Buick Enclave Buick Enclave

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

Buick Enclave repairs by problem area

Engine (19%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)

Brakes and Traction Control (5%)

Suspension and Steering (20%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (30%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (11%)

Other (7%)

Select a problem area

Show all problems

Need advice about a specific Buick Enclave problem?

Chart based on 1706 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Buick Enclave.

Buick Enclave transmission repair cost distribution

$2500+ (10%)

$1000 - $2499 (10%)

$500 - $999 (5%)

$100 - $499 (13%)

< $100 (61%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 115 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2018 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

310-horsepower 3.6L V6 9-speed shiftable automatic 4WD

62000 mi Car wasnt shifting properly. Buick flushed trans and reprogrammed computer 
29000 mi axle gasket was leaking, gasket replaced, transmission fluid added 
39000 mi Transmission shuddering when shifting, replaced fluid based on TSB, shuddering resolved 

Return to top

2016 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

45000 mi Transmission case cracked. Transmission replaced. 
39000 mi Total tear down and rebuild transmission 

Return to top

2016 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

18000 mi Transmission pieces 

Return to top

2014 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

29000 mi Hard down shift, but we did the 30k service and drove with tech all wired and no indication of transmission issue. We will monitor as there may be an issue with some of the shifting in the transmissions 
55000 mi

US $230
replaced fluid with Wyman's not OEM at dealership. This actually fixed the transmission slipping problem that we have been reporting for three years. Also replaced Bridgestone new tires with Michelins MS. The Michelins, traction is far better with this high torque engine. Recommend this to all Buick FWDs. 

Return to top

2014 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

31000 mi A shudder occassionally when shifting and one time a clunk. No problem found so nothing fixed to date. 

Return to top

2013 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

69400 mi Transmission failure - trans rebuild by dealer. 

Return to top

2013 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

3000 mi Had a slight oil leak from delivery date. Would find a small stain on the driveway. Dealer found leak at the left transmission c/v shaft seal. Replaced seal and leak fixed. 

Return to top

2012 Buick Enclave

Engine not specified

104000 mi

US $1000
Torque Converter had to be replaced. 

Return to top

2012 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

147000 mi

US $8042
Transmission began slipping. I exited highway and transmission failed completely, leaving car unable to move under its own power. Replaced the failed transmission with a rebuilt unit. 
146000 mi

US $152
Three days after I had gotten the car back after the completely failed transmission had been replaced by a GM-supplied factory rebuilt transmission, the car started having intemittent transmission slippage. My ODB II scanner showed a code related to something called an "internal mode switch." The repair shop which had installed the transmission had gone out of business on the very day I picked the car up, but my former service advisor there sent me to the local Buick dealer, Pearson Buick-GMC in Sunnyvale, CA. Dealer service personnel replaced the valve body plate and the internal mode switch. 

Return to top

2012 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

142000 mi

US $35
Another mechanic said it was transmission. Transmission shop kept it for 3 days, checked it out and just put some lubricant in it and said was good to go. 

Return to top

2011 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

89000 mi

US $1800
Replace leaking front axle seals P/N 19258265, 19258266, 
97000 mi

US $120
Sounds like driving over rumble strips, makes wired noise and seems like tranny is slipping. Happens ay 40 to 45 and I have let off the gas and the car runs fine seems to happen when engine is cold 
35000 mi Excessive brake dust/grease on right front wheel Leaking right front drive shaft Replaced right front wheel drive shaft 

Return to top

2011 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

12529 mi Transmission was slipping at slow speeds. CAUSE: K7403 1-2-3-4 Clutch Plate Replacement, 1-24237074 CLUTCH, 2 -24238272 PLATE, 2-24223728 PLATE, 1-24259063 PLATE, 1-24256112 SEAL KIT, 1-89021182 FLUID, 1-24245131 PISTON Transmission was slipping at slow speeds. CAUSE: K7403 1-2-3-4 Clutch Plate Replacement, 1-24237074 CLUTCH, 2 -24238272 PLATE, 2-24223728 PLATE, 1-24259063 PLATE, 1-24256112 SEAL KIT, 1-89021182 FLUID, 1-24245131 PISTON 
97700 mi Car was experiencing a periodic slight shudder, similar to driving over rumble strips but less severe. Would also experience periodic jerks along with the shudder. Problem was in torque converter. Replaced w/re-man under warranty. 
98000 mi Leaking seal between transmission and transfer case. Seal was re-used in prior reported repair. Dealer replaced seal at no charge. 
1000 mi Transmission would not go into 4th - 6th gears and reverse. Replaced seals in the trans. and new gaskets and fluid. 

