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Engine & cooling

2016 Buick Enclave Engine problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2016 Buick Enclave's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 7% of all its complaints, most recently on November 1, 2026. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

The X50A underhood fuse block (passenger side, near battery) has melted through at terminal 51 / run crank relay location. Plastic housing is burned through with charred bus bars and melted connector underneath, next to main battery cable. Vehicle first showed "Service Stabilitrak," "Service Traction Control," and "Engine Power Reduced," then went to crank-no-start condition requiring repeated jump starts to move. Codes P1682 and P0689 present. Each jump causes more heating at melted area. This is documented...

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defect in GM TSB 19NA276 and PIT5406C for loose terminals causing arcing and thermal damage in 2013-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia. Vehicle is primary family vehicle used daily to transport 6 children. Failure caused loss of power and no-start while responsible for 6 children, creating unsafe stranding and fire risk with children in vehicle. Vehicle is now parked with battery disconnected due to fire concern. Request investigation for recall for X50A thermal events.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11774967
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

I purchased this used 2016 Buick Enclave in July 2026. Shortly after purchase, the vehicle began repeatedly jerking and hesitating while driving. During occurrences, Traction Control/StabiliTrak warnings appeared and the vehicle experienced loss of power and difficulty accelerating normally. I reported the jerking/drivability problem to the selling dealer. On July 27, 2026, the selling dealer attempted a repair after I reported the jerking/drivability problem. Within approximately five minutes of leaving the...

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dealership, the vehicle began jerking again. I then took the vehicle to an auto-parts store, where an OBD-II scan produced multiple diagnostic trouble codes, including P0300 engine misfire and several MAP-sensor-related codes. I have photographs documenting the scan results. The vehicle became disabled shortly thereafter and required towing. It was subsequently evaluated by an independent repair facility, where the MAP sensor was replaced. The vehicle later again experienced the jerking/loss-of-power condition and StabiliTrak/Traction Control warnings. On August 10, the vehicle became disabled again. These incidents have occurred while driving in traffic. When the condition occurs, I cannot reliably accelerate or maintain normal vehicle operation, creating a safety concern because I may be unable to move safely with surrounding traffic. The specific cause is UNKNOWN. The vehicle has been evaluated by the selling dealer and an independent repair facility and is being taken to an authorized Buick dealership for further diagnosis. The vehicle is available for inspection.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11760960
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Traction stabilization light comes on very frequently and vehicle loses power, step on gas and it sputters can't get out of any one's way, they throw parts at it and never fixes. From feedback off internet a big problem 2008-2017 enclaves

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11749129
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

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...

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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. There are service bulletins on this problem and seems to be quite freqent yet I have not received any notifications from you.If this happens at night in a parking lot what am I to do? Can the car catch on fire by not shutting off?

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11643046
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...

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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.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11452224
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

My car isn't leaking any oil so it is burning it and its it's under warranty still but they won't fix anything on it and other year and make models are having the same problem.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11321672
Engine & coolingFuel system

My car was repaired by a dealership in texas. First they said it was a fuel injector. They replaced that. Then they said that that didn't work so they said I had a cracked head. They replaced that. I brought it home to shreveport, la. And it had gas fumes coming of of the a/c vents. The dealership here in bossier city that they put in a broken part. They supposedly fixed the problem. I picked the car up and it still had gas fumes. I took it back. They smelled it. Kept it for 2 days. They couldn't find the problem...

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so the kept driving it and running it until they couldn't smell it any longer. I picked it up again and I still smell it. I brought it back but they are denying that they do. Even lied to gm customer service that they rode around with me. I had a horrible headache when I returned home with the car. It's been parked for over a week. I am terrified to drive it scared it will catch on fire or my children and I will get sick. Please help me. I have tried working with gm but they are no help. They give me the run around. The mechanics have also lied so many times regarding my car to gm customer service. I need someone in my corner. I haven't been able the drive my car sine 5/16/2019. It went to the 1st dealership on 5/18/2019. I drove about a total of 1.5 Since.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11229464
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 buick enclave. The contact stated that the vehicle was using an excessive amount of oil before scheduled oil changes. The engine low indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to classic arlington buick gmc (1400 e. I-20 hwy, arlington, tx 76018) where the oil consumption test was performed twice. The dealer stated that the vehicle was performing as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11076860
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

I was driving with my family in our new 2016 buick enclave when I went to pass someone on a city street and the engine went into full acceleration. I put my foot on the brakes as hard as I could but it did not stop the vehicle. I had to put it into neutral and turn off the ignition and coast to the side of the road. Luckly there weren't many cars around me at the time. I was unable to get the vehicle started right away and I notified on star sos and they notified the police. It was towed to a buick dealer where they are looking at it now. This was an extremely dangerous and frightening experience for me and my family.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10905913
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 buick enclave. While driving 15 mph, the vehicle made an abnormal noise when accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that they could not duplicate the sound. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10821026

Buick Enclave engine complaints by year

Enclave engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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