What are the most common problems with the 2009 Buick Enclave?

Steering leads the complaints, with 108 reported. Engine follows with 43, then power train with 33.

Does the 2009 Buick Enclave have recalls?

Yes. The by-year facts show 8 recalls for 2009. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

Is the 2009 Buick Enclave reliable?

Owners filed 220 complaints with NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so read the problem groups above as a checklist.

What is the gas mileage of the 2009 Buick Enclave?

See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.

Which year of the Buick Enclave is best?

See the by-year comparison on this page, which lays out complaints and recalls for each year.

2009 Buick Enclave Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 220 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Buick Enclave^[1]. Steering is the group named most often, with 108 complaints^[2].

220owner complaints^[1]

8recalls^[3]

18–19MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners raised most often, biggest first.

Steering. 108 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the power steering turning stiff or seeming to lock up while they turn, then easing off again. Some say it caught them by surprise at low speed.
Engine. 43 complaints^[5]. Owners describe warning lights, power cutting back while driving, a stretched timing chain, and cars that stall or are slow to restart after fueling.
Power Train. 33 complaints^[6]. Owners describe shifts that feel erratic or slip, and a few say the vehicle rolled backward on a slight hill.
Electrical System. 22 complaints^[7]. Owners describe a battery that drains when the car sits, repeat battery replacements, and warning lights that come and go without a clear cause.
Unknown Or Other. 12 complaints^[8]. These reports do not fit a single clear group.
Speed Control. 11 complaints^[9].
Air Bags. 9 complaints^[10].
Electronic Stability Control. 9 complaints^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2009 Enclave is necessarily included.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (21V782), October 2021. About 555 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate (15V415), June 2015. About 691,144 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Seat Belts (14V266), May 2014. About 1,339,355 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, parts separating. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Air Bags › Side/Window (14V118), March 2014. About 1,176,407 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Seat Belts (10V375), August 2010. About 207,210 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Electrical System (10V240), June 2010. About 1,365,070 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire.^[17]
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift (09V073), March 2009. About 276,729 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, the car rolling away. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]
Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Buckle Assembly (08V615), November 2008. About 16,667 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, parts separating.^[19]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Enclave FWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	17 / 24 / 19	$3,550
Enclave AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[20]	16 / 22 / 18	$3,700

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD/AWD^[21]	n/a	n/a	n/a	4	15.5%

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
ENCLAVE 4DR SUV FWD CX/CXL^[22]	202 in	79 in	73 in	119 in	4,780 lb

How 2009 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Enclave model year. The 2009 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2008	536	6
2009	220	8
2010	275	6
2011	213	6
2012	132	6
2013	70	4
2014	292	7
2015	171	5
2016	141	4
2017	179	3
2018	66	0
2019	44	1
2020	60	6
2021	26	2
2022	14	1
2023	21	0
2024	7	0
2025	38	0
2026	2	1

NHTSA's counts for the Enclave show 220 complaints and 8 recalls for 2009^[3]. Among the 20 model years listed, 16 have fewer complaints than 2009 and 3 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2008 (536)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2009 Enclave?

The complaint record for this Enclave leans heavily toward steering, with 108 complaints^[2]. Engine and power train reports follow, at 43 and 33 complaints^[5]^[6]. Some owners also describe battery drain and electrical oddities^[7]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a guide to what to check. The Recalls section lists the recalls on file for this year^[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Buick Enclave?: Steering leads the complaints, with 108 reported^[2]. Engine follows with 43^[5], then power train with 33^[6].
Does the 2009 Buick Enclave have recalls?: Yes. The by-year facts show 8 recalls for 2009^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
Is the 2009 Buick Enclave reliable?: Owners filed 220 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so read the problem groups above as a checklist.
What is the gas mileage of the 2009 Buick Enclave?: See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.
Which year of the Buick Enclave is best?: See the by-year comparison on this page, which lays out complaints and recalls for each year.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Buick Enclave

2009 this page
2010 275 complaints, 6 recalls
2011 213 complaints, 6 recalls
2012 132 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 70 complaints, 4 recalls
2014 292 complaints, 7 recalls
2015 171 complaints, 5 recalls
2016 141 complaints, 4 recalls
2017 179 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 66 complaints, 0 recalls
2019 44 complaints, 1 recall
2020 60 complaints, 6 recalls
2023 21 complaints, 0 recalls
2024 7 complaints, 0 recalls
2026 2 complaints, 1 recall

Compare all model years of the Buick Enclave

All Buick models

Similar cars from 2009: suvs

2009 Dodge Journey 1,594 complaints, 8 recalls
2009 Ford Flex 181 complaints, 1 recall
2009 Hyundai Santa Fe 358 complaints, 2 recalls
2009 Nissan Murano 635 complaints, 4 recalls
2009 Porsche Cayenne 15 complaints, 2 recalls
2009 Subaru Tribeca 14 complaints, 9 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 220 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Buick Enclave (3 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 11 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
108 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Buick Enclave model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Enclave FWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
43 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 85,000). NHTSA vehicle records
33 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 91,000). NHTSA vehicle records
22 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,398). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 97,591). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the speed control component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 116,950). NHTSA vehicle records
9 complaints name the air bags component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,673). NHTSA vehicle records
9 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 74,321). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 21V782, filed October 7, 2021: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V415, filed June 30, 2015: Structure › Body › Hatchback / Liftgate. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V266, filed May 20, 2014: Seat Belts. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V118, filed March 17, 2014: Air Bags › Side / Window. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V375, filed August 12, 2010: Seat Belts. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V240, filed June 4, 2010: Electrical System. NHTSA recall database
Recall 09V073, filed March 6, 2009: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift. NHTSA recall database
Recall 08V615, filed November 24, 2008: Seat Belts › Rear / Other › Buckle Assembly. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Enclave AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD/AWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ENCLAVE 4DR SUV FWD CX/CXL: length 202 in, width 79 in, height 73 in, wheelbase 119 in, curb weight 4,780 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2009 Buick Enclave: problems, recalls and fuel economy