2010 Buick Enclave Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 Buick Enclave most often describe the power steering becoming stiff or cutting out, typically at low speed while parking or turning. The other large theme is engine work, mainly a stretched timing chain, with several complaints also covering transmission slipping and oil loss. Reported mileages vary widely, from under 50,000 to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering cuts out or becomes hard to turn

   • 98 complaints (36%)
   • median 68,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (89 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,750 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2023

   Complaints describe the steering wheel getting very heavy or binding, usually while turning at low speed such as pulling into a parking space, making a U-turn or turning from a stop. Some owners say the assist drops out for a second or longer and then returns, and others mention a whining, humming or grinding noise when turning. According to the complaints, dealers variously replaced the rack and pinion, the power steering pump or both, sometimes at the owner's expense, and in some cases the stiffness returned afterwards. Reported from roughly 40,000 to over 160,000 miles, most often at lower speeds and during turning maneuvers.

   What to check: On a test drive, turn the wheel slowly at parking-lot speed and listen for a whine or groan, then repeat from a stop in both directions. Ask whether the power steering pump or rack has ever been replaced and check the fluid level and condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently just purchased my vehicle with 145,000 miles when I noticed that my steering wheel locks during turns. It becomes very hard and dangerous to turn. I have to turn very slow which is dangerous can could cause an accident. I have read that this is a very common issue with this vehicle and that it needs to be recalled hopefully we can find a way to fix this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11316462, filed 2020-03, 146,000 miles

   “Numerous times at highway speed merging on and off ramps into traffic the power steering goes out causing me to apply more upper arm strength to merge and then the power steering comes back on causing me to jerk the vehicle into traffic almost causing me to hit vehicles in farthest lane.”

   NHTSA complaint #11321571, filed 2020-04, 165,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Stretched timing chain and check engine light

   • 92 complaints (33%)
   • median 90,850 mi at 7.7 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,650 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2025

   Owners report a check engine light that comes back after an initial repair, hesitation or loss of power, and eventually a diagnosis of a stretched timing chain requiring replacement. Several complaints describe the vehicle stalling or shutting off while driving or at a light, and a few mention the engine being damaged or replaced as a result. Diagnostic trouble codes such as P0008 and P0017 are cited, and owners note that extended coverage was offered on some earlier model years but not this one. Reported across a wide range, from about 47,000 miles up to nearly 180,000, with many between 75,000 and 145,000.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the timing chain has been replaced and at what mileage, and have a mechanic scan for stored or pending codes before purchase. Check the oil level and note whether the oil looks fresh, since owners frequently link this engine work to oil condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine light is coming on due to issue with timing chain. My mechanic said GM issued a service bulletin and GM offered extended warranty coverage to fix the problem for model year 2009 but not 2010 (which is my model year). It was a known problem and GM refuses to cover the repair of the timing chain replacement.”

   NHTSA complaint #11372985, filed 2020-11, 105,000 miles

   “Vehicle losses power, engine light came on, codes p0008, p0017, p0009- took it to shop and they said the oil was 3 qts low. I just had it changed within 60 days. They changed the oils and cleared the codes which were showing. I also had transmission fluid changes and a new front left transaxle installed. Wife drive the vehicle home, which is within 3 miles of shop. Engine came back on with the same three codes given above. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11265888, filed 2019-10, 138,645 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hesitation, slipping and loss of power while driving

   • 30 complaints (11%)
   • median 92,750 mi at 7.3 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2025

