Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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 owned a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while driving at 20 MPH, a warning message indicating that the vehicle was overheated illuminated. The contact pulled into a nearby parking lot. The contact then opened the hood of the vehicle by engaging the power release button inside of the vehicle. The contact saw black smoke and flames coming out from underneath the hood. The contact immediately exited the vehicle. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle remained at the scene. …
Tl* the contact's daughter owns a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while her daughter's boyfriend was driving up a hill at an unknown rate of speed, a flame had ignited from the engine without warning. Her boyfriend exited the vehicle, checked under the hood and saw that the engine was on fire. A fellow motorist witnessed the situation and assisted her daughters boyfriend by giving him a fire extinguisher which the boyfriend used to extinguish the fire. A fire report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The contact's daughter had the vehicle initially towed to the contact's home where it was then towed to independent mechanic. The mechanic informed the contact the cause of the fire was due to a "mechanical defect" and was given an estimate for a repair. The manufacturer nor the dealer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly made an abnormal low gear noise. The contact was alerted that her vehicle was emitting fire from underneath the vehicle, she immediately pulled over and noticed a cloud of black smoke, within a few seconds later the vehicle engulfed in flames. The vehicle was put out by the fire department and a police report was taken. The contact sustained smoke inhalation but was not hospitalized. The vehicle was totaled and the manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
The engine blew out today. Caught fire. Scared the living daylights out of my daughter. The car made a jerking motion and noise while on the hwy. Then flames were shooting out....pulled it over immediately and turned off. It was smoking. The police officer said the lower part of the engine blew out ...it literally was missing pieces of metal.
Complete engine power reduction automatically casing car instantly to drop from 65 MPH down to 25 MPH in the middle of a 4 lane highway. Lost all power steering ability and not able to turn car and almost drove into trees before it came to a stop. I had to have aaa come and tow my car to walser Buick GMC in bloomington, mn
I bought this vehicle July of 2017 probably about 6 months driving my radio makes a loud static noise and then no sound not even blinker sounds. I get in it later that day crank it it's fine. Then begin to have intermittent cranking issues crank it nothing everything on the dash blacks out nothing nothing happens turn the key back turn it back over it cranks that still seems to be a problem it still does that. Then a few months later my liftgate just opens by itself that has happened on several occasions I just been wake up in the morning the and the liftgate is open. One morning my husband wakes up to go to work and goes outside my car has actually remote start itself I was just sitting in the yard running like somebody remote started it but no one was up to do that. …
Under 100K miles, transmission went out. Dealership stated, faulty wave washer and snap ring. This caused the vehicle to go into a neutral position at 70 miles/hr. Engine revved. Lost steering and vehicle would not accelerate. Had to coast to the shoulder during heavy traffic. GM stated replacement would cost $4500 for new transmission. Declined GM's estimate and went to a different auto shop and rebuilt the transmission. Mechanics at the transmission shop stated that GM/Buick was well aware of the faulty transmission but they have not recalled these faulty transmissions. Auto shop stated the part to fix the transmission only costs $7. Didn't want to get a new GM transmission as it May be just as faulty as the current transmission that had the problem. GM should be held accountable and I expect full reimbursement for the payment and emotional distress this problem has caused me.
I have an 08' Enclave and I live in wisconsin, today I started my vehicle and proceeded to drive and about 2-3 minutes into the ride, the vehicle rapidly began to slow down and the vehicle began to jerk. The check engine light and the stability-track light both came on during the jerking and slowing down of my vehicle. The dic strolls the following message "reduce engine power and service engine." I drove my vehicle all the way home and the entire time I was unable to drive no more than 20 miles per hour even though my foot was completely down on the gas pedal. This is my only transportation and im hoping that there is a recall for this issue because I googled the problems with my vehicle and apparently im not the only one with this problem.
2008 intermittently and unexpectedly shuts off while driving. No matter the speed. Sometimes 30mph on the street, sometimes 70mph on the expressway. Sometimes it starts right back up, sometimes it doesnt. No one seems to know why. Cars cost too much to be playing guess the problem!! Take to dealer at $100. A visit for them to guess and ultimately not fix the problem. Because a week later the vehicle is doing the exact same thing you took it in for. I just wish someone new what the real problem was. Very disappointed in GM. This vehicle has had so many problems, but it's supposed to be low end luxury. It's dangerous and I guess people have to start dying and a class action lawsuit against GM will happen before anything is done.
Oil pressure light came on first, then heard loud tapping noise and check engine light came on. Pulled over checked the oil (fresh oil change the day before) it was still full. Got the vehicle home and had the codes pulled. The dreaded timing chain codes of p0008 and p0017 at 128,000 miles on the car. Most shops that I called won't even touch this because of the extensive repair. That leaves the stealership at the price of $3000 and that is if nothing else was damaged. Why were the 2008's left out of the Buick timing chain recall when it has the same 3.6l engine? This is a known problem. I will never buy another Buick. This happened last year (06/2018), but I knew it would be a costly repair, so the car sat until now.
Engine complaints in other Enclave years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2008 Buick Enclave?
NHTSA has 86 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2008 Buick Enclave, 16% of the model year's 536 complaints. The component named most often is engine (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Buick Enclave engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2008 Buick Enclave, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Buick Enclave engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 7 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling 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.