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).
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
Snowy conditions - about 2 inches on the ground; as I began to descend the hill near my home I tried to apply the brakes to keep a slow pace down the hill. Brakes failed and I began to slide down the hill. Steering was unresponsive; messages interchangeably flashed on the dashboard - 'service stabilitrak' and 'service traction control'. I had no control over the vehicle, and halfway down the hill jumped an 8" curb. Fortunate that the vehicle swerved to the right because there were parked cars to the left. Also, fortunate there were no people/children around, who could have been hit. $3000 damage to the underside of the vehicle. Very frightening to lose complete control of the car - I thought AWD, ABS, traction control and stabilitrak are supposed to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle in adverse conditions. Everything failed at once. …
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. …
I have had continuous problems over the last year with the stabilitrack system going off and it telling me to service stabilitrack. However, now my transmission is going out and I have a car that I owe way too much for and can't afford to get the transmission fixed. On top of the transmission my ignition only works part of the time. There is no point in replacing the ignition if the transmission is gone. I have already replaced the motor on the windshield wipers but apparently the previous owner had the motor replaced during the recall so I had to pay out of pocket for that. Not to mention spending over $200 just to get my headlight bulb replaced at a shop because its not simple enough to just take the cover off and replace the bulb. This car has been nothing but a money pit. …
My service stabilty track keeps coming in and off and it's like the car just wants to stop as I'm driving on a major highway. Also, my check engine light is now on and staying on and seems to be with the transmission. The car will not go over 20/25 MPH and the rpms are going up really high with out the car really accelerateing. It's even worse knowing my children where in the car and it to happen out of no where. I have been in motion with both issues from fine one minute and not the next. I have a pic of what happens with the stabilty track but didn't get one with power problem due to where and when I was on road to dangerous. Service stabilty track happened 08/28/2018 and the power trans problem happened 09/01/2018 and is still a problem not able to drive vehicle. Will try a pic and upload later if possible. …
Vehicle was purchased used in 2010. First had problem while sitting still at a red light. Alarm bell rings stating stabilitrak traction contorl service, power door locks and unlock, speedometer moves out of control. When we try to drive power is slow and engine pulls hard, check engine light comes on. We took it to dealer and they kept it for a couple of days but could find nothing wrong. This happens every 3 to 4 months sometimes longer. When vehicle is turned off it seems to reset itself. This seems to be a GM problem as I have looked online and found several other vehicles all having the same problem with there never being a fix for it. This always happens when sitting still with foot on break at redlights in the city. [redacted]. These are just a couple of sites where people have stated the same problem all GM vehicles. …
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.
While driving 60 MPH on the interstate in bumper to bumper traffic, my car went into limp mode. Rpms were high and I had to pull over from the fast lane with tractor-trailers driving around me after researching the issue, it seems this has been seen in alot of cars. This is a dangerous defect that needs to be resolved. I hope no one dies to make the manufacturer resolve this issue. The mechanic said this was a known issue with this vehicle. Recommended a transmission replacement. In fact, there were two other Buick/GM cars with the same issue waiting to be worked on. The codes were p0776, p0796 and p0700.
The car was spitting d sputter and overheating on the main hightway... Engine light started flashing a d it showed misfires on cylinders 2,4,6.... The problem is on going and has had my 2 year old and myself sitting on the side of the road in 110 degree heat index waiting on a tow truck!. We were driving straight down the main highway. Then the accelerator would be floored but the vehicle wouldnt move at all. Thus I couldnt cross the last main highway to get home. It said service stabiltract/ traction control, with wngine light flashing... Still isnt fixed
We where driving the other day, lost all power to dash cluster. Found water in fuses under glove box on passenger side. Dried out and got power back; but not ABS light is on and if it goes off we lose all brakes. The traction control and stabilitrak say service and we lost our back up camera as well.
Traction Control complaints in other Enclave years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2008 Buick Enclave?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2008 Buick Enclave, 5% of the model year's 536 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2008 Buick Enclave traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control 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 traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to stability & traction control 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.