Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Buick Enclave owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the air bag sensor light had illuminated and the message "service air bag" had displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the failure was due to water corrosion in the air bag system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 200,000.
I purchased this vehicle several years ago used and everything was working fine. Several months later, whenever a "passenger" sits in the front passenger seat, the check airbag and seat belt system message appears in the dashboard. After the seat becomes unoccupied, the message remains on...sometimes for a couple of days, sometimes for a week, and sometimes for a month or two. Then it may stop showing the message until a person sits there again. This also happened when the vehicle was not running and the key was in my pocket. I went and applied pressure to the passenger seat and when I started the vehicle with an empty passenger seat, the message appeared again. I took my vehicle to the dealer and they were going to charge me an arm and a leg for the repair and I was thinking this should be a covered repair. …
1.Passenger airbag- warning light gives me a daily message to service the airbag. I worry about whether the airbag will deploy at any moment or may not deploy if an accident occurs as I travel with my children daily. 2.Power steering- My power steering locked as I was driving 2 years ago. The auto shop has replaced/repaired the power steering system multiple times, however steering continues to whine and rub. 3.Trunk liftgate- The liftgate has abruptly lowered as my children and I have tried to get items in and out of the back. This resulted in one of them getting hit in the head. The back liftgate button has stopped engaging.
At 65,000 Transmission went out 100,000 Electrical issue due to lose ground wire under fuse box 121,000 Electrical issue caused battery to drain and vehicle not turn off. Even if key out of ignition 121,000 Driver Side Curtain Airbags deployed when battery replaced
I purchased my vehicle January 2014. Since then I have had major issues with it leaking when it rains,. Water enters the sunroof and drips throughout the vehicles overhead as well as soaks the passenger side carpet. Water drips from the visor, the overhead lights (which could result in an electrical fire) in the front middle and back of the vehicle it seeps through the seat belt height adjusters and the area where the side airbags deploy (which could cause deploy issues). The problem has gotten so bad my vehicle is starting to smell like mold and I am afraid that after a year of this problem mold has grown under the carpet as well as in the overhead foam. My biggest concern is if my child is exposed to this for an extended period of time it will flair up his asthma. A child with asthma is very sensitive to mold and mildew and he is very sensitive as well as has allergies to mold. …
I own a 2008 Buick Enclave which was parked stationary in my driveway on March 24th 2016. As I exited my home and attempted to unlock my vehicle I was surprised by a cloud of smoke that was released by the front passenger airbag. It had deployed for no apparent reason. Damaging the dash, radio, and destroying the windshield glass. I immediately contacted GM service department in which they sent out a tow truck to remove my vehicle from my premises and shipped it to a ed rinke Chevrolet service department. Their investigator claims that there was a previous crack in the windshield that caused the 12" of standing water damage on my floorboards and in the airbag sensor module. There was no crack... So after being inconvenienced for almost a month, GM claims that the windshield was an aftermarket product and that they've got no responsibility for the deployment or totaled vehicle damages. …
The 2008 Buick Enclave have a module air bag sensor in the passenger seat that when a passenger sets in the seat the air bag intercator light in center consul lights up letting you know that the air bag is on and working. My air bag module sensor needs replacing. I was told from dealership that the seat would have to be taken out to replace this part which will cost 850.00. People just don't have this kind of money. The Buick enclaves especially the 2008 model have had numerous recalls.I feel this is a safety issue and Buick should address this issue to insure our safety. If not, there will be those on the road driving without the proper safety they need. I believe this is a part that was cheap made and Buick knows it and they should take responsibility to ensure the customers safety. Will you please review this case. I am one that is driving around with this issue.
Air bag service light came on and was taken to dealer for service as I already had a letter stating this could happen and if so take it to dealer for repair. After being check out by dealer I was told they could find the problem however my battery check out bad and that could be the problem, so I paid them to replace battery. After battery was replaced the service light went out, until 1/13/15 while driving vehicle home after having it serviced by dealer the air bags service light reappeared and when I took it back to the dealer I was told they would be happy to check it out at my cost which I said not knowing what the cost could add up to I would just continue to drive with the service light on. It is now 5/21/15 and it continues brightly burn. [redacted] '
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle intermittently rocked back and forth. The failure recurred several times. Also, when the vehicle was started, the air bag indicator illuminated and remained lit. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and performed a tire rotation and balancing. Additionally, the contact stated that the sun roof leaked water when it rained. The dealer was contacted (sellers Buick GMC, farmington hills, mi, [phone]) and scheduled an appointment for a later date. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and stated that the warranty expired and there was no recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. While driving, the "service air bag" message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact called hutchinson Buick GMC Cadillac (3989 river pl dr, macon, ga 31210, [phone]) and was informed that the sensor or module in the seat May have caused the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact had a computer scan test by an independent mechanic, but the results were unknown. The contact also stated that the failure only occurred when the passenger seat was occupied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN; therefore, the contact would have to pay for the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 149,000.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022.
Air bags › Side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014.
Airbag complaints in other Enclave years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 Buick Enclave?
NHTSA has 113 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Buick Enclave, 21% of the model year's 536 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Buick Enclave airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-782 (frontal, Oct 7, 2021); NHTSA recall 14V-118 (side/window, Mar 17, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Buick Enclave airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.