Most common 2016 Buick Enclave problems
Share of the 141 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 →
2016 Buick Enclave recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia 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. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025.
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.
Seats
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured November 6, 2015, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2016.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured August 18, 2015 to September 24, 2015. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.
Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly, free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the wiper cover has been replaced.
What 2016 Buick Enclave owners say
Air bags all 110 →
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that a message indicating that the front passenger's side seat belt was not buckled and that the front passenger's side air bag was enabled was displayed, even though the front passenger's side seat was not occupied. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while accelerating, the fourth gear jumped to the fifth gear and was stuck. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the transmission specialist test-drove the vehicle and was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the gear was burnt, and the transmission needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag warning lights, charging system, and radio system malfunctioned. The contact stated that he suspects that the electrical system had malfunctioned however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
When stopped on a incline and you step on brake the transmission will go out of gear ,then when you start off you have to hold brake till transmission engages, it is really scary , I have almost rolled back into another car several times . Went back to place we bought the car new , they said it must be a safety feature, it is not ! My wife is scared to even drive , love the car except for this !
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop uphill, with his children in the middle rear passenger's seats, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact shifted to neutral and allowed the vehicle to roll downhill to the side of the road. The contact turned off the vehicle for 10 minutes. The contact restarted the vehicle and was able to continue to drive to his destination; however, the failure reoccurred that night, upon accelerating uphill from a complete stop. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 118,949.
During a rainstorm water is entering the fuse box under the glove box and the carpet and padding underneath is soaking wet on the right front floor.When the fuse case was opened water started to drip out.The engine continues to run with the key off and the only way to stop it is to pull the ignition fuse under the hood. Unfortunately the battery died by morning and I could not get it charged for a few days. Now I have learned how to take the battery cover off which is located in the back of the car and remove the plastic covers under the mat so I can disconnect the battery so it doesn't run down. The rear wiper will not shut off now since this started.I am a 75 yr old widow and wonder how this problem has not been on a recall. It causes a very dangerous situation.I will try to see if I can get it into a Buick dealer this week and pray God it doesn't cost me an arm and leg to repair it. …
2016 Buick Enclave engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Buick Enclave a good car?
Based on 141 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Enclave rates average: 25% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Enclave at the same age. 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 2016 Buick Enclave?
The air bags — 110 complaints, 78% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (10) and engine & cooling (9).
How many recalls does the 2016 Buick Enclave have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2016 Buick Enclave, the most recent from May 10, 2023 (inflator module). 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 2016 Buick Enclave problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 52% 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.