Is the 2011 Buick Enclave a bad year?
213 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Enclave years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Buick Enclave are in line with other Enclave years. Steering stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 Enclave owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 41 (19%) | 53k–74k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 38 (18%) | 30k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 38 (18%) | 55k–108k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 38 (18%) | 2k–69k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 25 (12%) | 11k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 21 (10%) | 35k–106k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 14 (7%) | 32k–121k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (5%) | 43k–104k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 8 (4%) | 27k–98k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Stability control | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 213 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Driving off of a highway. Sudden engine seize steering lock and zero power. Car rolled to a complete stop. Luckily we were in a turning lane and were able to roll into a safe waiting area.
Car sputtered while driving at slow speed or pulling off from standing still and lost power and then stopped completely.
I was driving on the highway around 65 MPH and all of sudden l loss all engine power. I could barely steer the SUV over to the side of the road.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 60,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Buick Enclave: 6
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached. Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
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. If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time. 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.
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. 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.
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. If this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Buick: 453
Repair instructions Buick sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Buick Enclave. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil Filter Replacement
Inspection/diagnosis/correction information on a cold start misfire and/or rough idle and DTC P0300 that may also be set
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Neighbouring years
2010 Enclave: 275 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2012 Enclave: 133 complaints, keep it.
Every Buick Enclave year
2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Enclave years side by side
Other Buick models: Buick Century · Buick Encore · Buick Encore GX · Buick Envision · Buick LaCrosse · Buick LeSabre · Buick Lucerne · Buick Park Avenue · Buick Rainier · Buick Regal · Buick Rendezvous · Buick Terraza · Buick Verano. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2011 Buick Enclave a bad year?
213 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Enclave years. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Buick Enclave?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (41), air bags (38), engine (38), transmission and drivetrain (38), body structure (25).
How many recalls does the 2011 Buick Enclave have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-782), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-246), Body structure (NHTSA 15V-415), Seat belts (NHTSA 14V-266) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.