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 of a recall. The vehicle was towed to southtowne Chevrolet where it was diagnosed that the gear shifter needed to be…
2009 Buick Enclave powertrain problems
moderate 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 23 powertrain complaints filed for the 2009 Buick Enclave, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 14 model years of Buick Enclave in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 Enclave powertrain suffers from at least two major recurring defects. First, the transmission wave plate fractures internally, typically between 50,000 and 130,000 miles. Owners describe RPM suddenly jumping to 5000+ while cruising at highway speed, followed by a hot transmission warning light. The transmission then gets stuck in low gear only and becomes completely inoperative. One owner at 52,000 miles was quoted $5,000 for replacement; GM refused coverage despite the low mileage.
Second, these vehicles roll backward when parked in gear on any incline—a dangerous behavior one owner compared to a manual transmission. In Park, the vehicle simply rolls away. This began appearing in 2009–2011 models; dealers initially dismissed it as normal. Multiple owners report dangerous situations: a 7-months-pregnant driver with three children experienced sudden stalling on a highway on-ramp; another lost power in heavy merging traffic.
Transmission slipping with violent RPM surges also occurs at highway and local speeds, causing loss of power in traffic—a hazard one owner credits to luck for avoiding rear-end collisions. Engine misfires are frequent, requiring repeated spark plug and ignition coil replacements despite new parts.
GM extended transmission warranty to 120,000 miles for some VINs under a specialty policy, but not all affected vehicles qualified. No manufacturer recall has been implemented despite widespread online complaints spanning multiple model years.
Same Buick Enclave powertrain reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission wave plate fracture/failure
The transmission wave plate (internal component) fractures or fails, causing total transmission loss or severe slipping. Owners report the transmission becoming stuck in low gear, unable to shift into other gears, or losing all forward drive capability.
When: Between 52,000 and 130,000 miles; some failures occur suddenly during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Tachometer shooting up to 5000-6000 RPM while cruising at highway speed; Hot transmission warning light illumination; Vehicle stuck in low gear only; Jerking and slipping gears; Loss of power and inability to accelerate; Check engine light illumination; Transmission completely non-functional
Codes mentioned: Check engine light illumination (specific codes not provided in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement transmission required; one owner cited cost of approximately $5,000 for transmission replacement. Carmax had dealership perform transmission repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM extended warranty on these transmissions to 120,000 miles per one owner's account. One owner reported GM/dealer would do nothing despite 52,000 miles on vehicle. Specialty policy 14404 A mentioned for some 2009 Enclaves but not all VINs.
Vehicle roll-back on inclines or slopes in Park/Drive/Reverse
Vehicle rolls backward when parked on an incline or when placed in Park, or rolls forward when in Reverse on a downslope. Behavior is inconsistent with normal automatic transmission hold characteristics. Vehicle acts similar to a manual transmission without adequate engine braking.
When: Occurs at various mileages including 49,000+ and 85,000 miles; first reported after purchase in 2014
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward while stopped on incline in Drive; Vehicle rolls forward while in Reverse on downslope; Vehicle rolls away even with foot off accelerator; Abnormal rolling motion when parked on slight incline; Vehicle requires continuous brake application on slopes; Behavior similar to manual stick-shift rather than automatic
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership initially dismissed problem as normal. Gear shifter replacement mentioned in one case (#12). No successful repairs documented in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer informed owner this was normal operation. One narrative (#5) states GM extended transmission warranty to 120,000 miles. One owner (#1) reports finding online evidence that GM corrected the problem in 2012 models. No formal recall identified despite problem appearing in 2009-2011 models.
Transmission shift control failure and stuck gears
Gear shifter becomes stuck or unable to move into intended gears. Shifter may revert to neutral or become locked in one gear. One case reports shifter stuck in Drive (Low) preventing proper shifting.
When: Occurs at approximately 150,000 miles in one documented case; timing unclear in others
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shifter stuck in drive (Low gear); Vehicle unable to exceed 30 MPH when stuck in low gear; Shifter reverts to neutral after placing in Park; Inability to remove key from ignition due to shift control failure; Vehicle begins to roll away when shifter reverts to neutral
Codes mentioned: Circuit relay warning message displayed on instrument panel (narrative #6)
Repairs/costs cited: Gear shifter replacement mentioned as needed repair. No successful repairs documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner's case (#6) was linked to NHTSA campaign 09V073000 (Powertrain) but vehicle was not included in recall. Dealer/manufacturer not notified in most cases.
