2012 Buick Enclave Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Buick Enclave most often describe a power rear liftgate that drops or slams shut on its own, along with airbag warning lights and a range of engine and stalling complaints. Many reports come in around 50,000-100,000 miles, though liftgate and some steering reports appear much earlier; several owners note their vehicle was not covered by the related recalls.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Power liftgate drops or slams shut on its own

   • 25 complaints (19%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2025

   Owners describe the rear liftgate failing to stay open and dropping unexpectedly, sometimes striking them or family members while loading or unloading. Several say the dealer replaced or repositioned the gas struts, and a few report the problem returned after the recall repair. Others were told their vehicle identification was not included in the recall, and some paid for strut replacement themselves. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 130,000 miles, including cases shortly after the recall work was done.

   Recall 15V415000

   What to check: Open and close the liftgate several times and watch whether it holds open on its own; ask whether the 15V415000 remedy was applied and whether the struts were replaced or only repositioned.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When we press the lifgate button to close it, it will godown and you think it's closing and it makes noises and raises again. Does this several times then you have to press hard and it will finally latch. I just bought this and did not think to check the lift gate on the car lot and was at a store opening it for the first time and it did this scared me I was going to be able to close it to go home.”

   NHTSA complaint #11096895, filed 2018-05, 78,000 miles

   “The rear power lift gate does not stay up and closes suddenly and has caused several minor injuries to my family. I noticed there was potentially a recall for this issue for enclaves made between 2010 and march of 2012 but it doesn't seem to be associated to my specific VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351950, filed 2020-08, 105,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalling, rough running and loss of power

   • 29 complaints (22%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the engine quitting at stops or at speed, sometimes with a check engine light, shaking, or reduced engine power messages. Several report low oil levels between changes and diagnoses ranging from failed pistons or rods to an engine replacement. Dealers in some cases could not duplicate the problem or reset the light without a repair. Most reports fall between about 75,000 and 160,000 miles, often during steady driving or at a stop.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for oil change records and check the oil level and condition; have a mechanic scan for stored engine codes and listen for ticking or knocking at cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle just turned off while at a stop sign preparing to turn. It was towed to a mechanic that advised it was 2 quarts low in oil (oil was replaced 2 weeks prior) and that my battery needed to be replaced. They added the oil and replaced the battery. I drive the car ~ 5 miles home and it stopped again. This time when trying to start the car, there was an audible screeching coming from the engine and the engine was shaking. The mechanic offered to towels the car back to their shop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11180831, filed 2019-02, 75,000 miles

   “We purchased a 'certified pre-owned' 2012 Buick Enclave from royal Buick of sussex new jersey in february of 2017. The car shut off on friday january 11th. It was towed to rossi where we have been taken it for almost two years of ongoing maintenance, both scheduled and non, and have spent over $10k in the last year alone, on service that did not resolve the clicking sound coming from the engine. Earlier that day I had made the earliest appointment available which was 10 days later, on the 21st. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11180602, filed 2019-02, 102,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering noise, stiffness or loss of power assist

   • 20 complaints (15%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Complaints describe the steering becoming stiff or hard to turn, sometimes briefly, along with whining noises, fluid leaks and clunking from the steering column or rack. Owners report diagnoses of a leaking rack and pinion, failed steering pump or leaking hoses, and some dealers told them the condition was normal or could not be found. A few report the wheel pulling to one side. Spread from under 5,000 to over 100,000 miles, with several reports occurring in cold weather.

   What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and look for leaks at the rack and hoses, and turn the wheel lock to lock with the engine running to listen for whine or clunk.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power steering failure in the middle of a turn onto local highway, steering wheel suddenly became stiff and impossible to turn ' I was almost got hit by a truck! Later on I had similar issues intermittently. Sometimes power steering works but many other times doesn't. This happened after a winter snowstorm when I left the car outside, so my suspicion is that the extremely cold temperature caused some Buick Enclave's manufacturing defects to have revealed itself.”

   NHTSA complaint #11097560, filed 2018-05, 32,000 miles

   “A week ago, I felt my 2012 Buick Enclave wasn't steering properly...like I suddenly have considerably less control...as if the steering wheel is fighting me when I turn. I noticed it because I could not get my car's steering to respond coming onto an entrance ramp onto 76w in pa and it almost veered into the lane to the left (as I was fighting to hold my wheel to the right coming off the ramp). I brought the car to my local GM certified mechanic who did diagnostics and discovered a malfunction in my steering pump and a leaky hose. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10789555, filed 2015-11, 85,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on, airbags reportedly disabled

   • 19 complaints (14%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe a service airbag message and warning light appearing intermittently or staying on, with owners saying the manual indicates the airbags may not work properly while the light is lit. Some owners report airbags not deploying in a crash, and others say the dealer wanted to replace an airbag module at their cost. Several note their vehicle was not part of the airbag recalls. Mostly between about 60,000 and 140,000 miles, appearing at startup or while driving.

   Recall 21V782000Recall 21V246000Recall 14V118000

   What to check: With the key on, confirm the airbag light comes on and then goes out; ask whether any open airbag recall applies to the vehicle identification and whether the side-impact wiring recall work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2 months ago my service air bag icon & message came on my dash when I started my car. I took it to get it looked at they pulled a code but now they have to have my car all day to see where the problem actually is. Costing me lots of money for their labor. Give me a break why isnt this a recall for my car. Obviously I'm not the only one having issues with air bag.”

   NHTSA complaint #11234132, filed 2019-07, 80,000 miles

   “I bought a 2012 Buick Enclave used in 2018. This year the airbag dashboard light came on. Mechanic says I must replace the airbag (which isn't cheap) and all airbags are disabled until it is fixed. I know there was a massive recall but apparently my Enclave wasn't one of them.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365218, filed 2020-10, 120,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slip, shudder or delayed engagement

   • 17 complaints (13%)
   • median 86,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the transmission slipping into a neutral-like state during acceleration, shuddering under light throttle, and delayed or poor shifting. Some report the dealer reflashed the transmission software without resolving the problem, and one complaint describes a torque converter concern. Others mention the vehicle rolling backward on a hill while in drive. Mostly between about 15,000 and 130,000 miles, often at highway merging or light acceleration.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive at low and highway speeds watching for shudder, hesitation or slipping, and ask whether the transmission has been reflashed or serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I stopped at a red light on a hill and when I took my foot off the brake the vehicle started to roll backwards.it would roll backward when it was in drive. I almost hit the car behind me. Then I went out of town and tested it on other hills and it did the same thing. When I was going downhilli stopped and I put it in reverse and it rolled forward. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10596815, filed 2014-06, 15,990 miles

   “I have looked up my vehicle information through GM. I can see where they had the vehicle in a shop in ny to look at it. Unknowingly I bought a vehicle with a huge list of issues! First of all, the torque converter was going out on my vehicle when I purchased it for a dealer. Second, the transmissions on the enclaves, acadias, traverses and terrains are junk! I take great care of my vehicles and have never had a transmission fail on me at 100,000 miles! …”

   NHTSA complaint #11267031, filed 2019-10, 96,000 miles

Buying note. Check the liftgate and airbag warning light first, since those are the most commonly reported items and recall coverage varies by vehicle. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for engine, transmission and steering codes, plus records of oil changes and prior recall work, is worth the cost on this model year.

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.