Buick Enclave problems
132 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.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 7.6/10 — above 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
My car has shut off multiple times , electrical shorts, intermittent no start, intermittent misfires all the time but randomly , injector codes even when replaced and injectors are good , yes come check out my vehicle no shops can find out what's the problem practically the…
Last couple years I been having problems with the transmission skipping, hesitating a lot the dealer told me there is big problem with the transmission in this vehicle and they told me I will need new transmission or it has to be rebuilt because it will get worse with time. My…
Power liftgate motor is not working. When the liftgate was opened manually after the power lift did not work a loud clanking ensued.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Buick enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v415000 (structure) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2012 Buick Enclave reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 132 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 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 2012 Buick Enclave?
On the NHTSA data, the 2012 Buick Enclave does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.6/10 — above 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 2012 Buick Enclave?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is body, with 21 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 85,069 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The body is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 85,069 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 2012 Buick Enclave?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 132 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,500, 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.