Most common 2013 Buick Enclave problems
Share of the 70 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Enclave complaints by model year
Best Enclave years: 2013, 2022, 2018. Years to avoid: 2025, 2010, 2008. Compare all years →
2013 Buick Enclave recalls (4)
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 › Critical fasteners
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021.
Seat belts
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles…
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2013 Buick Enclave:
Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
On May 19, 2014, General Motors LLC (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct Safety Recall 14V266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front outboard seat belts to the seat-mounted belt pre-tensioner in 1.4 million model year (MY) 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook, 2009-2014 Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse (Lambda Platform)…
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) EA20002, as an upgrade of Recall Query (RQ) RQ19003. This investigation, related to recall 14V-266, was opened to investigate instances of detachment of the flexible steel seat belt anchor cable attached to the outboard side of the front seats in vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM).
What 2013 Buick Enclave owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
This vehicle should have a recall on the transmission upon review the recall numbers NHTSA Recall ID: 14V092000 and NHTSA Recall ID: 09V073000 are not showing up in the system as recalls on the 2013 model. I purchased this vehicle used from a private owner. In April of 2023 the transmission went out without any warning a major expense not to mention the trauma from being stranded on the highway. The repair at that time was not under a recall even though several other Buick Enclaves failed at the same time. Present November 2023 upon returning home from a road trip the vehicle showed the inability to shirt failed to shift into the proper gear NHTSA Recall ID: 14V092000 . Vehicle was towed to a local shop for diagnosis this is very irritating and upon calling was told that recall did not apply to my vehicle. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY NOT !
My 2013 Buick Enclave transmission needed to be rebuilt after only 140,000 miles. While my cars transmission was being repaired there were 5 other Buick Enclaves being rebuilt as well. The internet shows that it is the number 1 car issue in Buick Enclaves. There needs to be some kind of recall for this issue. There is no reason that a transmission should be rebuilt on so many Enclaves.
Engine & cooling
Vehicle has been to GM dealership many times for problems related to reduced engine power, stabilitrack, and traction control issues. Dealer replaced relay switches, problem appeared to be fixed. While driving on a busy road, engine power reduced, stabilitrack, and traction control warnings illuminated. Car reduced speed nearly causing an accident while driving and power steering failed. Police needed to help remove car from roadway. ECM replaced, appeared fixed for awhile. While driving on Highway 54, same warnings illuminated and car slowed itself from 60mph to under 30mph. Numerous complaints can be found about the 2013 Buick Enclave and other years and this problem. I believe it will cause an accident and kill someone one day, if it hasn't already. Class action suit was even filed, and unfortunately dismissed. I'm afraid to drive my car. …
Check engine light illuminated due to transmission clutch not being adequate in manufacturing. Transmission causes motor to shudder due to clutches slipping. Whether in automatic or manual, when accelerating in low RPM, the entire car begins to shudder instead of downshifting. Transmission has been replaced twice, with no corrections. Happens every time the car is driven.
Electrical system
Engine stalled multiple times while driving. Fuse box under hood loose and threw a code P1682. Only threw code once. No other warnings. Engine just cuts off with power til to dash and other dash components.
When driving the whole electric system wigs out. It starts with the whole A/C controls blacking out and turning off. Then they might flicker. This is following by every warning and service light in the dash coming on and every warning announcement coming on the screen on the dash with the car beeping and dinging. Then this is followed by the entertainment system completely shutting down and going black as well. Sometimes it will do this all over again and flicker a couple of times before coming back on fine, and sometimes it will come back on fine after doing this whole cycle once. It has not shut off the engine so far, but there are problems with steering and down or up shifting during and right after this happens. It May do this multiple times within the span of about 10 mins, or it May do it once in a 30 min span of time. There is no pattern or reasoning to it. …
2013 Buick Enclave engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Buick Enclave a good car?
Based on 70 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Enclave rates better than average: 66% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Enclave at the same age. It is one of the best Enclave years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Buick Enclave?
The transmission & drivetrain — 14 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (14) and electrical system (12).
How many recalls does the 2013 Buick Enclave have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2013 Buick Enclave, the most recent from October 7, 2021 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Enclave?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2022 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2010 and 2008. See the full Buick Enclave years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Buick Enclave problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 44% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.