This informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Buick Enclave brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Buick Enclave have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 24,586 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Enclave | 3 |
| 2015 Enclave | 5 |
| 2018 Enclave (this page) | 15 |
| 2021 Enclave | 6 |
| 2022 Enclave | 3 |
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 15 brakes complaints filed for the 2018 Buick Enclave, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Of the 11 model years of Buick Enclave we track for brakes problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 15.
Brakes accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
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 service bulletin provides a procedure to clean the back side of the rims and rotors and to correct the customer concern of wheel clicking.
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 service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Enclave's brake system has multiple distinct failure modes. Most common: the electronic parking brake activates on its own while the car is moving, especially at low speeds or on slopes, and then refuses to disengage even when the driver presses the release button. Owners have been stranded at intersections, in drive-thrus, and parking lots. One owner reported a burning smell from the brakes after prolonged engagement at highway speeds.
Equally serious: the brake pedal goes completely soft or dead, especially during cold starts or low-speed maneuvers. The vehicle keeps rolling forward despite hard pedal pressure. Some owners felt ABS pulse but the car wouldn't stop. These incidents happened within the first 1,200 miles on some cars.
Additionally, the ABS and brake assist systems malfunction. One owner's ABS computer lost its programming. On slick roads, the ABS engages but the car keeps moving forward as if the driver's braking is being overridden.
A smaller group reports loud grinding or squeaking from the brakes, audible enough to turn heads. One owner heard backward brake engagement delays, especially downhill.
Dealership repairs—e-brake re-flashing, sensor harness replacement, computer reprogramming—have not permanently fixed the issues. Problems recur within days to weeks. Owners reference an online forum documenting this across multiple 2018 Enclaves. No manufacturer recall or technical service bulletin has been issued.
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Parking Brake Random Activation
The electronic parking brake engages without driver input while the vehicle is in motion or parked. Once activated, the brake often will not disengage using the release button or automatic release; the vehicle must be shifted to park and sometimes power-cycled to release it. Owners report the parking brake light illuminates and 'SERVICE PARKING BRAKE' messages appear on the dashboard.
When: Low speeds, slopes, drive-thrus, parking lots, red lights, and cold starts. First occurrence as early as within weeks of purchase; incidents escalate over time with some owners experiencing multiple failures within a month.
Symptoms owners cite: Parking brake engages while car is in drive or motion; Brake will not disengage with button press; Automatic release function does not work; Parking brake light and service message on dashboard; Burning smell from brakes after prolonged engagement; Vehicle becomes stuck and immobilized
Codes mentioned: Service Parking Brake message (specific code not provided by owner)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership re-flashed e-brake control module and cleared codes in at least one instance; however, repair was not permanent as issue recurred within weeks to months.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM customer service unresponsive in at least one case; forum post indicates this is a known recurring issue among 2018 Enclave owners; no recalls or TSBs mentioned by owners; service update N19221631 (5/2020) was implemented in at least one vehicle before e-brake warnings resumed.
Complete Brake Pedal Failure
The brake pedal becomes unresponsive or produces no braking force despite full pedal pressure. The vehicle continues rolling forward with no deceleration. In some cases, ABS and brake assist systems activate but do not stop the vehicle. Owners resort to using the emergency parking brake button to stop the vehicle. The failure is intermittent and often occurs during cold starts or shortly after starting.
When: Cold starts, low-speed maneuvers (backing out of garage, exiting parking lots, drive-thrus), and during normal city driving. Some incidents within first 1,200 miles of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal unresponsive or mushy with no stopping power; Vehicle continues rolling despite extreme brake pressure; Brake assist alert illuminates; ABS engages but does not stop vehicle; Check engine light and service brake system warning appear; Problem resolves after vehicle restart
Codes mentioned: P0557, U0401, U0121, U0078
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced crankshaft position sensor wiring harness, two gaskets, and part #84341899 in one vehicle; however, problem recurred after first repair within days.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Repairs performed based on repair bulletin; no recalls or TSBs explicitly named by owners.