Return to top

2010 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

80000 mi

US $250
TRANSMISSION COOLING HOSE LEAKING 
55900 mi

US $175
Transmission cooling line leakage where hose and pipe were connected. Replaced entire line and hose. 
82000 mi check engine light on;transmission not reading correct gear selected; replaced transmission internal mode switch, lever, pin and fluid 
9521 mi Replaced steering gear. Could have been the "rack" but not exactly sure. 
25130 mi Apparently was a computer problem. Replaced shaft position switch assembly. Transmission stuck in 2nd gear. Replaced shaft position switch assembly which was sending erroneous signals to the computer. 
93000 mi

US $1300
Replaced both front axles 
60300 mi Check engine light came on, car struggled to move. Eventually ran as normal but light reamined on. Code P182E was detected by mechanic. Replaced tranmission internal mode switch. 
64000 mi

US $503
Transmission cooling lines were leaking. 2 lines were replaced. 
44700 mi CV Boots leaking 

Return to top

2010 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

67160 mi

C $1000
Replace Transfer Case 
39000 mi Seal between valve housing and transmission leaking. New seal ordered. Will be installed 4/8/2011. 
41000 mi seal between pump and transmission housing was replaced. Problem solved. 
75800 mi spyder gear in rear differential. 

Return to top

2009 Buick Enclave

Engine not specified

127000 mi

US $4700
Replaced transmission 
48360 mi trans will not shift properly.Will not shift into 6 gear after several hours of driving.Engine cooling fans do not seem to shut down during cold temps. 
40000 mi

US $450
Transmission slipping 

Return to top

2009 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

37700 mi Front axle gasket leak 
60500 mi Right axle seal was leaking. Replaced under warranty.  
36000 mi

US $59
Transmission hunts/erratic; re-flash transmission module 
23551 mi Found 5 transmission gaskets and seals leaking fluid (for some time). Repaired and replaced fluid. 

Return to top

2009 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

288-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

100000 mi

US $55
Transmission over heat. 
114000 mi

US $1495
Rebuild the transmission 
40500 mi Car is still currently in the shop. Torque tube has been replaced and determined not to be the issue causing driveline noise. They are currently replacing the rear differential. 
63000 mi They told me it was a bad wave plate. Still under warranty 
63000 mi same problem as last month. The wave plate replacement did not fix the problem. Multiple times since, I have not been able to get the car to move. Took to dealer, first they said it was the battery, then said they couldn't find anything. after getting no satisfaction in terms of successful repair, having the vehicle not move when put in reverse or drive, and having dealer tell me nothing was wrong with the car, I traded it in. 
78300 mi Trans start top shift erratically then progressively got worse and worse until it was more or less undriveable. i do not remember exactly, but i think a clutch plate broke. 

Return to top

2008 Buick Enclave

Engine not specified

75000 mi Apparent failure of Pressure sensor in the Transmission Control Module (P0752). CEL and transmission went into limp mode, second and reverse only. GM has issued a service bulletin for this failure mode. 
81000 mi Another transmission rebuild. Repairing dlr stated that the dlr who did last repair (10k iles ago) didn't do it correctly 

Return to top

2008 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

275-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

60000 mi

US $4800
Transmission blew on a back road in Oklahoma with only 60000 miles on car. It is the result of a known issue with the 2008 Enclave--a defective wave plate. Transmission so damaged, it could not be rebuilt. 
34300 mi Wave plate failure. 3-5-R waveplate. 
128000 mi

US $60
fixed with repair kit the TCM pressure plates 
86267 mi

US $4701
Replaced Transmission with GM remanufactured transmission(3 yrs- or 100,000 miles) Also they did a Front and Rear Alignment. Note only 86,267 miles, (the extended warranty was 10yrs or 100k, just over 1 year of the 10years wasn't very happy, but to date(02 2022) no other transmission problems and getting better mileage(18-19mpg in town and up to 23+mpg on trips) 
109244 mi

US $535
Also discovered rip in front axle cv joint boot (leaking grease), replaced right front CV axle. 
84000 mi Car would not drive above 20 mph, took in to dealer and they fixed after a week with no charge. Transmission replaced December 2013 under extended warranty. 
99000 mi

US $350
Wave plate 
178000 mi

US $4560
worn cv joints 
51700 mi Rear seal of transmission replaced as it was leaking; wave plate replaced. 
87000 mi

