Buick Enclave problems
68 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 8.0/10 — 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 7 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Buick enclave. The contact stated that the driver side headlamp bulb exploded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected. The contact was informed that the headlamp bulb needed to be replaced the manufacturer was made aware of the failure.…
After turning off ignition key having placed car in park and appling emergency brake, the ignition key locks in place and cannot be removed from ignition.
The vehicle failed to start on 12/1/14. I called the dealership in san luis obispo, california, and they towed it in. The battery was fine and they told my wife that they could not find anything wrong with it and that it was good to go and they gave it back to her on 12/2/14.…
Lights on the dash board came on while driving in town at approximately 20 MPH indicating AWD, traction control and anti-lock breaks were not working. Power steering also was not working. Vehicle taken to local gm dealer for repair. Assessment indicated need to replace power…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2013 Buick Enclave reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 68 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 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 2013 Buick Enclave?
On the NHTSA data, the 2013 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 8.0/10 — 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 2013 Buick Enclave?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 12 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 56,039 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 56,039 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 2013 Buick Enclave?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 68 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.