   Complaints describe the engine losing power or the transmission seeming to slip when accelerating onto a highway or climbing, sometimes with the engine revving without the vehicle picking up speed. Some owners report the vehicle stalling at a light or failing to accelerate from a stop, and a few mention hesitating or cutting off with the check engine light on. According to the complaints, some vehicles were repaired for injector or engine faults without the underlying hesitation going away. Reported mostly between about 29,000 and 120,000 miles, often during acceleration or highway merging.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test acceleration onto a highway and from a rolling stop, watching for delayed engagement or revving without speed. Ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether any shifting complaints have been diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving onto the interstate I lost speed, the RPM came up to 3500 but no speed. Cars were honking giving me the middle finger. I moved to the side and got a flat tire. A state patrol came along and was going to ticket me. I told him what happened and he told me he sees this every other month with this model and the chevy traverse. We were almost ran over by a large truck. If something happens to my family I'm coming after your a---. Gm has known about this transmission problem sence 2008. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10972107, filed 2017-04, 86,224 miles

   “When accelerating to enter a highway, the transmission seems to slip. The gas pedal drops to the floor and the engine loses all power. On several occasions the accelerator has stuck and the car accelerates or the rpms increase while I am braking. These issues have been happening intermittently and have been happening since 29,000. Car now has 69,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10615617, filed 2014-07, 29,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Water intrusion damaging electrical parts

   • 27 complaints (10%)
   • median 79,357 mi at 6.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2023

   Owners describe water getting into the cabin and engine compartment, leading to a blower motor that fills with water, mold or damp carpet, and electrical faults. Some complaints report the vehicle shutting off while driving, a burning odor, and warning lights on the dash. In one case a mechanic found electrical components sitting in water under the carpet; the complaints generally describe the cause as not yet determined or not repaired. Reported from around 105,000 to 144,000 miles, sometimes after wet weather or heavy use of the fan and defroster.

   What to check: Check the passenger-side carpet and the blower motor area for dampness, musty smell or water staining, and ask whether the cabin has ever had water intrusion. Have the battery and charging system checked during a pre-purchase inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car shut off while I was driving it, I was starting to go from sitting at a red light and it just shut itself off! I've just purchased this car and already it's a hunk of junk. Also the amount of electrical problems caused by water entering the motor compartment is ridiculous and should be a recall as it's just a bad design. The AC fan motor located above the passenger floor fills with water and ruins the motor. The car shut off today because of shoddy soldering.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339181, filed 2020-07, 138,462 miles

   “Twice within the past month when driving on the interstate while using cruise control my vehicle automatically started accelerating uncontrollably. Depressing the brake pedal did not disengage the cruise control or stop the car from trying to accelerate. In both cases I had the wherewithal not to panic, control the vehicle to the shoulder, put the car in neutral and turn the engine off. After restarting the car the engine immediately continued to accelerate and throttle up to 4000 rpms while still in park. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11323490, filed 2020-05, 161,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Rolling backward on an incline from a stop

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Several owners describe the vehicle rolling backward on a slight incline after releasing the brake, before the accelerator is pressed, requiring firm brake pressure to hold position. Complaints state that the dealer explained the transmission lacks an anti-rollback feature, and that no repair was made. Some owners say this was noted within the first few thousand miles. Reported at very low mileage, from a few hundred to around 40,000 miles, on slight inclines.

   What to check: Try a stop-and-go start on a gentle hill during the test drive and note whether the vehicle holds or rolls back before throttle is applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The middle and rear seats in the vehicle have head restraints that tilt forward and are not adjustable or removable and make it extremely difficult (impossible) to install carseats or high-back boosters correctly and safely. The seat belts are also very difficult to reach/buckle for a passenger in a booster seat. They are very low in the seat.”

   NHTSA complaint #10315135, filed 2010-03, 1 miles

   “On slight incline the vehicle doesn't hold it's position unless strong pressure is placed on the brake pedal. Otherwise the vehicle rolls back. Nearly rolled back into vehicle behind.”

   NHTSA complaint #10310182, filed 2010-02, 900 miles

Buying note. Check the power steering carefully at low speed and ask for records on the timing chain, since those two items account for most of what owners describe here. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for trouble codes and checks for water intrusion in the cabin is worthwhile, and it is worth confirming any open recalls by VIN.

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.