being given other then abs, traction control warning and stabilitrak
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
ID: 2071816UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Steering wheel airbag warning. Seat belts fraying. The underneath welding for the support bar, potentially the rear axel, came unwelded.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
ID: 2071815SEAT BELTS
Steering wheel airbag warning. Seat belts fraying. The underneath welding for the support bar, potentially the rear axel, came unwelded.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
ID: 2071814AIR BAGS
Steering wheel airbag warning. Seat belts fraying. The underneath welding for the support bar, potentially the rear axel, came unwelded.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
ID: 2068724STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2012 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and hesitated while attempting to accelerate and depressing the accelerator pedal. During the failure, the check engine warning light momentarily illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Additionally, while opening the rear liftgate door, there was a clicking sound coming from the driver's side rear liftgate door strut. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V415000 (STRUCTURE). The failure mileage was 118,000.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
ID: 2068723ENGINE
The contact owns a 2012 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and hesitated while attempting to accelerate and depressing the accelerator pedal. During the failure, the check engine warning light momentarily illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Additionally, while opening the rear liftgate door, there was a clicking sound coming from the driver's side rear liftgate door strut. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V415000 (STRUCTURE). The failure mileage was 118,000.
2012 BUICK ENCLAVE
ID: 2055873UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The tailgate lifts up and then slams down violently