US $1400
The valve body in the transmission had to be replaced. The vehicle was hesitating to go into drive - and then began only going into first gear without changing to second, etc. Limped it to dealership under its own power. 
99000 mi

US $700
Left front axle/CV joint leaking and making lots of popping sounds when turning. Had both sides replaced. 
28700 mi Leak in transmission cooler line. Replaced under warranty 
50840 mi Complete failure of transmission. Had vehicle towed to a GM dealer who did a complete rebuild. Extended warranty has expired so my cost was $3600.00 (discounted). That was a hard pill to swallow seeing the low mileage. 
28000 mi Both left & right axle shaft seals were leaking. 
93300 mi Transaxle seal(s) leaking at transfer case. Repaired under the 100,000 drivetrain warranty. 
124000 mi

US $3200
Transmission failure. Another victim of GM's famous transmission "wave plate" problem. No reverse and would not shift out of low gear. I believe that this is a known problem to GM but they are yet to step up. 
4000 mi Transmission reflash and front tire well replacement. 
1240 mi TSB update that I found (not the dealer, in fact, they couldn't find it at all until I gave them the TSB#). Transmission has poor shifting, flash update but there will be another one, mark my words. 
1000 mi Reflashed the software for the transmission 
50000 mi The check engine light came on and the vehicle started making a revving noise when in motion. The transmission control module needed to be replaced. 
1000 mi engine and transmission reflash 
86000 mi Would have kept it but had incident of engine feeling like running on 5 cylinders. Checked it out and determined I might have the 2008 tranny problems. 
1000 mi Reflash of transmission shift points. 
56000 mi

US $2400
3-5-R clutch waveplate replaced 
98580 mi

C $3000
Noticeable slipping shifting into 3rd and slightly into 5th. Lurching when in reverse. Replace 3-5-Rev housing,sun gear,control solenoid assembly, replace all necessary pistons, seals and gaskets 
126480 mi

C $2700
left and right front axles and CV joints,  
140000 mi Transmission started slipping.Refused to go into Reverse a few times.Check engine light came on,after car downshifted into a lower gear by itself after I came off a freeway exit ramp.Service dept reset the check engine light&I TRADED it in! 
102000 mi

US $650
Slippage 
57000 mi Transmission fluid leak has been ongoing but very slow. I had to allow the leak to build in order for the technician to find it. Replaced passenger side output shaft seal under warranty. No more leaks. I paid to flush transmission.  
56200 mi

US $4400
I was close to home when my car was slow to respond after being at a stop sign. I had three stop signs to get home and each time, it was very slow to respond. After I got it home, could not put the car into gear at all. 
5000 mi Transmission leak detected by independent shop during routine oil change. Install new transmission seal(s). 
104000 mi

US $2200
gears don't shift properly, won't go beyond first gear. had to take it in and have electronic transmission harness replaced & reprogrammed. Cost was about $2000. 
109500 mi 3.5.R Wave plate was cracked and spread metal all through the transmission. Replaced wave plate, piston, clutch steel, housing and seals 

Return to top

2008 Buick Enclave 4dr SUV

275-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

94700 mi Car did not shift out of 1st gear at times. It looks like they repaired it under the special policy 14404A it says on the work order they removed and replaced the reverse clutch plate. It seemed like it was a fairly major transmission rebuild. 
68000 mi Failed 3-5-R wave plate in the transmission had to be replaced. 
16120 mi OIL LEAK FROM TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER/TRANSAXLE. DYE WAS ADDED AND MANY SEALS WERE REPLACED DURING THE REPAIR 
53500 mi Bad transfer case replaced. Done under warranty related to the transfer case repair. Car was making a clicking sounds when driving. Not sure about the name for the repair. 
66000 mi Cracked wave plate 
87300 mi

US $600
Replaced cv joint.  
95000 mi

US $3000
Car was having difficulty shifting in various gears. After a while, the car would not shift into reverse. for the first time, car was seizing up and would not shift into reverse. the transmission light was also on. 
9000 mi Seal in transfer case blew. The seal was replaced, drove car for a week but still leaked. They tried to replace seal again, when it fell into the transfer case. They eventually replaced the entire transfer case having the car for over a week the second time. 
70000 mi

US $170
transmission slipping; transmission disassembled and part replaced; still shifting rough after receipt of vehicle so had to return to shop for further work 
78000 mi Transmission shifting roughly and incorrectly, replaced pressure plates 
26000 mi transmission oil was too low to detect on dipstick. Problem: Leaky seal between torque converter and transmission 
4000 mi Transmission front coverter seal was leaking ---- Seal, transmission/transaxle coverter replaced 
90000 mi

