Buick Enclave problems
220 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Car accelerated on it's own during highway speeds. Was traveling on a 2 lane highway in the desert at 70 MPH in #1 lane, attempting to pass a semi truck, went to the #2 lane increased speed up to 75, let off gas once I was back in #1 lane and my car was at 5 RPM when typically…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Buick enclave. After the vehicle was placed in park, the contact exited the vehicle and heard an abnormal noise. The vehicle rolled back towards the woods. The contact called southtowne Chevrolet (695 bullsboro dr, newnan, ga 30265) and was informed…
While wife was driving her Buick enclave with the kids the power steering pump failed and she narrowly averted being in an accident while trying to turn on an intersection. She was unable to maneuver the vehicle after the pump failed. Vehicle was taken to the dealership and it…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Buick enclave. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the power steering failed without warning. The contact stated that he had to increase the amount of effort in order to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2009 Buick Enclave reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 220 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Buick Enclave is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2009 Buick Enclave?
The 2009 Buick Enclave is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 Buick Enclave?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 108 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 74,676 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 74,676 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Buick Enclave has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Buick Enclave?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 220 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.