Transmission slipping with RPM surge during acceleration
Transmission slips under load, causing RPM to spike while vehicle loses power and fails to accelerate properly. Occurs during both highway and local street driving. Owners report dangerous loss of power in traffic.
When: Occurs at various speeds and mileages; documented at 100,000 miles and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: RPM jumps from 2000 to 5000+ RPM during acceleration; Transmission slipping sensation; Loss of forward power despite engine running; Vehicle jerks and fails to accelerate; Check engine light illumination; Rough shifting at lower speeds (30-35 MPH); Multiple fault codes stored after repair
Codes mentioned: Check engine warning indicator, Multiple fault codes (specific codes not detailed in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required in at least one case. Repairs attempted but recurring issues reported, including rough shifting and fault codes after transmission service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged recall exists on transmission for model year but stated complainant's specific VIN not included. Manufacturer stated no open recalls in one case (#8).
Engine misfire and ignition system issues
Vehicle experiences cylinder misfire, rough acceleration, shuddering during gear shifts, and difficulty accelerating on inclines. Multiple cylinder misfire codes documented. Spark plugs and ignition coils require repeated replacement.
When: Documented at 130,000 miles; recurring issues after repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shudders and hesitates on acceleration; Problems accelerating when gears shift; Rough shifting with shuddering; Check engine light illumination and blinking; Vehicle misses occasionally, then runs fine intermittently; Difficulty accelerating above 50 MPH on expressway; Hard time shifting gears
Codes mentioned: P0017 (camshaft timing mismatch), P0300 (random cylinder misfire), P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire), P0303 (cylinder 3 misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: Bank 1 camshaft actuator replacement, worn timing chains replacement, all spark plugs replaced, 3 ignition coils replaced multiple times. Work performed more than once with recurring misfire issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not specified in narratives
Loss of engine power and stalling
Engine stalls unexpectedly and fails to restart or restarts with abnormal noises. One owner reported vehicle stalled on highway on-ramp with children in vehicle; another reported engine losing power in traffic with traction control light activation.
When: Occurred at under 104,000 miles in one case; another case at undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls and cannot restart, or restarts once with strange noises; Abnormal engine noises suggesting imminent failure; Engine loses power in traffic; Traction control light illumination; Buzzer sound preceding power loss
Codes mentioned: Traction control light, No diagnostic code revealed when code reader checked (narrative #9)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to garage pending diagnostic report. In another case, traction control button pushed and vehicle resumed operation normally.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not specified in narratives
Instrument panel digital display failure
Digital display in instrument panel fails to illuminate, preventing driver from seeing speedometer, fuel gauge, and warning lights. Bulb replacement did not resolve issue permanently.
When: Documented at approximately 150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument panel digital display fails to illuminate; Unable to determine if warning lights are active; Failure recurs after bulb replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Instrument panel light bulb was replaced by independent mechanic but failure recurred. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not specified in narratives
Seat belt latch failure
Rear driver's side and center seat belts fail to latch securely. Diagnostic performed but no failure could be determined at independent mechanic.
When: Documented at approximately 150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear driver's side seat belt fails to latch securely; Center seat belt fails to latch securely
Repairs/costs cited: Taken to independent mechanic for diagnosis but no failure could be determined. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not specified in narratives
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
When in reverse, the vehicle will still roll forward on a decline and when drive, it rolls backwards when on an incline. It acts as a stick shift. I was going up an incline coming out of a parking lot and stopped. When I took my foot off of the brake to go, the car rolled backwards and almost hit the car behind me. I pulled into my driveway and took my foot off of the brake and it rolled two…
Purchased a 2009 Buick enclave in september 2014 with 49013, I drove it to georgia october and noticed on the trip that the vehicle would roll back while in drive on an incline, both forward while in reverse and backward while in drive. After returning I scheduled an appointment with my dealer about the problem and was informed that the roll back was normal, I have driven many vehicles with…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2009 Buick Enclave?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2009 Buick Enclave?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 23 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 83,500 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 96,207. A quarter of owners report trouble before 83,500; a quarter make it past 110,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Buick/Enclave.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.