Brake Assist and ABS System Malfunction
The brake assist system and ABS module malfunction or lose programmed data. The ABS computer loses its program and displays 'service ABS system' message. The vehicle may sluggish before stopping, or ABS pulsing occurs but does not effectively stop the vehicle, especially on slick road conditions. The ABS indicator light illuminates.
When: Highway speeds on slick roads; one case at 52,000 miles with sudden sluggish driving; ABS failure occurred during emergency braking situations.
Symptoms owners cite: ABS indicator light illuminated; Service ABS system message displayed; Vehicle sluggish before stopping; ABS pulsing detected but vehicle continues forward; Vehicle feels like it is overriding driver's braking attempts; No stopping power despite ABS engagement
Codes mentioned: Service ABS system (specific code not provided)
Repairs/costs cited: ABS computer reprogramming was needed; one dealership diagnosed the ABS computer had lost its program.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response noted in these narratives; issue was diagnosed at dealership level.
Brake Noise—High-Pitched Grinding or Squeaking
Abnormally loud high-pitched grinding or squeaking sound emanates from the brakes when the brake pedal is depressed. The noise is loud enough to attract pedestrian attention. No warning lights illuminate. The issue persists despite dealership inspection and attempts at repair.
When: At approximately 35 mph and various speeds; observed at 60,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitched grinding sound from brakes; High-pitched squeaking sound from brakes; Noise occurs when brake pedal depressed; Noise loud enough to be heard by pedestrians; No warning lights present
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspected and could not identify or repair the cause despite problem being reproducible during service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed; no recall or TSB information provided by owner.
Intermittent Brake Engagement Failure When Reversing
While backing up, especially downhill, the brakes do not engage or engage with significant delay, causing the vehicle to travel further than intended. The 'SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM' warning light appears. The issue is intermittent.
When: While backing up, particularly downhill; intermittent occurrence.
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes do not engage or engage with delay when backing; Vehicle travels further than intended when reversing; Service brake system light appears; Intermittent brake engagement failure
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
There are two issues: while backing up the car, especially down a hill, the brakes do not work/engage temporarily. Eventually the brakes engage, but you travel further than you intend. The "service brake system" light appears also. This is an intermittent problem. The second braking issue is that the emergency brake will engage without the button being pressed. It just happens and it the…
While driving on very slick roads on a highway, I attempted to brake the vehicle in preparation to making a left hand turn. I could not stop the vehicle. The wheels kept pushing me forward. I could feel the ABS pulsing but the vehicle would not stop. Luckily, no one was ahead of me or I would have hit the vehicle. It felt like the car was overriding my attempts to stop it. I wasn't just…
The brake system ABS module/sensor malfunctions- yes it is available for further inspection. Safety is an issue due to the ABS indicator light on. Yes, the problem/issue has been confirmed by a dealership. No inspections have occurred other than the dealership. The only warning is the light indicator for the brakes, parking ABS.
Random activation of parking brake while the car is in drive. Most often occurs when on a slope and a low speed. Multiple incidents have occurred since purchase it has continued to get worse. The vehicle has been in for service many times with no resolution. I opened a case with gm on 9/12/2019 but they have not returned my calls or emails since 10/3/19. There has been several instances of…
The e-break warning came on twice after releasing the e-break when parked, the warning came on shortly after pulling from a shopping center parking lot. The e-break light was flashing with the 'service light' active and a display notification of emergency break issues. Both of these two incidents happen after the last service update n19221631 was implemented back on 5/2020. The first one was…
Several times I have been stopped at a red light, and my parking break will come on without me engaging it. I was almost hit by other vehicles the last time my vehicle did this. People were blasting their horns and speeding around me because I was unable to move my vehicle. Because I had not manually engaged my parking break, my vehicle would not allow me to disengage the parking break until…
Had brakes trouble with your 2018 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 brakes problem on the 2018 Buick Enclave?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 20,000 and 35,850 miles, with the median around 24,586. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 35,850. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2018/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.