US $620
Transmission - no reverse, 3rd or 5th gear. Transmission was removed and rebuilt. 
65000 mi

US $8000
replaced transmission 
8000 mi Reflash transmission controlling computers. We received a tsb on this. 
55000 mi Transmission after driving highway speed for 20 min or more would fail to shift past 4th gear, even in manual mode. Check engine light came on and DIC indicated overheating fluid. Shop has determined that entire trans must be replaced. 
3000 mi transmission searches for 3rd gear before finding it. 
13000 mi I took the Enclave in for transmission flash which helped, but did not cure the early shifting. There will be no more flashes for the '08 so will have to live with it, or sell it. 
120700 mi

US $1000
Wave Plate Issue, which has since been issued under a recall notice. 
48000 mi While driving transmission stopped working. Engine spun freely in gear. Onstar did remote diagnostic and found tranny to be at fault. Dealer said all tranny bolts sheered off. Transmission getting replaced. 
11000 mi Trasnmission had slow leak, shop ordered parts. 
85000 mi Transmission replaced under warranty. 
67000 mi

US $2400
Transmission blew 3 days out of warranty and the company would not fix 
77000 mi The dreaded clutch wave plate failure. Wave plate and associated parts replaced. 
5000 mi Transmission reflash to improve shift performance. 
79000 mi Fluid leaking. Replace seal. 
140000 mi

US $1000
Shift solenoid stuck. replaced solenoid and rebuilt valve body 
156000 mi

US $1000
replaced CV boot and front driver side drive shaft. After replacement I notice transmission fluid on garage floor. They may or may not have caused the leak when replacing the shaft but there was no leaking before hand. replaced front cover to the transfer case. It was moist, not quite leaking so I had it replaced since I already had the vehicle in the shop 
186000 mi I finally took the Enclave to have the dealer diagnose the jerking I felt when shifting from 2nd to 3rd and again from 3rd to 4th. If I manually shifted it was smooth. Basically, it was the torque converter going out thus a new transmission was needed 
139000 mi Replaced transmission & torque converter 
144510 mi

US $400
Vehicle would not shift out of 1st gear on many occasions, had to clear the codes (shift solenoid) until I could bring it to the shop. When at the repair shop they could not get the vehicle to repeat this problem. Replaced CV Joints, Vehicle still has same problem 
69900 mi

US $3500
Wave plate broke -- required new transmission. GM paid for $1,200 and I paid the other $2,500 for a remanufactured tranny with a 3 yr 100k mile warrnaty. This is a known issue in the 2008/2009 Enclaves (and traverse and Acadias). 
104780 mi Wave plate was replaced under special warranty. 
143 mi

US $4000
Transmission would shift OK when driven hard, but driven lightly would shudder in certain gears. Diagnosis was the TECHEM, but with the mileage I decided to do entire transmission. Turns out internals were in perfect condition, so perhaps I wasted some money. Surprised me - even the wave plate was in perfect condition. 
27000 mi Had the tranny reflashed. 
64480 mi

C $100
replace Stick shift . shifter paddle failed. 
79000 mi Transmission would not shift, wave plate failed. 
72500 mi

US $100
Driveshaft bolts fell out 
113300 mi 35r waveplate failed Struts froze while car was on the lift 
65000 mi Vehicle would not shift gears properly. The Wave plate(s) was replaced 
72200 mi

US $100
The AWD sensor needed to be cleaned and adjusted because it was malfunctioning 
23000 mi Driver noticed transmission fluid under car. Dealer found the transmission speed sensor leaking aroung the O-ring. The ordered a new speed sensor with expedited shipping and replaced it. 
30200 mi Transmission oil cooler line started leaking at one of the crimped ends. They replaced it even though it was not supposed to be covered under the power train warranty because of the small number of miles on the car. 
82000 mi wave plate replacement 
96000 mi

US $250
speed sensor replacement 

Return to top

2008 Buick Enclave 4-door

6-cylinder automatic AWD

1000 mi Solenoid in transmission was faulty and required replacing. Symptoms included being intermittently stuck in park, engine "revving" when in drive and refusing to move forward, and "check engine" (or transmission?) light constantly on. "Check engine" li 

Return to top

2008 Buick Enclave 4-door

6-cylinder automatic 2WD

88000 mi

US $450
Torque converter rebuilt. 

Return to top

See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Buick models.

Buick Enclave Transmission Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently Buick Enclave problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.