2014 Buick Enclave Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report air bag warning lights and related sensor or wiring faults, and many ties these to open air bag recalls for which parts were unavailable for long periods. A smaller group describes harsh transmission shifting, intermittent power steering stiffness, and electrical glitches such as random warning lights or stalling. Reports span a wide mileage range, from vehicles with only a few thousand miles to ones past 150,000.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light / service air bag message

   • 197 complaints (67%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   The air bag warning light or a "Service Air Bags" message appears, sometimes intermittently and later staying on. In some cases owners connect it to an open air bag recall and report that the dealer had no parts available for an extended period; others describe sensor, wiring or connector diagnosis, resets that did not last, or repairs that were not covered. A few owners report air bags not deploying in a crash. Reported across a broad mileage range, from around 10,000 to over 150,000 miles, with no clear pattern by age.

   Recall 23V334000Recall 21V782000Recall 21V246000

   What to check: Ask whether the air bag recalls have been completed and request documentation. Before buying, confirm the air bag light goes out after the bulb check and that no "Service Air Bags" message appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Service airbag warning light was on for 4 days. Took car into Buick dealership, they said the light wasn't on and couldn't find a problem. The light was on when I dropped the car off that day. They had my car for 2 days. Got the car back on friday evening, 2 days later the light is back on. There is a recall for this issue in 2013 models, but since this is a 2014 I wanted to make this known that it is a problem and may require a recall for the 2014 Buick Enclave.”

   NHTSA complaint #10648661, filed 2014-10, 17,000 miles

   “Possible electrical short? Fuel gauge dropped over an eighth of a tank when just filled it up and drove 2 miles home. Next time I started it up it displayed the aforementioned. Has done this a few times now. Also service airbag light has come on intermittently prior to fuel gauge issue and now is on every time. Called Buick and they acknowledge that it has been a problem for that model and even year just not my VIN. Perhaps expansion of vehicles affected??? 77,000 miles”

   NHTSA complaint #11187386, filed 2019-03, 77,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Electrical glitches: random warning lights and stalling

   • 23 complaints (8%)
   • median 77,079 mi at 5.5 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe warning lights coming on at random, instrument lighting or the center console failing to work, and messages such as "Service StabiliTrak" or "Traction Control Off" appearing. Some report the vehicle losing power or stalling while driving, with dealers diagnosing ignition switch circuit, fuse box or battery issues, and several say the problem returned after repair. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 110,000 miles, with some incidents at highway speed and in rain.

   Recall 14V614000Recall 14V2230002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all warning lights behave normally on startup and during a drive, and ask whether the ignition switch, fuse box or battery has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About a year ago, our 2014 Buick Enclave awd, began shuddering while driving and lagging when trying to accelerate. 4 months ago, the vehicle's check engine light came on while I was on the freeway. It also displayed the traction control off 'stability control off and engine power reduced signs on the dashboard. My vehicle went from 75 MPH to 25 in a matter of seconds.. While I was on the freeway with my two children in the car! I was able to pull off to the side of the road, turn the car completely off and turn it back on again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11210303, filed 2019-05, 115,000 miles

   “Vehicle warning lights come on randomly - airbags, check engine, ABS. They will light during drive time, then blink out for no apparent reason. Instrument lighting may or may not light when vehicle is started, and instrument console and/or entertainment console will not function when unlit. Again, this happens randomly, and often resolves just as randomly. Have had vehicle inspected by dealer without any issues identified. Issues have been ongoing for a number of years. They can occur without regard to vehicle being in motion.”

   NHTSA complaint #11399749, filed 2021-03, 85,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hard or harsh transmission shifting

   • 16 complaints (5%)
   • median 39,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe the transmission shifting hard or slamming into gear, particularly between lower gears, sometimes when accelerating up an incline or decelerating into a turn. Several report that dealers could not duplicate the problem, called it normal, or applied a software update that only partly reduced it; in one case transmission work was done under warranty. Mostly reported from about 5,000 to 40,000 miles, with some later reports past 100,000 miles; a few mention cold weather.

   Recall 14V0920001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive at low speed up a slight incline and at steady highway speed, feeling for clunks or hard shifts. Ask whether any transmission software updates or repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall in the almost 3 years I've owned my 2014 Buick Enclave, there have been 2 occurrences with the same transmission issue. The codes are: p0700, p182e and p0306. The engine light comes on and flashes for roughly 30 seconds. The first occurrence was in the city, about 35mph and the second was on the highway with a speed of 60mph. Both times I've pulled off the road and the light disappears. When I take it in, the codes are pulled and cleared. The mechanic can not get the code to reappear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11245813, filed 2019-08, 107,500 miles

   “Shortly after taking ownership of the vehicle, we noticed a clunking within the transmission when going up a small incline at approx 15 MPH. The problem has persisted for years and we've had the dealer investigate multiple times with no remedy. The issue is now more visible at highway speeds between 60 and 65 MPH. We recently dropped off with the dealer where they applied a software patch which has slightly reduced the issue, but has not resolved. We still have a clunking transmission at 15mph up an incline and at highway speeds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11172263, filed 2019-01, 5,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Stiff or intermittent loss of power steering assist

   • 10 complaints (3%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2021

   Owners report the steering wheel suddenly becoming very stiff or difficult to turn, sometimes at low speed in parking lots and sometimes at highway speed, and in some cases resolving on its own. Complaints describe diagnosis that found no fault, replacement of the steering rack or power steering pump without lasting results, and one case where a battery was blamed. Reported from roughly 45,000 to 120,000 miles.

   What to check: During a test drive, turn the wheel at parking-lot speed and check for stiffness or binding; ask whether the steering rack or pump has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Steering stiffness & tightness at low speed or high speed. Steering wheel tighten's up to the point where it's almost impossible to turn the wheel. Extremely dangerous when driving 50-60 MPH on the expressway. Just purchased the vehicle dec 19th 2020. I noticed the problem within the first 2 days car dealer was contacted dec 21st 2020 in regards to the problem. Car was diagnosed at the dealer & returned to me without any findings of the issue. Still there is stiffness that comes & goes. I'm extremely concerned about my safety and or others. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11386543, filed 2021-01, 55,000 miles

   “Steering stiffened up to point I was unable to crank wheel in parking lot traveling 5mph. While on freeway enter ramp, could feel tension pull then release on the curve at 40 MPH. Gm dealer charging 1600 to replace power steering pump... Only 45,000 miles ,,,”

   NHTSA complaint #11171550, filed 2019-01, 45,000 miles

Buying note. Have the air bag recalls verified as completed with paperwork, and test the steering and transmission behavior on a thorough test drive. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a scan for stored codes can help surface sensor or wiring faults that owners report.

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.