This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Buick Enclave electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Buick Enclave have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 32,624 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Enclave | 16 |
| 2010 Enclave | 17 |
| 2011 Enclave | 19 |
| 2012 Enclave | 17 |
| 2013 Enclave (this page) | 11 |
| 2014 Enclave | 23 |
| 2015 Enclave | 13 |
| 2016 Enclave | 4 |
| 2017 Enclave | 7 |
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 11 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 Buick Enclave, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other diagnostic methods to identify them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Enclave shows a pattern of serious electrical faults across 11 complaints. Most critical: complete power loss and engine shutdown while driving. One owner's vehicle lost all power during a turn, killing power steering; the dealership found a burnt terminal in the fuse junction block and replaced it, yet the same failure happened again in three weeks. Another driver experienced engine stall at 40 mph on the freeway with total power loss, and a third reports traction control cutout, engine limp mode, and stalling on highway—a five-month problem that survived alternator replacement, dual belt changes, relay repairs, and software updates, with $7,000 in charges and no fix.
Electrical bus failures affect multiple systems at once: stabilitrak, ABS, A/C, blind-spot monitor, and engine throttle response all quit at 35–40 mph. Gauges drop to zero even while moving. One owner cites a GM service bulletin (PI-1202) for a harness chafing A/C lines and wire rub-through, yet the problem repeated after repair.
Secondary issues include infotainment shorts with loud pops (several times weekly), a vehicle that won't shut off after rain, radio pops in reverse, lights burning out prematurely, and a stuck ignition key. A loose fuse box under the hood and a heater overheat claim also appear. Dealers have consistently struggled to isolate the root cause.
Same Buick Enclave electrical reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Complete power loss and engine shutdown while driving
Vehicle loses all electrical power and shuts down mid-drive, including power steering, with brief recovery. Battery and charging system appear adequate on inspection. One owner reported a burnt terminal in the fuse junction block; another experienced recurrence after fuse junction block replacement.
When: September 2014 onward; one case 3 weeks after fuse junction block replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuts off suddenly while driving or parked; Complete power loss including power steering; Service battery charging system light; Power returns within seconds; Problem intermittent and difficult for dealerships to diagnose
Codes mentioned: Service battery charging system light
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse junction block replaced; problem recurred within 3 weeks
Electrical bus failure causing multiple system outages
At highway speeds, multiple systems simultaneously fail: stabilitrak, ABS, A/C, blind-spot monitor, gauges (speedometer, fuel, battery all read zero), and engine becomes unresponsive to throttle input. Vehicle enters limp mode. Restarting required; engine may not start, run only 20 mph, or after 10-minute rest, dashboard resets but check engine light stays on. Acceleration sluggish afterward. Occurs chiefly on short trips with A/C on.
When: Multiple occurrences over several months on short trips
Symptoms owners cite: Stabilitrak, ABS, A/C, blind-spot monitor shut off simultaneously; Speedometer, fuel gauge, battery gauge all drop to zero; Engine runs but does not respond to accelerator; Vehicle enters limp mode, limited to ~20 mph initially; Engine service light remains on after restart; Acceleration sluggish when resuming; Occurs on short 5–20 mile trips, mainly with A/C on; Does not occur on longer trips
Codes mentioned: Communication codes indicating communication failures, Engine service light
Repairs/costs cited: First service: wire harness out of firewall making contact on A/C lines with rub-thru; wire repositioned and resealed. Problem repeated after 1,243 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin PI-1202 (NHTSA Ref# 10055394) exists for this or similar problem
Intermittent stalling and electrical failure at highway speed
Vehicle stalls and loses power while at highway speed (40 mph), losing power steering and control, then shuts off completely. Dealership diagnostics inconclusive; computer showed electrical failure. Owner suspects internal contamination of chassis electronic module causing electrical short.
When: December 2014
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while driving at 40 mph; Complete power loss including power steering; Vehicle freezes and shuts off; Dealership unable to find cause despite inspection
Codes mentioned: Electrical failure (computer diagnostic)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM contacted regarding issue
Traction control cutout and engine limp-mode failure
Traction control turns off and engine enters limp mode while highway driving, then vehicle dies. Must rest several minutes to reset; check engine light persists after restart. Recurring over 5–6 months despite multiple repair attempts.
When: 5–6 months of recurrence; multiple visits to dealership
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control off message appears while driving; Engine powering down message appears; Vehicle enters limp mode; Vehicle dies while driving; Check engine light remains on after restart; Requires rest period to reset
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced, engine belts replaced twice, ignition and relay switches replaced, software updated; total ~$7,000 in charges without resolution
Infotainment system shorts and backup camera failure
Entertainment/navigation center shorts out during reverse, often with loud pop. Backup camera simultaneously shuts down. System requires restart to function. Occurs several times per month to several times per week.
When: Since vehicle acquisition (Dec. 2012); several times monthly to weekly
Symptoms owners cite: Infotainment system shorts and shuts down in reverse; Loud pop sound from radio/speakers; Backup camera shuts down simultaneously; Requires system restart to restore function; Frequent recurrence
Vehicle won't shut off after rain; requires fuse pull
After rain, turning ignition to off and removing key does not shut down the engine. Dashboard lights go dark except check engine light. Vehicle continues running; owner must pull a fuse manually to stop it. Next morning requires jump start to crank.
When: After rain events
Symptoms owners cite: Engine continues running after key turned off and removed; Dashboard lights off except check engine light; Manual fuse removal required to shut off engine; Vehicle requires jump start the following morning
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Loose fuse box causing engine stall and fault code
Fuse box under hood found loose, causing engine stall events. Code P1682 thrown once. Engine cuts off with loss of power to dashboard and components.
When: Multiple stall events
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls multiple times while driving; Power loss to dashboard and components; Fuse box under hood loose
Codes mentioned: P1682
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse box secured
Radio/navigation loud pop in reverse with screen blackout
Radio produces loud pop sound when reverse is engaged; navigation screen goes black then returns. Occurs infrequently.
When: Twice in four-month period
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop from radio when shifting to reverse; Navigation screen goes black; Screen returns to normal after pop
Ignition key stuck in lock position
After turning off ignition with car in park and emergency brake applied, ignition key locks in place and cannot be removed.
When: Unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Ignition key locks in place and cannot be removed after shutdown
Electrical shorts causing exterior light burnout
Shorts in electrical system cause turn signals, reverse lights, parking lights, and taillights to burn out prematurely. Radio and communications panel also short.
When: Unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Turn signals burn out; Reverse lights burn out; Parking lights burn out; Taillights burn out; Radio and communications panel shorts
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
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. On 12/4/14 my wife and two young children were driving and about to get on the freeway 180 miles away ion san jose,…
Shorts in the electrical system, turn signals, reverse lights, parking lights, tailights burn out. Radio and communications panel shorts
Recently, the vehicle has started shutting off while driving. On september 13, 2014, while driving the vehicle, the "service battery charging system" light came on. I immediately contacted the dealership, which instructed me to bring the vehicle in. When I dropped the vehicle off at the dealership, the service technician saw the service light. The dealership inspected the vehicle over the next…
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 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 electrical problem on the 2013 Buick Enclave?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 27,000 and 99,000 miles, with the median around 32,624. A quarter of owners report trouble before 27,000; a quarter make it past 99,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2013/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.