2009 Buick Enclave Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report the power steering becoming very hard to turn at low speed, typically while parking, making a slow turn or pulling out of a driveway, and many complaints describe the assistance returning only after steering parts such as the pump, gear or rack were replaced. Smaller but notable groups describe the transmission slipping or losing forward drive around highway speeds, engine misfires and stalling, and the power liftgate closing by itself or failing to stay open. Reports are spread across a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 miles to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering goes stiff or cuts out at low speed

   • 100 complaints (45%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (95 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,838 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2023

   Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, most often while parking, making a sharp turn or pulling away slowly, sometimes with a rubbing or squeaking noise beforehand. Complaints say it can happen without warning and that turning takes far more effort than expected. According to complaints, dealers and independent shops diagnosed the power steering pump, the steering gear or rack, or the steering column and replaced various parts, in some cases without fully resolving the symptom. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 120,000 miles, typically at parking-lot speeds and during turns.

   What to check: During a test drive, make slow tight turns in a parking lot and listen for squeaks or groans from the steering; ask for service records showing whether the power steering pump, gear or rack has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My steering continues to lock up when driving. Making turns steering gets tight. I have had almost had an accident due to this safety issue. At this point I am concerned for my safety and children when driving. There seems to be alot of issues and complaints regarding a replacement steering gear/rack pinion and leaking fluid. At one point do GM think about the safety of their customers. This repair cost is $1709.04. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11315657, filed 2020-03, 126,000 miles

   “The steering wheel started to make a rubbing, squeaking sound upon turning left or right at low speeds. By the next day, I had lost power steering completely at low speeds. I went to make a turn, thinking I had power steering and almost got in an accident because I was unable to turn the car as quickly as usual. It was so scary! I took the car to the dealer who has had it in the shop the last four days. They are replacing the entire steering column. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10533626, filed 2013-08, 39,400 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Misfires, rough running and stalling

   • 31 complaints (14%)
   • median 96,207 mi at 6.5 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2020

   Owners describe the check engine light coming on, sputtering, poor acceleration and occasional stalling while driving, sometimes with a ticking noise. Complaints mention repeated ignition coil and spark plug replacements and, in some cases, stretched timing chains or a worn camshaft actuator. According to complaints, dealers diagnosed misfires or timing problems; some repairs were covered under warranty and others were paid by the owner. Reports range from about 18,000 to over 160,000 miles, with several mentioned in the 75,000 to 140,000 mile range.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether ignition coils, spark plugs or the timing chain have been replaced, and have the vehicle checked for stored misfire codes; look for oil consumption or a burning oil smell around the front of the engine.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, I noticed my engine started sputtering and had problems accelerating. Soon afterwards, the malfunction indicator light (aka check engine light) came on and stayed on. I contacted the dealer and took it in for repair. It was diagnosed as pistons misfiring . I had pistons/cylinders replaced at a cost of several hundred dollars. A couple of months later, the same thing happened and I had other pistons/cylinders replaced. This has happened about a half dozen times between march 2014 and today (march 2015). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10702848, filed 2015-03, 100,000 miles

   “Car shudders and has problems accelerating when gears shifts. Diagnosis=replace bank 1 camshaft actuator worn timing chains, replace all spark plugs and 3 ignition coils again. (performed pfi system dia test. Codes fired p0017 and p0300 stored. Correlation and misfire coes).”

   NHTSA complaint #11022515, filed 2017-09, 135,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, hard shifts or loss of drive

   • 44 complaints (20%)
   • median 88,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (41 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,854 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners describe the engine revving up while the vehicle barely accelerates, hard or delayed shifts, and in some cases losing forward or reverse drive entirely after the transmission overheated. Complaints mention the tachometer climbing sharply at highway speed and a hot transmission message. According to complaints, dealers sometimes replaced the transmission or internal parts, and one owner was told the vehicle was not covered by a related recall. Generally reported from about 50,000 to 130,000 miles, often during highway driving or while accelerating.

   Recall 09V0730001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether the transmission has been rebuilt or replaced; check that the shift lever moves cleanly through each position and note any slipping or delayed engagement on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife took a trip to springfield ill. From paris mo. On 5/5/21 she drove appox 50 miles toward springfield on i72 e.her tachometer started shooting up about 5-6 thousand RPM at 70mph .hot transmission light came on.I told her to stop an let it cool.the light went off and she put it in gear only to find she only had low gear.we took it to s & k Buick in springfield ill. Where they diagnosed it . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11416820, filed 2021-05, 52,000 miles

   “Driving on a freeway speed posted 80mph, 2009 Buick Enclave RPM's began to shoot from 2000 RPM to 5000rpm when pushing on accelerator. Forward movement continued for short distance at 2000 RPM. Traffic was merging to one left lane for construction on a bridge. Pulled off to the right and stopped. Before entering one lane of traffic over bridge. After putting car in park, I tried to move forward in drive and then reverse. The transmission was completely gone. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11014660, filed 2017-08, 138,000 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Power liftgate closes by itself or will not stay open

   • 17 complaints (8%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Owners describe the power liftgate opening partway and then dropping shut on its own, or the hatch having to be held open manually. Some complaints mention the key fob or dash button failing to open the hatch and the struts or prop rod no longer supporting it. According to complaints, dealers inspected the liftgate under a recall, and some owners reported the repair or part was not available or that a software update had already been done without solving it. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 130,000 miles, often noticed when loading the cargo area.

   Recall 15V415000

   What to check: Open and close the liftgate several times with the button and the fob to see whether it holds open, and ask whether recall 15V415000 was performed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Pressed button on rear hatch to open. The hatch engaged and went up only to catch and then freefall back down on top of my head leaving me dazed, disoriented and in pain. I hesitate to think what would have happened if I hadnt instinctively put my hand up to catch it or if had been a child there instead of me. The hatch is totally unusable because it will not stay open long enough to put anything in or get anything out. Very dangerous!”

   NHTSA complaint #10715272, filed 2015-05, 65,000 miles

   “Went to open the trunk and place my daughters softball equipment in the back when all of a sudden the truck came down all by itself and hit me in the head. The suspension rods (I think they are called ) just gave out.”

   NHTSA complaint #10748970, filed 2015-08, 120,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Vehicle rolls backward or forward on an incline in gear

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the vehicle rolling backward while in drive on a hill, or rolling forward while in reverse, as though it were a manual transmission. Complaints say the movement happens once the brake is released and that the vehicle can travel several lengths before stopping. According to complaints, at least one dealer described the rollback as normal behavior. Reported from about 50,000 to 125,000 miles, typically on driveways, parking lot ramps and other inclines.

   Recall 09V0730001 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a slight incline, stop the vehicle in drive with the brake, then release it and see whether the vehicle holds or rolls before applying the accelerator.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 automatic transmissions and have never encountered this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10654217, filed 2014-11, 52,000 miles

   “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 lengths before I put on the brake to stop it from going in the street. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10929513, filed 2016-12, 99,000 miles

Buying note. This model year has a long list of reports centered on the power steering, so a careful low-speed test drive and service history on the steering system matter more than mileage alone. Also confirm that the open recalls for the liftgate, seat belts and air bags have been completed, and budget for a transmission and engine inspection given the age of the vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.